JAMMU APRIL 08 (KNS): Highlighting the huge potential of pilgrim tourism across the Jammu region, Senior BJP leader Mr Devender Singh Rana today called for compiling the inventory of the heritage sites, shrines and ancient temples for drawing a roadmap for developing Jammu Pilgrim Tourism Circuit for devotees to seek spiritual bliss.
“Jammu’s identity as the City of Temples is not only to be preserved but promoted in a big way by raising state-of-art infrastructure and making optimum use of technology to showcase the rich heritage on a larger canvass”, Mr Rana said while speaking at a function organised by Jammu & Kashmir Dharmik Paryatan Culture and Heritage Trust at Press Club Jammu here this morning in presence of Rajesh Gupta, President Vishav Hindu Parishad and Mahant Rajesh Bittoo.
Mr Devender Rana sought a pro-active approach for harnessing the huge pilgrim tourism potential of the Jammu region, saying action will speak louder than symbolism. He also sought active public participation in realizing this objective and said that the pilgrim tourist circuit will open up vistas of opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups, traders, eateries, transporters and all those engaged with the tourism trade.
Mr. Rana said most thronged heritage sites like Shiv Khori, Krimchi, Sudh Mahadev Shiv Temple besides ancient temples across the Jammu Division especially the City, as also Utterbeni, Purmandal and Devak also need to be included in the pilgrim tourism circuit with active participation of the people, who are primary stakeholders, he said, adding that the services of INTACH should be utilized, given its vast experience and expertise.
He also referred to 24x7x365 influx of pilgrims, thronging from various parts of the country and abroad to pay obeisance at the revered shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi on Trikuta Hills round the year and Shri Amarnathji Shrine on Kashmir Himalayas for over two months and said this makes the Jammu City as most sought after destination of north India. Besides being the first Padhao to the famous shrines and ancient temples, the city is a gateway to Kashmir and Ladakh bound adventurers, nature lovers, sports persons and tourists. In such a backdrop, there is immense need of exploring the pilgrim sites around the city to provide added attraction to the visitors. He emphasized the need for having a robust infrastructure as part of the Jammu Pilgrim Tourist Circuit.
Mr Rana also referred to his humble initiative of reviving the old heritage route to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine from Kol Kandoli temple in Nagrota in collaboration with the Jammu Chapter of INTACH, saying that the proposed revival project has caught the imagination of the pilgrims and the people of the adjoining areas, as it will not only quench their spiritual thirst but give a big fillip to local economies.
Mr Rajesh Gupta, President Vishwa Hindu Parishad dwelt in detail on the heritage sites and ancient shrines of the region and stressed the need for conserving and promoting these on a larger scale.
Mahant Rajesh Bittu gave an overview of the rich heritage places of Jammu, having potential of being harnessed to make this part of the country premier destination of pilgrim tourism.
Mr Zorawar Singh Jamwal also spoke on the occasion and sought time-bound roadmap for promoting religious tourism in Jammu.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Mahant Mohan Giri Maharaj, Naryan Dass Shastri, Jasvinder Singh Kuku, KD Maini, Rajeshwar Giri, Naryan Dutt , Varun Padha ,Dr GD Bakshi, Zorawar Singh , Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Rajesh Gupta, Deepak Gupta , Rajiv Gupta , Tarseem BDC Chairman, Kuldeep Kumar BDC Chairman, Surinder Kumar BDC Chairman , Corporator Amit Gupta, Corporator Ashok Singh, Surjeet Sarpanch , Bharti Sharma , Dr Varun ,Sanjay Manhas , Sanjay Gupta, Ashu Gupta, Ajay Sharma , Sham Singh, Jasveer Jangam , Baral Mata Mandir Committee , Chola Mata Mandir Committee and others.(KNS)