District Admin Kulgam hosts Aharbal festival

Kulgam, Sep 12: To promote Aharbal tourist destination meticulously, the District Administration Kulgam and Tourism Department in collaboration with Aharbal Development Authority, Rural Development, DYSSO, Forest, Education, Handicraft & Handloom and other Departments today organised a mega festival at the famed tourist destination of Aharbal, here.
During the festival, multifarious activities and events were carried out which include Heritage walk with Fossil talk, bicycle rally, trekking expedition etc.
These events were flagged-off by the District Development Chairperson, Mohammad Afzal Parray and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr. Bial Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat.
The festival witnessed huge hustle and bustle with visitors and tourists seen making purchases at the stalls set up by various departments, SHG members and Artisans associated with handicraft and handloom besides locals. The stall holders had put their attractions on display to woo the customers during the mela.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that the event has been organised to promote Aharbal in a big way which possesses huge adventure tourism potential with beautiful and attractive scenic and adventure tourist sites.
He added that Aharbal and areas in proximity remained abuzz this season and recorded an influx of 1.60 lac tourists, visitors in the last 08 months.
Dr Bilal stated that to provide a wide range of experience to tourists, emphasis is being laid to promote Adventure and pilgrimage tourism to attract more and more tourists especially adventure loving people to these tourist destinations.
Further, he added that near about 1000 homestays are being developed in already declared tourist villages which will give a push to rural economy besides giving tourists an exquisite experience of witnessing local lifestyle, cuisine and culture.
DDC Vice Chairperson Shazia Jan, DDC members, Mohd Abas, Jameela Chowdhary, Ruby Jan, Gh Mohi ud Din and other PRI members were also present.
ADC, CEO ADA, SDM Noorabad, ACD, ACR, Tehsildar, officers from the Tourism Department and District Administration and a number of nature enthusiasts were present on the occasion.