Gandola - a boon for Gulmarg

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MAY 30. The resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam are presenting different pictures in respect of tourist traffic with the former registering larger number of them. While the cable car project - Gandola - is proving to be a boon to tourism in Gulmarg, the recent killings in south Kashmir has adversely affected the same in Pahalgam.

After a darshan at Katra shrine, Srinagar becomes the next place for tourists. It is then Gulmarg or Pahalgam. However, so far the attraction has been Gulmarg, being more safe, not far and the last being the Gandola ride. Tourists from West Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra are seen in Gulmarg in large numbers. For Puyush, a 10th class student from Mumbai, it was a wonderful trip. ``I am here with my parents, sisters and brothers and have faced no problem,'' he said. Nirmal Jhunjuhnwala, a businessman from Patna, was forthright in saying that ``Yahan to Ram raj hai, hamarein yahan jungle raj hai''. There is absolutely no problem here, he adds.

The Tourism Department officials are also optimistic about having a better tourist season this year. Before the Kargil war, the scene was different. Hotels had no rooms, the damaged infrastructure was to be set right within days and hundreds of vehicles coming everyday was a routine.

``But in a twinkle of eye tourists left this place as the war was hotting up,'' said an official. Though Gulmarg has dilapidated roads, the department is making every effort to make the stay of tourists comfortable. ``We have been trying our best to provide facilities to them,'' said Mr. G.M. Dar, another official. He says the number of tourists is increasing day-by-day.

Gandola project is proving to be a boon for the business at this tourist resort. Its daily earning is around Rs. 80,000. Constructed at a cost of Rs. 24 crores, the project's first phase of 2.5 kilometres with 100 cabins is functional from dawn to dusk. Aided by the French Government, under the Indo-French Protocol Agreement, the project's second phase work is likely to begin this year.

Its senior manager, Mr. Badru Jamali, said negotiations with the French firm for the second phase were in an advanced stage. The Corporation is also planning to have a cafeteria at Kangdoori, the last point of the project.

The scene in Pahalgam is different. Officials admit that the recent killings had an adverse impact on tourist traffic. Since bomb blasts were common in the past few weeks even locals were scared to come. However, the flow is increasing with an average 1,000 tourist coming to Pahalgam. According to Mr. G.R. Khan, tourist officer, local excursion during weekends are a regular feature. Though 19 hotels are functioning apart from huts of the Tourism Department, occupancy is still less. In May, 14,196 tourists visited Pahalgam, of whom 96 were foreigners.

Though the tourist flow is on the rise, it is likely to go down again as the Amarnath yatra starts on July 13. For the unprecedented security arrangements and pollution as a result of langars, the tourists, including local visitors, avoid coming to Pahalgam. However, this year the Government has decided to shift the langars from Pahalgam to a nearby location, so that tourism is not affected.

``There is pollution of every kind including noise from all the sides for that period and no one who comes to enjoy here would like that,'' said a hotelier. On the other hand, there is no benefit to local traders during yatra as the langars are free and the shopkeepers and hoteliers have no business.

The ponywallahs also complain that security forces are interfering in their business and to check this they have formed an association which has taken up the matter with the Government.

In the coming days the tourist traffic to Pahalgam may increase but it depends on the attitude of Government agencies during the Amarnath yatra.

(Concluded)

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