Jahangeer Ganaie
Jammu, Feb 17: Pampore, famously known as the Saffron Town of India, is steadily emerging as a vibrant tourism hub with a blend of cultural heritage, eco-tourism, pilgrimage circuits, and adventure activities, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday.
Replying to a question raised in the Legislative Assembly by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the CM said that the Tourism Department has been organising the annual Saffron Festival in Pampore to promote saffron-based tourism and showcase local heritage. He added that the Spring Festival and Wild Tulip celebrations held on the Pampore Karewas have become major seasonal attractions, drawing both domestic and out-of-state tourists.
To strengthen eco-tourism, a Birding Festival has also been introduced in the Pampore wetlands to spread awareness about avian diversity and wetland ecosystems while encouraging nature-based travel. According to Omar Abdullah, these festivals are now permanent features of the Tourism Department’s promotional calendar and are contributing significantly to destination branding, visitor engagement, and the local economy.
The Chief Minister further revealed that curated digital content highlighting Pampore and adjoining areas is being actively promoted through official tourism social media platforms to improve visibility on the tourism map.
“For holistic tourism growth, pilgrimage tourism is also being tapped through the development and upgradation of facilities at prominent religious sites, including Wahab Sahib Shrine, Jawala Mata Temple in Khrew, and Sheikh-ul-Alam Shrine in Laddu, under the Capex Budget 2025-26,” he said, adding that these works include resting shelters and visitor amenities aimed at improving the pilgrim experience.
Acknowledging the tourism potential of water bodies around Pampore, Abdullah said no specific project has been sanctioned so far for wetland development. He, however, said that feasibility and tourism value will be explored in the future before any intervention is taken up.
The CM said a comprehensive proposal for tourism development in Pulwama district, including Pampore as part of the VIHI (Village Industry and Heritage Integration) District, is currently under consideration. The plan includes newly identified trekking routes connecting high-potential destinations such as Shar/Baten Nagberan to Tarsar Lake and Marsar Lake, Narastantral to Aru and Pahalgam, and the Shar-Baten-Zantrag route leading towards Dachigam National Park.
The Tourism Department has already undertaken several on-ground initiatives across the VIHI District area, including Shar Shali, Khrew, Wahab Sahib, Pampore, and Wasturwan: installation of tourist signages at strategic locations in 2025, upgradation and beautification of the Tourist Facilitation Centre and historic park at Shar-i-Shali under Capex Budget 2025-26, paragliding trial runs from the Wasturwan hills to assess adventure tourism potential, and continued organisation of annual promotional festivals, Omar said.
He added that potential villages such as Wahab Sahib, Gossanard, and Ladu are being covered under the Tourism Homestay Policy-2022 and the PM-JUGA scheme to promote community-based tourism. A list of applicants has already been forwarded to the District Administration for police verification and land certification, while more villages may be included in the coming years.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that Khrew has not been prioritised for additional tourism infrastructure owing to its industrial nature and high air pollution levels. Tourism facilities may be considered in the future if environmental conditions improve.
