Srinagar,July 19 (Vijay Kumar) – The Chief Executive Officer, SASB,. B. B. Vyas, reiterated that the Shrine Board shall continue to recognise that the economic interests of the local stakeholders were central to the successful conduct of the Yatra.
This was stated by the B. B. Vyas, in his separate meetings with the representatives of Travel and Tour Associations of Kashmir,in Srinagar. Referring to the decisions recently taken, he added that the Board will notify, in January 2010, the specific number of helicopter seats which will be earmarked exclusively for the Associations for the next year’s Yatra, to enable the Tour and Travel and Hotel Associations to secure “group bookings” well before the commencement of the pilgrimage. Mr. Vyas advised the Associations to take full advantage of the Board’s initiatives to bring about the required degree of connectivity between leisure tourism and pilgrim tourism in the State which is crucial for giving a boost to tourism and travel trade in Jammu and Kashmir.
Spokesperson said that the launching a helicopter service from Pahalgam to Panchtarni, the traditional route of Amarnathji Yatra, from July 22, it has been decided to include a heli-Parikrama of the Holy Sheshnag for the air-borne devotees, as an important element of the new helicopter service on the traditional route.
This decision has reportedly been taken by the Board in deference to the wishes of certain sections of the intending pilgrims who for various reasons, like old-age, physical disability etc, cannot undertake the arduous track to have darshan of Holy Sheshnag enroute the Holy Cave Shrine. Consequent to the aforesaid decision the pilgrims, who travel by the helicopter service, shall have the opportunity of flying over Mahagunas and Pissu Tops.
Sheshnag is situated about 27 kilometers from Pahalgam, at an altitude of 3,658 meters. Sheshnag Mountains look like seven heads and the lake resembles the body of a coiled-up snake while the stream appears like the tail of the serpent. Legend has it that Lord Shiva left his Nandi at Pahalgam, released the moon from his hair at Chandanwari and left the snakes around his neck at Sheshnag, and decided to leave His son Ganeshji at Mahagunas or Mahaganesh Parvat. Finally, at Panchtarni, Lord Shiva left the five elements, Panch Tatwas, and proceeded towards the Holy Cave in His Nirgun-Nirakar form.
While thanking the Board for deciding, for the first ever time, to allot a specified number of helicopter seats to Travel and Trade Associations in both the Divisions for facilitating the heli-travel of pilgrims during the current year’s Yatra, in a letter written to the Chairman of the Board (His Excellency the Governor), President of Travel Agents Society of Kashmir has further requested to enhance the number of seats presently allocated in favour of the Associations.
Responding to the demand of the Associations, the Governor has approved doubling of the existing allocation on the Baltal-Panchtarni route for the remainder period of the current year’s Yatra. The Governor has further approved that a total of 30 seats per day shall also be made available to the two Associations, in both the Divisions on the Pahalgam-Panchtarni route. The Board has decided to earmark a special quota of 20 seats per day exclusively for the Hotel Association and the Tent Association of Pahalgam with respect to the Pahalgam-Panchtarni route for the period July 22-August 5, 2009.
The Travel and Tour operators expressed happiness over the launching of the new service from Pahalgam, saying that apart from satisfying the spiritual urge of the Yatris, it will give a big boost to tourism, the mainstay of the State economy.