Captivating Bangus Valley craves for tourism activities

Government claims about tourism promotion in Kashmir notwithstanding, residents of Kupwara and Handwara feel dejected as according to them authorities have neglected the Bangus Valley.

According to the residents, despite it being the captivating and entrancing spot which could have proved an economic boon for north Kashmir, the authorities’ approach towards the Bangus Valley has been disappointing.

“Blessed with natural beauty, Bangus, the land of beautiful meadows, flowers, green pastures, coniferous forests, glaciers and snow covered mountains has been facing complete neglect from past one decade from the successive regimes,” the locals said.

The residents alleged that Tourism and other government department agencies had been deliberately slow in carrying out developmental projects in the area.

“Poor road connectivity and ill planning is hampering the prospectus of Bangus,” they said.

“The 109 Beacon authorities are not completing the Rs 24 crore road project from Kashtawr (Nogam) to Neldori for several years” Javid Zargar, spokesman of civil society Kupwara said.

“Even as there is a lot of improvement in situation here, much less tourists, the locals are not allowed to visit the Bangus Valley by the Army,” he said, adding that the people seeking to visit the tourist place are being asked to get permission which entails tedious process like getting verification from Nogam brigade headquarters, and police verification from Handwara, etc.”

“These restrictions are hampering the start of tourism activities in the Bangus Valley,” Zargar said.

Meanwhile, the locals appealed the authorities to open the Bungs Valley for tourism activates. “We also appeal the Police and the Army to make the permission process easy, hassle-free and less time-consuming so that the domestic and outside tourists visit the place,” they said.

The locals suggested that tents, pre-fabricated huts and other accommodation should be made available by the government at Bangus to promote the tourism.

They also suggested that pony services from Wadarbala onwards, Kashtwar (Nogam) andBadibehick Chowkibal to Bangus may be allowed and initiated so that visitors enjoy coming to this place.

“Services of local unemployed youth should also be utilized as tourist guides,” they said. Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad, Deputy Director Tourism department (Publicity) told that tourism department is soon going to organize a FAM (familiarization tour) for Bungs and other tourist places of Kupwara district like Lolab, and Drangyari and local and national travel agencies, media persons, travel bloggers, and travel operators are being roped to visit the tourist places of Kupwara.

Pertinently Bangus Valley which has remained relatively unknown place has vast tourism potential and unparallel scenic beauty.  It has two meadows which are very bigger than the lush greens of Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

Inside the Bungs there are no roads and human habitation. The occasional visitors are the shepherds and local Gujjar tribes whorear the sheep, cattle and horses.

Lokut Bungs, a seventy six square kilometer rectangular bowl place is delimited by lofty mountain ranges and one can see the nature in its purest form here.

Bangus spreads over a 300 square kilometers of the principal valley locally known as ‘Bodh Banugs’ (Big Bangus) which is liner elliptical bowl aligned along the east west axis.

Both the Valleys comprise level green meadows and natural landscaping surrounded by low-lying mountains covered with dense pine forests.

It is a land of beautiful meadows and herdsmen have recognized about 100 meadows so far. These meadows are covered with a range of flowers and medicinal plants.

This picturesque valley is traversed by a number of small streams, which include the Roshan Kul,Tiliwan Kul and Douda Kul being fed by the waters of the Qazinag and Satkulnag springs.