Skyview Patnitop by Empyrean is located at Sanget Valley near Udhampur in Jammu, with its upper terminal in Patnitop. It is a mountain adventure and lifestyle destination for the new age, responsible traveler—the first of its kind in the Himalayan Mountain range. This place is an ideal destination for holiday as it offers a blend of both indoor as well as outdoor adventure.
Explaining the mountain tourism industry potential of the valley, the challenges faced and some expansion plans, news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) correspondent Owais Gul spoke to the Managing Director, Empyrean Skyview Projects, Syed Junaid Altaf about the new venture.
Excerpts:
Owais Gul: Tell us something about how the park came into existence?
Syed Junaid Altaf: Jammu and Kashmir’s terrain is an ideal feature to promote mountain infrastructure and adventure tourism unlike anywhere else in India. This needed to be backed by entrepreneurial acumen, global collaborations, government partnership, technological advancement, and necessary human resource. We focused on our current location i.e. Sanget Valley and Patnitop as the picturesque destinations had a lot of scope and witnesses large tourism footfall from people across India. We felt that this provided us with an ideal platform to create a one-stop destination in collaboration with global brands that offers adventure activities unique to India fused with the hospitality of the highest standards. Moreover, we also wanted to promote Jammu and Kashmir on the global tourism map.
Owais Gul: What were the basic motives behind such a venture?
Syed Junaid Altaf: There are no doubts that J&K has been blessed with natural bounty and is a leading tourist destination in India. However, we wanted to create an offering that would be a one-stop destination that provides unique adventure activities such as a world-class ropeway, zig-zag zipline, magic carpet, tubing, hiking, mountain biking, dining options, and hospitality. In other words, a destination that would cater to adventure lovers as well those who are looking for a getaway with their friends and family from their usual routine in a scenic setting amalgamated with world-class infrastructure and hospitality.
Owais Gul: How much money has been spent on this project?
Syed Junaid Altaf: A project of such vastness that features world-class infrastructure and international collaborations undoubtedly require financial investments of large scale to ensure completion and smooth operations. As of now, we have invested over Rs 200 crores on the project.
Owais Gul: Do you think such projects should be implemented in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir?
Syed Junaid Altaf: Absolutely, J&K has extremely vast potential for hospitality cum adventure destinations. Thanks to the scenic geographical setting and tourism flow through-out the year, I am of the opinion that there is a large scope for more such endeavours. Not to forget the scope of tapping into religious tourism across J&K. Additionally, there are several other picturesque locations that are untapped and can be promoted as a leading tourism destination across India and beyond.
Owais Gul: Some brief introduction about the park for our readers and why is it different from the other parks in the Union Territory?
Syed Junaid Altaf: Skyview Patnitop by Empyrean is owned and operated by Empyrean Skyview Projects Private Limited (ESPPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FIL Industries Private Limited. The key offering of the world-class endeavour is its 2.8 km ropeway built in collaboration with POMA, which is also the highest in India in terms of ground clearance. The ropeway stretches from Sanget Valley to Patnitop hovering over ever-green lush forests and offers an experience like no other. It also features Asia’s longest zig-zag zipline operational in collaboration with Flying Fox, an all season-tubing sledge, and a magic carpet.
Recently, it has added to its outdoor adventure activities by introducing hiking trails and mountain biking. Furthermore, it also offers the best dining experience in the vicinity at its restaurants and cafes.
In the months to come it also aims to offer its own accommodations, facilitating a complete holidaying experience at the foothills of the Shivalik mountains.
It is the largest Indo-French collaboration in mountain infrastructure development and was built in a record time of 2 years and 4 months, as against the industry norm of 8 years. We have partnered with prominent global leaders and experts including POMA Group, MND Group, ERIC, and Sage Geotech in the planning, development, and construction of Skyview Patnitop. The layout and master planning of the 11-acre tourism property is the work of Dianeige (France)—(KNO)