Introduction
Kamraj Forest Division is one of the most prolific Forest Division in North Circle located in the Northern albeit remote District, Kupwara of Kashmir. The Division has hovered its wings on a significant forest cover of Kupwara and extended its boundaries to forests of Baramulla as well as Bandipora districts covering an area of about 85805.0730 hectares. It comprises 6 Forest Ranges viz. Kupwara, North Lolab, South Lolab, Kandi, Machil and Special Ranges. The Division is blessed with profuse coniferous & Alpine forests, lush green meadows, rich wildlife and various wetlands to add to its diversity. The Headquarters of Kamraj Forest Division are located 2 kilometres away from main Town Kupwara.
Scope of Eco-Tourism in Kupwara
Eco-tourism is associated with nature and poverty alleviation. It is believed to be significant for the generation of income, sustainability of the environment, political enablement of local societies as well as for educational purposes. Kupwara is blessed with scintillating natural beauty and abounds with dense forests, lush green valleys, enchanting meadows, imposing mountains, gushing streams, shimmering lakes and a rich & varied wildlife. This district has got tremendous potential to be developed into a breathtaking tourist destination. From the hidden gem Bangus valley to the picturesque valley of Lolab, Kupwara has got a colossal tourism arsenal at its disposal. Literally, every locale of this district is enchanting, mesmerizing and beckons nature lovers. All spectacles of nature be it a village, plain, hill, mountain pasture, meadows are eye-catching and worth seeing.
Initiatives by Kamraj Forest Division in promoting Eco-tourism (Brainchild of Mr. Zahid Aslam Mughal, DCF)
Kamraj Forest Division is encompassed by pestilential natural beauty. Nature has bestowed it with pristine forests ,eye-catching mountains and luxuriant meadows to attract tourists/nature lovers from across the country. In order to explore this potential Mr. Zahid Aslam Mughal, DCF has instigated efforts and developed various tourist spectacles. From Eco-Parks to trekking routes , various scenic spots have blossomed into tourist destinations to lure people across the valley/country and thereby generated employment opportunities for the local masses.
- NAGRIWARI:
Location: Compartment 82/M
Block: Hatmulla
Range: Kupwara
A bewitching spot covering an area of about 7 hectares located in compartment 82/M of Kupwara Forest Range unbeknownst to most people was developed into a tourist spectacle under Green India Mission and given the sobriquet’ NAGRIWARI’ in the year 2021-22. Inaugurated by the erstwhile PCCF(HOFF), Dr. Mohit Gehra (IFS) in presence of APCCP(CCF Kashmir) ,CF North and DFO,Kamraj the destination has been proving contagious ever since its inception and made rapid strides in luring people not only from the district but elsewhere. The highlight of this tourist destination is that it has an eye-catching natural forest setting, besides, open class rooms for students to enlighten them about the significance of forests. The development of such a fascinating project has not only provided employment opportunities for the unemployed youth as well as local masses but has also brought the unexplored location to the notice of the regime. Needless to say that the development of this tourist spectacle has boosted the local business of the area which was otherwise going downhill There is a lot of passion and enthusiasm about the place among the masses and resultantly this place has been witnessing a plethora of footfalls consistently and thereby proving to be a revenue generating destination in the recent times.The revenue generated is being utilized by the BMC concerned to develop the necessary infrastructure and quality facilities of this destination and to attract more footfalls all over the country to develop it into a tourist hotspot. The spectacle has been witnessing around 10000-14000 footfalls per month.
- SATBARAN ECO-PARK:
Location: Compartment 96/NL
Block: Cherkote
Range: North Lolab Satbaran, already one of the most attracting places in the picturesque valley of Lolab, a cave located in the jungles of Madmadow-Kalaroose, 19 kms from Kupwara Town, is a symbol of ancient architecture. To magnify its limits of attraction, Satbaran eco park was established in the year 2022-23 under Scheme CAMPA hovering an area of about 1.3 hectares. Ever since more and more people all around the UT and elsewhere have been visiting this destination frequently to ravish the soothing views and scenic beauty thereby boosting employment and financial opportunities for local people. The place has got tremendous potential for eco-friendly activities like Photography, Guided Nature walks, bird watching and rock climbing. The destination has been witnessing around 10000-12000 footfalls per month thereby proving to be a livelihood generating source for the local masses. - Montane-Eco Park:
Location: Compartment 37/K
Block: Kehnusa Block
Range: Kandi
Among the few accomplishments , we can passionately talk of is the Montane eco-park located in compartment 37/K which holds the potential of becoming a wonderful Ecological Marvel. Its location is primarily at a place which has a dense range of forests, which always carries with it a breeze of soul refreshing fresh air. On its way, the visitors get to enjoy the mesmerizing magnificence of the world famous Wular Lake, the echoes of footfalls in the surrounding mountains and the lush green scenery all around. Moreover, the development of an eco-park of such nature, apart from its environmental healing capability, plays a pivotal role in the employment generation, upliftment of the economy and societal welfare at large. By attracting a good number of visitors, the employment opportunities of the local populace will shoot up, and therefore improve the economic conditions of local people. The tourist destination has been witnessing around 10000-13000 footfalls per month. - Kariwan Eco-park:
Location: Compartment 35/SL
Block: Doroosa
Range: South Lolab
Located in compartment 35/SL in the world famous Lolab valley, Kariwan eco-park is another feather in our cap in exploring the stratospheric tourist potential of Kupwara District. Surrounded by lush green forests and enchanting meadows,the place is a nascent tourist hotspot. Thrown open for general masses in the year 2021-22 and established under Scheme CAMPA,the place has been witnessing scores of visitors who get to enjoy the magnificence of scenic beauty and enchanting lush green forests. The development of eco-park of such potential off late is paving a way for employment generation of the local populace as the place is attracting scores of nature lovers from across the UT and elsewhere who get to enjoy the picturesque landscapes and green meadows. The place has been witnessing around 10000 footfalls per month.
TREKK ROUTES
Trekking is one of the most delightful physical activity amidst nature, a hypnotic sojourn-on one hand they infuse you with the tranquility of nature and on the other, you also accomplish your adventure goals. Kupwara is swanked with several unbeatable treks where the nature lovers find solace while accomplishing their goals. Envisaging the same potential Kamraj Forest Division has unearthed various routes with the basic aim that more and more people should visit these offbeat locations and popularize these beautiful and scintillating spots where the trekkers/nature lovers exude thrilling experience. This has resulted in generation of livelihood in the villages on forest fringes through home stays, nature guides, trek operators, food stalls and forest souvenirs.
- Kalaroose-Sarkuli- Z-GALI-Machil:
Location/starting point: Kalaroos
Highest Altitude: 2500
Duration: One day
Length: 18 Km
Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult
This unexplored adventurous spot was unearthed and subsequently thrown open for nature lovers by Kamraj Forest Division in the year 2021-22. The trek starts from Kalaroose-Sarkuli and culminates at Z-gali Matchil diversifying its length upto 18 Km. The journey is day long which is of moderate to difficult on the difficulty level. The trek offers sightseeing to lush green coniferous forests predominantly of deodar, Kail and Fir species.The nature lovers also get to enjoy the mesmerizing view of the picturesque Matchil valley. The trek being moderate to difficult on the difficulty spectrum can be undertaken by trekkers of very good fitness levels. As of now, the trek has witnessed footfalls of about 4000. - Watlab-Rajpur-Pathri-Trimukhan-Kariwan-Diver Lolab
Location/Starting point: Watlab
Duration: One day
Length: 17 Kms
Difficulty level: Moderate
Best time to visit: May-September
Attractions: Lavender Park, Rajpora eco-Park, Trimukhan, Kariwan eco-park
Proving to be the hub of adventurous sports this route starts from Watlab Sangri and culminates at Kairvan-Diver. The Watlab trek Journeys along the fecund green woods and glossy meadows infused with the salubrious mountain air. The trek offers scintillating sightseeing of Lavender park, Rajpora and Karivan eco-parks, breathtaking beauty of lush green conifer & broad leaved plants, different animals and euphonic birds. The trek The trek being moderate on the difficulty spectrum can be undertaken easily by trekkers of decent levels. As of now, the trek has witnessed footfalls of about 9000. - Kariwan-Trimukha-Jabriya-Bumus-Nagmargi-Affan:
Location/starting point: Kariwan
Duration: One day
Length: 17 Kms
Difficulty level: Moderate
Best time to visit: Throughout Year
The Kariwan trek route is one of the few trek routes of Kamraj Forest Division that offers a captivating trial throughout the year. The journey is a day long and the trekkers get to enjoy the diverse scenic views and also allows the trekkers to explore new facet of the topography.The trial on the trek is moderately easy and is suited both for amateur and experienced trekkers. The trek has been witnessing 200 footfalls annually on an average. - Salamkani-Kumkadi-Hapathsari-Kimsar
Location/starting point: Halmatpora
Duration: One day
Length: 10 Kms
Difficulty level: Moderate
Best time to visit: May-Nov
The Salamkani route kicks off from Halmatpora and snakes through thickets of deodar and Kail trees followed by a steep uphill trek. The trek is moderate in terms of difficulty gradient and necessitates a decent amount of fitness amount of fitness on part of trekkers. The trek has been witnessing 100 footfalls annually on an average.
The picturesque and enchanting place like Kupwara is just so obsessive. Whether you admire its natural grandeur or go trekking in Kupwara on its off-beat trails ,the experience is just surreal. The district has got life-altering expeditions that stir your senses for a life time. One needs to embark on the soulful journey to witness the absolute elegance of the place.
Conclusion
The Kupwara region in particular is famous for its picturesque vales, snow clad mountains, exquisitely lush green forests, and enthralling weather, therefore making it one of the prominent potential tourism, hiking and trekking destinations. At the same time, owing to a varied number of reasons, despite having a hell lot of tourism arsenal at its disposal, Kupwara still remains unexplored and under-developed to a greater extent. Following that, the indispensable role of the Forest Department comes into play .
Taking the responsibility onto its shoulders during the past few years, Mr. Zahid Aslam Mughal, DFO Kamraj has accelerated the pace of forest developmental works in the district which has caught the attention from far and wide. He took an initiative to develop eco-parks- the first of its kind in the district and spent funds to maintain nurseries and other forest related activities. Ever since his posting in the district, he has remained adamant in making Kupwara a tourism Hotspot. His love for nature is unparalleled. His initiative to develop eco-parks- the first of its kind in the district and unearthing of trek routes has not only helped in enticing visitors all across the country but has also resulted in generation of livelihood for the local populace. Not only has he played a pivotal role in exploring the tourism potential of Kupwara but concurrently has also conserved green gold. His adamantine attitude against the forest damage has instilled fear among the nefarious jungle smugglers which has assuaged the forest damage to an extreme extent in the district.
That being said and done, the mission has just started and there is much more to do before we speak of our accomplishments. We aim at making Kupwara a tourist hotspot by ensuring all the required infrastructure, ambience, state of the art facilities and above all, the conservation of forests which remains our prime job and a duty. Through the conservation of green gold, not only the district will thrive economically but will also eradicate poverty, unemployment ,and most importantly, ecological balance. This is only possible if the general masses cooperate with us to keep alive the wings of hope to reach the destination we all have dreamt of. Making Kupwara a Global eco-tourism Hotspot’’. Green Hopes!
