Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Tourist Trade Peoples’ Federation (JKTTPF), Mahesh Padha, today put forward key recommendations to the Government to strengthen pilgrimage tourism in Jammu Division.
Padha emphasized the need for comprehensive marketing campaigns to promote lesser-known religious sites, improved connectivity and tourist facilities at important pilgrimage destinations, specialized pilgrimage tour packages that blend spiritual, heritage, and adventure experiences, and collaboration with religious institutions to extend yatri visits beyond Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Welcoming the Government’s initiative to develop Pilgrimage Tourism Circuits in Jammu Division, Padha stressed that involving tour operators, hoteliers, transporters, travel agencies, and local businesses is essential for successful execution. He pointed out that these stakeholders possess invaluable on-ground experience that can help shape a sustainable tourism model.
As part of JKTTPF’s efforts, he also announced the promotion of ‘Char Devi Darshan’ & ‘Chaar Dham Yatra’ in Jammu Division. The Char Devi Darshan circuit will cover four major Devi temples, offering a spiritually enriching journey, while the Chaar Dham Yatra will include four significant Hindu religious sites in Jammu, modeled on Uttarakhand’s famous pilgrimage route.
Padha further called for better branding and publicity of Jammu’s religious and heritage sites beyond Vaishno Devi, highlighting key locations like Shahdara Sharif, Shiv Khori, Sukrala Mata, Nangali Sahib, Purmandal-Utterbehni, Kol Kandoli, and Jhiri Mela.
Expressing concern over the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and direct railway connectivity to Kashmir, he warned that these developments could divert tourist traffic away from Jammu. He urged the Government to take a proactive approach in promoting the region’s tourism potential.
The post JKTTPF calls for strategic boost to pilgrimage tourism in Jammu appeared first on Daily Excelsior.