Kashmir – आवारा मुसाफिर

Amid conflict, pigeon keeping thrives in Kashmir

July 2, 2022275 Views

As a teenage schoolboy, Syeedna Ismail Hussain Banday cultivated pigeon keeping as his favorite hobby in the heart of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Three decades later, though he went on to become a civil engineer and set up his own construction company, his untiring love for pigeons continues. Banday, 44, is now a professional pigeon breeder and has his own flock of some 400 pigeons. “These birds are integral part of my life,” Banday said. “They have made me a patient person and brought discipline in my life.” Pigeons are displayed for sale at an open pigeon market in Srinagar, Kashmir, June 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) Pigeons are seen inside a residential building in Srinagar, Kashmir, June 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) The centuries-old tradition of pigeon keepi...

जम्मू-कश्मीरभारतसैर-सपाटा

कश्मीर की सबसे सुंदर गुरेज घाटी

Brajesh Rajput

June 16, 20221149 Views

जब भोपाल से चले थे तभी से इस बात का रोमांच था कि अबकी बार कश्मीर में गुरेज घाटी जाएंगे जिसे ब्रिटिश लेखक वाल्टर लारेंस ने अपनी किताब वेली आफ कश्मीर में कश्मीर घाटी का सर्वाधिक सुंदर हिस्सा कहा था। यूं तो पूरा कश्मीर ही धरती का खूबसूरत टुकडा है मगर जब हर विषय के गहरे जानकार हमारे मेजबान आईपीएस अफसर राजाबाबू सिंह जी ने गुरेज की तारीफ के कसीदे पढ़े तो हमसे रहा नहीं गया तो हमने दो दिन में श्रीनगर के बाग बगीचे झीलों की तफरीह जल्दी जल्दी की और निकल पड़े गुरेज वेली जो श्रीनगर से 123 किलोमीटर दूर है। श्रीनगर शहर से बाहर निकलते ही दूर दिखने वाले पहाड़ करीब आने लगते हैं। रास्ते के दोनों तरफ हरे भरे खेतों के बीच चलते हुये सफर आसान लगने लगता है। रास्ते में कश्मीर के कस्बे, वहां लगी फल और बेकरी की छोटी छोटी दुकानें, फिरौन पहने उंचे खूबसूरत लोग, यूनिफार्म पहनकर स्कूल जाते बच्चे और सड़क किनारे बहने व...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

Amarnath Yatra 2022 expected to be ‘much bigger’ than before

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

April 11, 2022798 Views

This year's Amarnath Yatra is expected to be twice in size than before, with the Jammu and Kashmir administration preparing to welcome about 8 lakh pilgrims to the cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said on Monday. The arrangements for the yatra, to be held after a gap of two years, were discussed at a meeting here chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Apurva Chandra. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir regions, and deputy commissioners, participated in the meeting. Talking to reporters here, Chandra said the meeting was informed that this year's Amarnath Yatra is expected to be the biggest and best ever. Expectations are that this year's yatra will be twice the size than ...

जम्मू-कश्मीरभारतसैर-सपाटा

Tourists flock to Kashmir’s lakes, boats

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

April 6, 2022857 Views

Kashmir is attracting record tourists after the easing of pandemic restrictions and some improvement in the security situation, bolstering local businesses. Tourist arrivals are set to touch a ten-year high this year after more than 340,000 tourists have come since January, local tour operators and government officials said, despite restrictions on foreign tourists and some recent incidents of violence. Tourism plunged in Kashmir after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration stripped the region of its special status and autonomy in 2019, and later as the COVID-19 pandemic cut domestic and foreign tourist inflows. Tourists ride "Shikaras" or boats in the waters of Dal Lake during sunset in Srinagar, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Danish Ismail "We are seeing the highest-ever tour...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

Kashmir’s Tulip Garden opens to public

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

March 23, 2022382 Views

1.5 million flowers with six new varieties of tulips this year Asia's largest tulip garden overlooking the famous Dal Lake here was thrown open to the public on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the new tourism season in the Kashmir Valley. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh, was opened in 2008 by then chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea of the garden, spread over 30 hectares in the foothills of the snow-clad Zabarwan range, was conceived to advance the tourism season in the valley by two months. The garden was thrown open to the public by J-K chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Mehta said the last six months have seen the highest-ever tourist footfall in the v...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीरलद्दाख

Srinagar-Leh highway re-opens in record time

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

March 19, 2022999 Views

The strategic 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway was re-opened for vehicular traffic on Saturday in record time of 73 days after its closure in January this year following heavy snowfall, officials said. A trial movement was conducted successfully, and the decision to open the road for civil traffic will be taken after a joint inspection by the civil administration. The highway was thrown open for traffic at the Zojila Pass, situated at an altitude of 11,650 feet metres, by Director General of BRO Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary, the officials said. Zojila is a strategic pass that provides a vital link between the Kashmir valley and Ladakh, and it is key to operational preparedness of the armed forces. It remains closed mostly for about six months due to heavy snowfall. This year, ...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

‘Chinar gah’ over 100 kanals in Ganderbal

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

March 16, 2022858 Views

The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department on Tuesday established a "Chinar Gah" over an area of 100 kanals in Ganderbal district, planting 130 trees to mark 130 years of the department's existence. "On the occasion of Chinar Day, the Forest Department has undertaken the establishment of a 'Chinar Gah' over an area of 100 kanals at Harran Ganderbal in central Kashmir," forest official Zahid Wani said. He said 130 chinar trees were planted to commemorate the completion of 130 years of existence of the J-K Forest Department. FILE PHOTO: Chinar trees in Kashmir during autumn Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, inaugurated a chinar plantation drive by planting saplings at the famous Mughal Garden in Nishat Bagh here. Pole highlighted the importance of ch...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

Gulmarg’s Igloo café becomes bigger this year, claims to be largest

UPENDRA SWAMI

February 6, 2022704 Views

Syed Wasim Shah, creator of the igloo, claimed it was the world's largest cafe of its kind and can seat 40 guests An igloo café, which came up at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time last year has grown bigger this year. Café has become a centre of attraction for tourists coming to this snow paradise. Café serves hot food and drink on tables made of ice and snow. With a height of 37.5 feet and a diameter of 44.5 feet, Syed Wasim Shah, creator of the igloo, claimed it was the world’s largest cafe of its kind. Last year this igloo was 26 feet around and 15 feet high. Igloo cafe at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir. Photo: PTI Shah's igloo café is the only of its kind in India and is inspired by similar attractions in the Northern parts of Europe such...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

Rates for various tourist services in Kashmir notified

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

December 17, 2021985 Views

The Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir has notified rates for various services provided to tourists and activities conducted at tourist destinations across the Valley, officials said on Friday. A notification to this effect under the Jammu and Kashmir Registration of Tourist Trade Act was issued by Director, Tourism, Kashmir, G N Itoo here on Thursday. The rates have been notified for the year 2021-22 and 2022-2023, the notification said. The tourism services for which the rates have been fixed or revised include tourist guides, ski guides, mountain/trekking guides, sledges, ski equipment, ice skating, ice skating equipment, rafting, cycling, zorbing, hydro zorbing, snow mobile, ATV, motorbiking, paragliding, motor boats, bathing boats, labour/helper/mazdoor/porter for trekking ...

खबरनामाघटनाएंजम्मू-कश्मीर

Amarnath Yatra cancelled due to Covid pandemic

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

June 21, 20211111 Views

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided that the annual Amarnath Yatra will be kept symbolic, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday. He also directed officials to make arrangements so that devotees can virtually attend the morning and evening aartis' at the Himalayan cave shrine. This will allow them to pay obeisance while avoiding travel and exposure to the infection, the lieutenant governor (L-G) said . Sinha said that at the shrine all traditional religious rituals shall be performed according to past practice. !function(e,t,c,a){if(!e.fwn&&(a="fwn_script",n=e.fwn=function(){ n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments) },e._fwn||(e._fwn=n),n.queue=[],!t.getElementById(a))){var d...