Baramulla, 20 Sep (KNO): In a first of its kind, a Summer Festival was held on Wednesday at Ladoo Ladoora in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
The event was held to promote eco-tourism while at least 20 such places have been identified where people can enjoy the natural beauty, destinations to be sound soon, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Sehrish Asghar said.
Pertinently, Ladoo Ladoora, a village surrounded by the meadows, green forests and mountains is serving as tourist attraction for the locals as well as non-locals, who are turning up to this place as it's acting as a trekking route famously known as 'Vijji Top'.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Sehrish Asgar as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the administration is committed to ensure all the necessary infrastructure and resources, besides opening up new economic avenues for fulfilling the aspirations of the people through the tourism industry.
“The benchmark event was held to promote eco-tourism as well as the livelihood of the concerned people. Let people appreciate natural beauty,” she said.
She said that the Baramulla district in north Kashmir has a vast and unique tourism potential as the district is blessed with mountain surrounded, green forests areas besides 20 places with such features have been identified including Munddaji, Viji Top, Rajpura Rampura, Parihaspora etcetera and Chattipatshahi, Baba Shukurdin etc in religious category spots.
Efforts from the last few months are on to put them on a tourism map. The destinations will be developed and would be sound for tourism soon, the DC said.
District administration is putting the efforts in promoting tourism across the region. Earlier in the month of February, a similar kind of event titled ‘Winter Sports’ was organized at Munddaji in Rafiabad region. We are committed to our words of putting more effort in making such hidden destinations a full-fledged tourist destination, Sehrish, as per the KNO, said.
“These kinds of benchmark events serve as awareness to the people, who seek solace amidst nature's embrace. There are beautiful natural spots like lush green forests and much more that can attract a lot of tourists, locals as well as outsiders,” Sehrish said, adding that there is a dire need to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area.
Meanwhile, locals, especially civil society members, who were a part of this event, said that every stakeholder should make efforts to promote eco-tourism.
“The destination, however, needs modification/development to attract the tourists towards the place,” they said, while welcoming and appreciating the administration for conducting the festival.
Notably, all the arrangements including transport facilities to the venue, Parking management, supply of drinking water, security arrangements, availability of first aid and other logistics were in place for the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the festival.
The event was graced by the District Development Commissioner, Baramulla and was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore, SA Raina, President Municipal Council Sopore, Musarat Kar and other officials besides Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab,.
Meanwhile, Additional DC Sopore, Raina while congratulating the teams, part of conducting Summer Festival said that the event will have a promising impact in promotion of tourism for sustenance of livelihood to the local habitations in particular and for the Sopore Sub-headquarter in general—(KNO)