In order to promote Gurez as one of the major tourist destinations, the Department of Tourism Kashmir is establishing wayside facilities on way to this picturesque destination.

In this regard, Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah who was accompanied by assistant director Gulmarg Ilyas inspected under construction works of Tourist Information Centre at Garoora in Bandipora.

he Tourist Information Centre which is coming up at the cost of Rs 42 lakh will have two bedrooms, information centre, meeting hall, cafeteria, display centre and Handicraft showroom. Adjacent to this Tourist Information Centre is Wullar Vintage Park making it a best resting place for the travellers intending to visit Gurez which is 123 kilometres from Srinagar.

Director Tourism Kashmir also visited another wayside facility known as Araamgah cottage (resting place) at Razdan Top which is 46 kilometres from Bandipora town. The cottage was recently damaged by the heavy snowfall.

Director Tourism gave on spot order for the repairing of the hut and asked the executing agency to make property stronger to withstand heavy snowfall in the winter.

Razdan top also known as Razdan Pass crosses through highest meadow in the journey and is a perfect picnic spot with tall pine trees rising majestically on the ridges.

Several acres of meadows on the top seem to be touching the sky while on a rainy day the clouds embrace the place.

The forward journey form Razdan Pass is down-slope and an entry into Diwar village of Gurez Valley.

Diwar is a plain area surrounded by mountains from all four sides.

In the middle of this plane, Habba Khatoon peak will catch your eyes. It is around this peak that Habba Khatoon used to room around.

The Dawar village will let you see the real Kashmir as the people especially women still wear traditional Kashmiri dress, houses are wooden mostly erected from big logs and most households have cattle.

The department of tourism is promoting Gurz Valley as one of the upcoming off beat destination for which it would organise festival after the month of Ramadan.

 “Many tourists are visiting Gurez now. The adventure lovers visit this place. We wanted to create wayside facilities for the tourists so that on way to Gurez they have the choice of taking rest and enjoying meals,” said Mahmmood Shah.

He informed that the Gurez festival would be organised to promote this destination among leisure and adventure tourists.

From Srinagar, the trip to this picturesque valley in a cab takes 6 to 7 hours.

Director Tourism also visited tourism infrastructure at Ganderbal and Mansbal besides paying visit to Mela Kheer  Bhawani. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and the rush to the Mela.

Guest