In the summer, the lovely Bani and Sarthal valleys of District Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir have been having an influx of tourists, adventure enthusiasts and others seeking to escape the heat and enjoy the pristine natural surroundings of the Bani-Sarthal area for the last several years. Bani is 165 kms from Lakhanpur, which is a distance of four and a half hours with Mahanpur, Basohli, and Sheetal Nagar on the way. The glaciated valley of Bani can also be accessed through Banikhet-Kheri Dam (Hut Maska) at one and a half hours from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. Sarthal is only 24 kms from Bani and has nice meadows in the vicinity, it also sees a similar number of tourists from Kathua, Bhaderwah, Pathankot and other areas of J&K and Himachal.
Upon arrival at Bani, sightseers are enchanted by the beauty of this area. The lush green meadows of Dhagger, Roulka, Doulka, Sarthal, Chattergala, Banjal and Duggan, all located not too far from Bani are not only picturesque, but also make for refreshing locales. The eager nature tube of tourists visit these places and immerse themselves into the bounties of nature, in pollution free environments. The visitors to these meadows leave Bani in the morning and return back to Bani in the evening, since there is no accommodation available at the moment to stay overnight, but residents of the area have started to embracing the short stay option at their houses, so that it would promote the Home Stay Concept, just like it is prevalent in Uttrakhand and Himachal which is a great thing. In contrast, there is Sarthal, which resembles Gulmarg just like the Tourist Reception Centre, which has two rooms, one dormitory and scores of tented accommodations.
The area boasts breathtaking natural beauty and a captivating ambiance, which generates an influx of local as well as outside tourists. Every year, thousands come from Bhaderwah, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, and other places to witness the tranquility of Sarthal. During the summer months, particularly, many tourists come to Sarthal since the weather mostly is neither too hot nor too cold, providing them the ability to enjoy the beautiful scenery and lush green environment. On the other hand, during the winter months, the area gets blanketed with snow, and tourists have fun playing with snowballs, making visiting Sarthal a child's delight! Sarthal is also well known as a shooting location for films and several songs have been shot as well. The Mela has been happening for over one hundred years and attracts attendees from Bhaderwah, Kathua, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, or beyond for three consecutive days!
Sarthal's appeal is not just based on its beauty, but also as a picnic spot for schools and colleges. With the onset of summer, again, there are usually Gujjars and Bakarwals with their livestock, which also adds to the beauty of this charming place. The locals always enjoy seeing the visitors enjoying the beauty of the area as it brings life and prosperity to the area. Sarthal, and Bani Tehsil in general, have always missed out on visits from tourists and attention from the related authorities despite its exotic natural environment. Sarthal has problems in general with amenities in connection with tourism, where infrastructure is not appropriate or not completed, apart from public toilets and health facilities. Power is an issue; a mobile tower is there but not worked! Sarthal doesn't have hotels or restaurants for meals or lodgings for the increased number of visitors, which results in people not being able to eat or sleep after enjoying the scenery of Sarthal. Then of course, cleanliness is an issue, again with experience the lack of rubbish bins, not to mention trying to manage waste.
Residents of Sarthal are asking the Government for improved infrastructure, parks and gardens, fountains, and enhanced amenities for visitors. They also want to have more priority given to implementing the Chattergala Tunnel project, since it will help connect Bani and Bhaderwah more efficiently, but it will also provide ends to the locals, especially the educated youth who are currently suffering from unemployment. This is potentially a game-changer for the region, given the employment it could create and its potential to improve tourism.The locals also want the Government to consider building a Gondola lift in Sarthal to invite further tourism and enhance the infrastructure. A better road network is also important. For example, if the Bhaderwah, Basohli, Pathankot highway was opened throughout the season, this would also encourage tourism and benefit the economy. Further, the locals think that if Sarthal and Bani were to be developed into a tourism destination, it would open up opportunities to mitigate the growing effects of unemployment and drug use among the youth. The tourism industry may also provide a sustainable source of income for families, then families can live better lives.
To conclude, Sarthal is an unknown jewel to focus on and promote. As an untouched natural beauty with a rich culture and an opportunity for growth, if the Government makes the necessary improvements to the infrastructure then the area will become a major tourist hotspot. Government focus on Sarthal can provide job opportunities, greater prosperity, and a better future for the people already living in the area. It is anticipated that Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and the Director of Tourism Jammu will be explored and help foster its development on the tourism map of Jammu and Kashmir.
(Vivek Koul)
0 Comments