BANGUS TOURISM
“Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast,
Hami asto, hamin asto, hamin asto”
“If there is a heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.” Indeed this statement has thrilled the tourists flocking to Kashmir all along their lives. Kashmir is undoubtedly the land of beauty, an inspiration for so much art, music and poetry. Kashmir is a paradise, a nature lover’s wonderland and a shopper’s dream come true. And one such jewel in the mesmerizing beauty of Kashmir is the Bangus Valley, a relatively unexplored grassland and unknown tourists’ paradise situated in the North western periphery of Tehsil Handwara of Kupwara district. Bangus is a stunningly beautiful valley with a vast tourism potential. It is located at an altitude of 10200 ft about 110 km from Srinagar Airport. The valley is more beautiful than other famous valleys of Kashmir and is also virgin as not many tourists travel to this part of North Kashmir. It has been proposed to be developed as a Himalyan Biosphere Valley by INTACH.
Lying within the Trans-Himalayan area, Bangus is a unique ecological combination comprising a mountain biome, which includes grassland biome with flora at lower altitudes and Taiga or Coniferous forests at higher altitudes. Occupying an estimated area of 300 sq kms (20×15 km), the valley is surrounded by Rajwar and Mawar in the East, Shamshabar and Dajlungun mountains in the West and Chowkibal and Karnah Guli in the North. A smaller valley known as Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus) lies on the North-Eastern side of the main valley Bod Bangus(Large Bangus). Both the valleys have green meadows surrounded by low-lying mountains covered with dense Coniferous forests (budloo) and a stream flowing through them.
With its scenic beauty, sloppy topography, grassland with flora, streams flowing with trout fish, the Bangus Valley has a great prospect of ecotourism. The place has a great potential to become an international tourist spot. The less explored Bangus valley is as beautiful as Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg. Experts say that Asia’s biggest golf course can be made at the place which has green meadows spiraling over hundreds of canals. Bangus Valley has three routes through which people can reach the place, one is from Mawer side of Handwara, second one is from Rajwar side of Handwara and the third one is from Chowkibal, Kupwara. All the three approach roads to Bangus passing through various forest ranges provide an ample opportunity for those in search of adventure. The nearest railway station is in Baramulla. From the railway station of Baramulla it takes almost 2 hours and 15 minutes by cab or bus.
Although Bangus Valley is not explored that much by visitors and tourists but the beauty of this place will soon attract people from all over the world. This place could be perfect for the adventure junkies, as they can indulge in hiking, camping, photography, and vlogging here. This place is ideal for jeep safaris. There is a lot to catch in the camera. If you are planning your Kashmir trip, make sure you include your visit to this place, for it is still untouched by the pollutants.
The valley shares its border with Pakistan and the district Kupwara shares its majority of LOC with Pakistan and is always disturbed and burning due to the ending Kashmir issue. If the area is declared as a protected area it will not only conserve and protect the endemism, wild flora and fauna of the region but also will reduce the tension and promote peace in the northern area of Kashmir which always keep burning and hostility between India, Pakistan and China. The initiative of the Transboundary Protected Area (Strict Nature Reserve 1a IUCN) will help to protect the area from overexploitation, pollution, degradation and devastation and will help the wild flora and fauna to thrive and live in harmony with nature.
The initiative of the Bangus transboundary protected area will reduce the human intervention, exploitation and habitat destruction that will directly help in conserving such high altitude elegant landscapes of Kashmir. The Bangus valley protected area will promote ecotourism and will help to save the pristine water bodies, which originates from the hidden paradise of Bangus valley of north Kashmir. It will help to regulate the climatic conditions of the region and will help in better agriculture production in the area. The Iguazu Falls, a transboundary protected area between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are one of the examples of this peace initiative. The initiative of Trans boundary protected area will help and boost the natural connectivity of wild flora and fauna, which is disturbed since long due to the Kashmir issue. The initiative of the Bangus valley Transboundary Protected area will help to restore peace in the region, will help to reduce the anthropogenic pressures, and will help the wildlife to thrive and live in harmony with nature.
The Bangus Awaam Mela organized by the state administration and Indian Army in the month of August 2021 was a welcome step in which the LG, Manoj Sinha said that it is mesmerizing to see such large gathering at the beautiful valley of Bangus. He also said that Govt will now work rigorously for overall development of Bangus Valley & it’s infrastructure. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Imam Din convened a meeting of concerned officers in the month of September 2021 to review the progress of directions given by Lieutenant Governor during his visit to Bangus valley of Kupwara district on August 11, 2021. Reviewing the department wise activities, the DC directed Executive Engineer R&B to ensure timely compensation to the beneficiaries and blasting of stones wherever required so that road connectivity to Bangus as desired by higher authorities should be completed within the targeted period. He also directed the Jal Shakti department to make DPRs for installation of 15 hand pumps manually as a short term plan to provide drinking water facilities. He directed them to work out a long term plan separately and tap the source of water to ensure a smooth water facility in the Bangus area. The DC asked Assistant Commissioner Panchayats to set up eco-friendly pre-fab toilets at various common
locations in the area. He directed the Forest Department for development of pedestrian paths from Drangyari to Chota Bangus and Reshwari to Bada Bangus for which the Rural development department will provide unskilled labour component. The DC also reviewed the mobile network facility and was informed that two towers have been erected in the Nowgam area and work is in progress. He directed concerned officers to work in tandem with each other so that better results could be yielded to boost the tourist destination Bangus.
– Capt Suyash Sharma
