A two-day mountain biking event from Basohli to Bhaderwah, being organized by Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, is set to explore the adventure tourism potential of breathtakingly beautiful but relatively untouched Bani-Basohli and Bhaderwah.
Bani Basohli Development Authority, Bhaderwah Development Authority and J&K Cycling Association have come together for the biking event titled B3 MTB Challenge 2019, to give participants relief from the soaring temperatures and polluted cities.
“The event, which is to be held on 22nd and 23rd June, is already a hit among avid cyclists and adventurists from Jammu and Kashmir and around the country. They will pedal on a 165-km-long route, starting from Basohli in Kathua and culminating at Bhaderwah in Doda, via Bani,” says Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Additional Charge, Bani Basohli Development Authority.
Om Prakash Bhagat, Director Tourism, Jammu, states, “As many as 35 bikers have been selected after having evaluated their experience of biking in mountainous terrain, who will be accompanied by a team of Tourism, Health and Security officials.”
Watch the teaser here:
B3 MTB Challenge 2019 Circuit will include the following
The Tourism Department has in pipeline, range of activities for Jammu Region, including Summer Festival at Patnitop, Trekking to Jourian Wali Mata, Paddar Festival at Gulabgarh Gompa, Trekking from Gauri Kund to Maudlot in July 2019; Water Sports Festival at Ranjit Sagar Lake, Basohli, Cycle Rally from Chenani to Dudu, Machail Yatra at Paddar, Trekking from Dudu to Kailash Kund, Kailash Yatra from Bhaderwah and Dudu in August 2019; and Mela Pat, Rajouri Festival, World Tourism Day, Urs. Shahdra Sharief, Rajouri, Urs. Jamadar Sb., Darhal and Navratra Festival, Katra/Jammu in September 2019.
With Shri Amarnath and Kailash Kund Yatras round the corner, which see pilgrims in thousands, such engaging initiatives can attract interest towards the tourist spots of Jammu. Thus, integrating pilgrimage with one or more kinds of tourism, that includes adventure, leisure, border, heritage and nature tourism, will aid in branding Jammu as a favoured tourist destination.
“Besides Religious tourism, Jammu region has a great potential for adventure and leisure tourism. We seek the cooperation and collaboration of locals, especially youth, to identify and develop sites with tourism potential,” says Director Tourism, Jammu.
He adds, “The youth locals can take up initiatives like installing tented accommodation for tourists, at a site which they think, has tourism potential of some kind, but has been unexploited until now. The youth can then approach the Tourism Department and its social media handles, with their ideas and initiatives. We will work further on it, by organizing events and giving due publicity to the site. In this way, the locals get employment while we get avenues for tourism activities.”
The tourist influx, consequently, benefits the local economy, encourages the development of the site and its tourism potential.
Director Tourism, Jammu, points out, “It is a unique approach, wherein, the Jammu region will develop as a tourist place with the joint effort of locals and Tourism Department, in an eco-friendly and mutually beneficial way.”
It was not so long ago, that the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu started organizing regular weekly and special events, that considerably helped in boosting the tourism, local art and economy at different places of Jammu region.
Also: Read my article at THE DISPATCH
Basohli-Bhaderwah biking challenge: Touching the untouched
https://www.thedispatch.in/basohli-bhaderwah-biking-challenge-touching-the-untouched/
waliaharry 