Govind Sharma
JAMMU, June 27: Surinsar Lake, a popular picnic and tourist spot, which lost its charm in last over two decades in the absence of any leisure activity, is once again set to become an adventure hub with start of passenger boat service and construction of artificial climbing wall.
Known for its natural bounty and some mythological importance, Surinsar Lake is surrounded by thickly wooded mountain ranges and used to be a popular picnic spot in Jammu due to its proximity from Jammu City but about three decades back, when the passenger boat service was stopped in Surinsar Lake, the inflow of tourists started decreasing.
As per sources, the boating service was stopped simultaneously at Mansar and Surinsar lakes, two major tourist destinations in Jammu. Though boating service was restarted at Mansar Lake in 2002 but it could not be started again at Surinsar Lake and in the absence of any leisure activity, the tourist footfall started decreasing in this famous tourist destination.
In last few years, Tourism Department Jammu wrote many times to Wildlife Department seeking NOC for restarting boat service in Surinsar Lake and after continuous efforts of Tourism Department, Chief Wildlife Warden Jammu on 25-10-2019 accorded permission for operation of passenger boats (3 paddle boats and 3 rowing boats) in Surinsar lake in favour of Director Tourism Jammu for the period upto 31-03-2021.
“However, despite getting permission from Wildlife Department, boating service could not be started at Surinsar Lake first due to some safety concerns raised by the Wildlife Department and then due to Corona pandemic which is still prevalent,” sources said, adding, all issues have been resolved now.
They further informed that an artificial climbing wall at the cost of Rs 36 lakh is almost completed at Surinsar and this will serve an added attraction or feature for the tourists, particularly those looking for some adventurous things. “95 percent work on the climbing wall is complete and the rest will be done within next 15 days,” they added.
Stating that the two faced artificial climbing wall with dimension of 13×5 m (speed wall) and 13×4 (lead wall) is first artificial climbing wall in Government sector, sources said that it is built in Surinsar Amphitheatre called Nanisukh Amphitheatre.
When contacted, Gurvinderjeet Singh CEO, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority said that Surinsar Lake is going to get its old glory soon with start of boating service and construction of artificial climbing wall. He said all the issues coming in way of restarting boating service has been resolved while artificial climbing wall will be ready for operation within a month.
“As soon as the Corona crisis is over, both the activities will be started under the supervision of experts from private sector as both the activities are being outsourced,” he added. He further informed that paragliding is also on the anvil in the vicinity of Surinsar Lake for which NOC has also been issued by district administration. Recently paragliding trials were also successfully done by a private firm, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
