Srinagar-Jammu national highway closed for fourth day due to heavy rainfall and snow

Heavy rain and snowfall has cut off Kashmir from the rest of the country and the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day. It was difficult to restore the nearly 300-Km highway which is the only all-weather surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country because of continuous rain and snowfall.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 11 March 2017.

Over two feet of snow had accumulated on the ground at Jawahar Tunnel, one feet at Zig and four inches in Qazigund town but, the real problem is the continuous landslides and falling stones triggered by incessant rains in Ramban sector. Huge boulders and sliding stones have totally blocked the highway at various places between Banihal and Ramban axis.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which experienced over two feet of fresh snow during this week, continued to be the coldest recorded place in the state. Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir is the base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra and, it also witnessed a fall of two degrees in the night temperature.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Amarnath Yatra could become a religious tourism plan by including local sights

Amarnath Yatra could very soon become a religious tourism plan by including local sights. This is being considered by the Central government and the Jammu and Kashmir government. The move is expected to boost local economy by absorbing the footfalls of tourists.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 17 June 2016.

The Home Ministry has taken the initiative to hold preliminary discussions with the state government to evolve ways and means to link the annual Amarnath Yatra with tourism packages so that local population can reap benefits. The Amarnath cave shrine is situated in the Himalayas at a height of 12,756 feet. Pilgrims usually take one of two routes - one of these is from South Kashmir's picturesque Pahalgham and the other is through Northeast Sonamarg. Both are well known tourist spots.
However, the pilgrims are generally focused with the Yatra route and do not venture into other places of tourist attraction like Gulmarg in North Kashmir or the Mughal gardens and Dal lake in Srinagar city. The present proposal will offer them other places.
The cave shrine had been discovered by a Muslim named Buta Malik in 15th century and, ever since then, his family has been receiving a part of the offerings made by the devotees.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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