SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazineGGaarrddeenniinngg ffoorr CChhiillddrreenn....................PPaaggee 44 SSoouurrccee ooff SSppiirriittuuaalliittyy..............PPaaggee 33

Swami Raj Sharma

The inhabitants of Bhadarwah are beholden toChakrabarti lAS, the then Commissioner Urban Develop-ment Department Jammu and Kashmir Government for hispaintaking tour of Bhadarwah and for making some impor-tant observations to initiate follow up action for develop-ment of tourism and to provide some civic facilities in thearea. In his inspection note he wrote:

"Bhadarwah town presents a contrasting scenario with a wide open val-ley which provides large scope of horizontal expansion of the town. Urban-ization is taking place outside the town area limits along the approach roadof the town and unless the growth is properly planned, the beautiful land-scape endowed by the nature shall be spoiled. The town also shows vis-ible signs of prosperity with aesthetically designed huge mansions withliberal use of timber dominating the cityscape. The town has a large pop-ulation of highly literate people with a strong sense of pride about the her-itage of the town but with equally strong resentment that nothing much hasbeen done to improve the infrastructure of the beautiful settlement. Thetown offers interesting possibilities of future growth with imaginative landuse planning. It is a pity that the tourism and other .potentialities of thetown have not at all been explored."

In my personal conversation with Chakrabarti, he repeatedly expressedthe view that he had seen no other place in India which excels Bhader-wah in scenic beauty. He wished he could have some abode to spend hisdays there. A standing offer was made to him by me to provide him thesite of his choice so that after retirement' he finds time for rest and reca-pitulation at a place of his choice. It is indeed a very rare and happy coin-cidence that another Calcutta born top bureaucrat of his time namely, SBanerjee IAS the then Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Govern-ment paid a short visit of four hours from Doda to Bhadarwah In 1976when he had gone to Doda to attend the Cabinet meeting there. He wasdeeply impressed by the charming scenic beauty of Bhadarwah Valley andalmost identical observations were made by him in his inspection note.The most important observation made by Banerjee pertains to the sprawl-ing snow clad Kailash mountain range in the west and Ashapate mountainrange in the east of Bhadarwah town which were compared by him withmount Kilimingo mountain range of Kenya in the African continent havinggood potential for development of tourism in the area. Besides, thebewitching scenic beauty of Kailash Kund and Ashapate these are wellknown religious places of pilgrimage. In between these two sites we havedense forests of pine trees accompanied by vast meadows having wildflower plants and herbs in millions accompanied by wild life birds andbeasts for the lovers of nature. This provides ample avenues for strength-ening religious and scenic tourism in the Bhadarwah Valley. Some Slokasfrom Vasuki Puran written in 9th century AD are quoted below for informa-tion of the readers:-

Sloka 336 of Chapter 90th of Vasuki Puran reads :-"The holy place Vasuki Kund is the king of all the holy places of pilgrim-

age. One who pays pilgrimage to Vasuki Kund, he need not to go to oth-er places of pilgrimage.Sloka 333 reads :-

" Many celestial beings, ascetics and accomplished souls got deliver-ance from their worldly existence after paying pilgrimage to Vasuki Kund" Sloka 498 (ibid) states:-

"Ashapeti is the site which cleans the pilgrim from all this sins after tak-ing a holy bath there.

Then Slokas 502, 503 and 504 repeat the scenic beauty of Bhadar-wah valley:-

"Heavenly fairies and damsels of paradise are found here in the shapeof such herbs after using them on human bodies one attains the beauty offull bloom moon."

Sloka 503 (ibid) concludes such special mentions. It reads:-"Surrounded by three mountainous ranges (in the east, west and north)

the scenic beauty of Bhadrashram makes this place so beautiful which canneither be found in the heaven (Swargey) nor in the world below (PataalDesh) nor in the Brahamloka (land of celestial beings) nor anywhere elseover this planet."

This Sloka in Sanskrit reads:-"Na-Usti Swargey, Na PataaleyNo- Bhrahmlokay Na Bhootlay,

Bhadrashram Maha Sathanam Trikuntay"The importance of Vasuki Puran in relation to Bhadrashram is the same

like that of Neelmat Puran in respect of prehistoric Kashmir valley. Kalhanahas made a special mention in Rajtarangini that Neelmat Puran is a greathistorical treatise for ancient Kashmir. Similarly Vasuki Puran is of greathistoric importance for ancient Bhadarwah.

SOME SUGGESTIONS:Gradual expansion and linkage of three tourism circuits was proposed

for Jammu Division namely:-i) Katra- Patnitop and Bhadarwah-Jai circuitii) Lakhanpur-Basohli-Bani-Sarthal, Bhadarwah-Kishtwar-Simthan

Pass Circuitiii) Bhadarwah-Jai-Bhallessa CircuitThis will introduce and ensure inter district tourism development in dif-

ferent areas of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar Districts. DirectorTourism Jammu should introduce such inter district tourism developmentprograms by the concerned development authorities of the area by pool-ing their resources in a well co-ordinated way. Similar action may be initi-ated in respect of Mughal Road circuit via Rajouri and Poonch districts.

iv) Regarding Bhadarwah-Jai-Bhallesa circuit there is a common say-ing in the area that if one has to see the highlands of Switzerland and black

forests of Germany-go and see Bhadarwah. In addition I suggest the fol-lowing programmes to boost tourism in the area:-

Bare minimum eco-friendly road linkage facilities need to be providedround the year in the area accompanied by stay and eating facilities. Unem-ployed graduates and post graduates of the area be given short term train-ing courses and loan facilities to provide the lodge and stay facilities. Thiswill partly solve the employment problem of the youth of these areas. Spe-cial care be taken to introduce film shooting facilities in the area. Wellreputed and result oriented dynamic officers should be appointed as Exec-utive Officers of the development authorities to be suitably judged andrewarded for honest and dedicated work in achieving the targets. It wouldbe worthwhile to consider engagement of Director Tourism from the cate-gory of specialists from the private sector. Like-wise it would be equallyworthwhile to entrust the preparation of tourism plans for each circuit bysome technically qualified private sector agency. Gradual steps to intro-duce winter sports and adventure tourism at selective destinations alsomerit consideration. Holding of summer games at selective places likeSarthal in Bani and Jai in Bhadarwah would provide attractive stay facili-ty to the student community in summer. Establishment of youth hostel atselective places will attract boosting tourism in the area followed by theestablishment of one or two wild life sanctuaries in the area. Above all lib-eral and increased financial allocations for this sector is the primary needof the hour. Without suitable allotment of funds no progress can be madein the tourism sector. Money makes the mare go. How long more and morewe have to wait in the matter is indeed a million dollar question. Before Iconclude, I feel it urgent to request the Government to fill the vacant postof Chief Executive Officer of Bhadarwah Development Authority which liesvacant for the last six months with urgent directions to the new incumbentof this post to complete ongoing works on priority basis.

(The author is former IAS Officer)

TOURISM IN BHADARWAH

Stanzin Kunzang AngmoIn 2010, Amir Khan's '3 Idiots' had made it large at the box office and had

won millions of hearts across the globe. Featured in its last scene was thebeautiful PangongTso (Hollow Lake) that had charmed many. Located amidstthe beautiful arid landscape, this picture-perfect lake in Ladakh'sChangthangregion, after the movie, emerged as one of the most sought after tourist des-tinations. Earlier too people would visit Ladakh but the craze to witness thebeauty of this lake has drastically gone up in the last few years and so is thethreat to its existence.

Situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet,PangongTso can be reached after ahundred and sixty kilometre long drive from Leh town. On this dream like jour-ney, the strokes of green from the agriculture fields and hues of the prayer flagsadd magic to its otherwise barren mountains. But what is equally heart break-ing is to seethe damage being done to the fragile environment and culture bythe increasing number of tourists every year.

While tourism has become a central part of Ladakh's economy, it has alsoled to several challenges including environment pollution, traffic, and interfer-ence of private self-driven and rented cars. Although the problem is prevalentin every part of this snow-desert but what is being transpiring in and aroundPangongTso, if not stopped at this stage will take over its beauty and in no timePangong will see a similar fate like the Dal.

The travel agents (three hundred and three as per the registered list) organ-ize stay-over trips to the lake where travellersare suggested to carry packagedfood and drinks. On their way, they do not give a second thought before throw-ing wrappers on the roads from where the winds carry these to rivers and moun-tains - that is just the beginning of the nuisance being caused by the tourists.Further, they would take halts to drink, eat, play music and enjoy. Seldom dothey realize that all these activities harm the wildlife.Green fields where ani-mals graze are turned into a trash site with plastic wrappers, bottles and crushedbeer bottles scattered everywhere.

A few kilometres away from the lake, mountains offer a sneak-peak into thedifferent shades of the blue. It is indeed mesmerizing but as one arrives at thelake, the disappointment takes over. Several cars parked next to the lake'sshore is a nightmare. People bathing in the lake, eating food and throwing bot-tles and wrappers into it, washing their bikes and cars in the lake - and thereis no one to stop them.

"In the last forty years, no one had ever washed a vehicle in Pangong.It isa recent trend that domestic touristshave started showing stunts in the lakewhich a local driver won't do or approve of.If the locals or drivers intervene andrequest travellers to not spoil the lake, they become the target - 'Gorkhay, howdare you?' is how tourists talk to the locals. Ladakhis, non-violent by nature,do not indulge into fights and try their best to maintain the sanctity of theplace,"said DorjayNamgyal, President of Ladakh Taxi Operator CooperativesLimited,Leh.

According to Najumul Huda, a local who had visited Pangong four years

ago was surprised to see the number of restaurants that have come up to caterto the needs of the travellers. "There was only a tea stall that would sell localdelicacies like momos or thukpa. But now the '3 Idiots' theme based restau-rants have come up selling all kind of packaged foods and drinks. With nowaste disposal system in place, they contribute to the pollution that will onlygo up in the coming years," rued Najumul Huda.

The President of Ladakh Buddhist Association, TsewangThinles, believesthat it is very important to preserve the Ladakhi culture and its fragile environ-ment. "No one bothers to follow the norms set by the Wildlife Act. Even thecars are parked next to the lake. From next year onwards we have plans to

barricade and stop the vehicles 500 meters before the lake as it serves as animportant breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migra-tory birds," said TsewangThinles.

Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh,RigzinSpalbarstressed on the need of developing strict policies and a monitor-ing mechanism to prevent all sorts of trespassing, rash driving and ecologicaldamaging activities by all vehicles plying in Ladakh. These must be reporteddirectly in writing to the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent ofPolice.

(Charkha Features)

Saving PangongTso

Tourists thronging world famous Pangongtso