Yousemarg (J-K), Oct.21 (ANI): Tourist destinations like Yousmarg in Jammu and Kashmir are attracting many visitors, despite the current off-season.
Yousmarg, which was once considered to be a preferred spot for Bollywood filmmakers, is a small meadow located 50 kilometres from Srinagar.
The hill station was once one of the most sought-after tourist destinations, but lost its popularity due to the rise of militancy in the region.
But as normalcy has gradually restored in the valley, locals as well as tourists have begun to visit this place on a frequent basis.
According to the officials, the number of visitors to Yousmarg has risen from 20,000 to more than a million.
Ghalib Mohi-U-Din, Chief Executive Officer, Yousmarg, said tourists must plan out their stay in such a way that they can spend two to three days at the destination.
"Locals come here more often, but we want that more and more domestic and international tourists visit these destinations. We want them to stay here for a day or two, where they can enjoy trekking as well," he said on Sunday.
The authorities have development on their agenda, apart from promotion of the tourist resort.
School children are often sighted enjoying picnics at Yousmarg.
A tourist, Namrata Chugh, said she was extremely happy to be at Yousmarg, and added that everyone must visit the destination once in their lifetime.
"I am very happy because I have never seen such a place in India before. Everyone told me that this place is just like Switzerland, but it is truly beautiful. The weather is amazing and I feel that all tourists must visit this place. They should come here at least once in a lifetime. It is a picture perfect destination," she said.
Kashmir was once dubbed the Switzerland of the east. It was once a Mecca for climbers, skiers, honeymooners and filmmakers drawn to the state's soaring peaks, fruit orchards and timber houseboats bobbing on Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Planeloads of India's upwardly mobile middle classes have visited the picture postcard-perfect Kashmir Valley this summer, making it the busiest tourist season since the armed revolt began in 1989.
In wake of the decline in violence in India's Kashmir, one gets to see various development activities taking place in every sector. One such example is the opening of ATM in the border village and recently radio cabs were also introduced.
Recently India's junior telecom minister Sachin Pilot launched the video conferencing facility with the help of a landline phone in the state. It was launched under the aegis of the state run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). (ANI)
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