International Rafting Championship at Sonamarg, Kashmir

Srinagar, July 29 - Six days International Rafting Championship will commence from August 3 in River Sindh at Sonamarg. Besides the teams of various States in country, the Rafting teams from overseas will also participating in the event.

This was shared by Minister for Tourism and Culture while addressing press this evening at Nagin Club Srinagar. Minister of State for Tourism Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani was also present on the occasion.

The Minister further shared that this is for the first time that Jammu & Kashmir Tourism is going to organize such a grand event for adventure lovers. He said the teams from Czech Republic, Canada, Newzeland and Slovakia have confirmed their participation in the championship and added that the teams from USA, Holland and Hungary are also likely to participate in this International Rafting Competition. Three teams from Jammu, Kashmir and JK Police will also participate in the event.

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department has finalized all the arrangements for making the event a success besides arranging for the boarding and lodging fore guest players at the venue.

The Minister said Jammu & Kashmir has tremendous adventure tourism potential and to tap it fully, the government has initiated various innovative steps to create necessary infrastructure for adventure sports in the State. Nature has gifted Jammu & Kashmir with lush green meadows, landscapes, rivers, mountains and slopes that offer huge adventure sports potential.

The Minister said that to promote the adventure tourism in the State he has directed the department to organize various national and international championship of river rafting, skiing and tracking in the State. The Tourism Department is building necessary infrastructure and also purchasing necessary equipment for facilitating the adventure lovers.

International Rafting foundation has also given its patronage to the championship and deputing an expert from Newzeland who will be in Sonamarg to share his knowledge with the participating teams.

Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2009
Yatra resumed from Baltal, suspended from
Pahalgam due to slippery track

Srinagar, July 29 – According to a Spokesperson of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, due to the continuing inclement weather and slippery condition of the track, the Yatra to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji remained suspended on the traditional Pahalgam route for the second consecutive day today. He, however, said that the Yatra was allowed on the Baltal route and around 1950 pilgrims left from the Baltal Base Camp to theHoly Cave today.

The Spokesperson stated that another batch of 502 Yatris left Jammu today for the Pahalgam and Baltal Base Camps, adding that 523 pilgrims had performed darshan at the Holy Cave Shrine on Tuesday.

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