SRINAGAR: Buoyed by heavy tourist arrival in Ladakh, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has embarked on an ambitious plan to put this Himalayan district on the Buddhist circuit to woo pilgrims.
The government has submitted a detailed project of Rs 150 crore to the Centre to develop tourism circuit in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said today.
He said tourism being a major sector contributing in boosting state’s economy, the state government was planning to restore the existing monasteries in the region, hire landscaping experts, set up tourism centers as well as provide basic road infrastructure in the region.
“The Government has submitted the detailed project report of the plans to the Centre that we want to implement in Ladakh to facilitate tourism in this region.
“The detailed project report which has been submitted is of Rs 150 crore to develop tourism circuit in three regions, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” the Tourism Minister said.
Mr Mir said out of this fund, Rs 50 crore has been earmarked to develop the Buddhist circuit in Ladakh while the remaining will be spent on encouraging the Sufi tourism circuit in Kashmir and pilgrimage centers in Jammu.
He said that keeping in view the increasing flow of tourists to Ladakh every year, the government plans to have facilities like the tourist centers not only in the main city but also in places which hold tourist interests like the monasteries in Ladakh, areas around the banks of Indus river and many more.
“These centers will guide tourists visiting the region and provide them information and also to cater to their various needs,” the Minister said.
