Saderkote: The banks of famed Wullar lake here witnessed a day-long festivity of culture, music and art. The occasion was the celebration of the Wullar festival at Wullar Vantage Park as part of the Tourism Department’s initiative to promote 75 lesser known tourist destinations across Jammu & Kashmir.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Sarmad Hafeez said the festival is part of the initiative of the Tourism Department to bring the 75 lesser known tourist destinations across Jammu & Kashmir on the tourist map and ensure these receive a good footfall in the coming months. He said the festival here aims to bring tourism potential of Bandipora especially Wullar lake to the limelight. He said the Department earlier this year organized a three day festival at Gurez to promote the destination and subsequent arrivals to the place are an endorsement of the Department’s concept and efforts.
Terming Wullar lake as a complete tourist destination, the Tourism Secretary said the Department is making efforts to uplift the image of the lake befitting its reputation as one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and ensure significant flow of tourists here. He said the Department is planning to hold a bird watching festival soon to further take Wullar and adjoining areas on the tourist map.
This, Sarmad Hafeez said, would trigger a chain reaction of setting tourist infrastructure in the area sparking a brisk economic activity. He said the festival also provides an opportunity to the local population to get to know about the tourism potential their area has. He said the Tourism Department had invited tour and travel operators to the festival who will get to know about the beauty and potential of the place so that they can offer to the tourists.
Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad in his welcome address hoped that the festival will go a long way in promoting the tourism potential of the Bandipora district. He said efforts are being made to highlight the tourism potential in Bandipora district and various projects are in the pipeline that will give a boost to the tourism sector in the district. He invited the people to visit Bandipora to have a variety of attractions including Wullar, Gurez, Authwatto besides other scenic beauties and avenues for adventure tourism.

KR Desk