Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: A three day recreation and trekking expedition to Shankhpal Temple in the Patnitop Tourism Circuit concluded successfully today.
Director Tourism, Jammu had flagged a group of nearly 100 trekkers from Jammu to this historical temple of local diety, on Tuesday.
The expedition, organised by Patnitop Development Authority in collaboration with Directorate of Tourism Jammu, District Administration Udhampur and Ramban, was aimed at imbibing in the youngsters the enthusiasm for adventures besides promoting adventure tourism in Jammu region.
The trekkers from within Jammu region, and outside the Union Territory participated in the expedition. They traversed through the lush green meadows to reach the highest point of Shankhpal ridge, almost 9383 ft high, where the temple is situated.
Students of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University along with Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Registrar also participated in the expedition.
Sher Singh, CEO, PDA said, “The trek had participation from States like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan and Punjab, besides J&K, and they were enthralled to see the spectacular mountains bathed in dense fog, nomadic community enroute their seasonal migration with sheep, goats, buffaloes, horses etc.”
Moreover, during the trek, PDA launched an initiative ‘Carry The Trash Back’ which shall sensitize people to keep the environment neat and clean. A team of PDA as well as the trekkers collected the waste from the route.
“The initiative has made the participants more conscious of the waste they produce, as they actively collected the litter and other waste and put in bags. It will inspire them to use biodegradable and reusable items up the mountains,” CEO PDA mentioned, adding that PDA staff works everyday to clear the area of waste, but voluntary contributions from public are also required to achieve our goal of ‘Clean Patnitop Green Patnitop’.
While felicitating the participants, he asserted that PDA will continue to organise such trekking camps and other activities in future to promote adventure tourism, with cleanliness of environment always in their consideration.
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