Tourism ministry announces Rs 100 crore for Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI: Tourism ministry has announced a Rs 100 crore relief package for Uttarakhand which witnessed an unprecedented natural calamity causing colossal damage to both life and infrastructure in the state.

As an exceptional case, tourism minister K Chiranjeevi announced a special package for restoration and reconstruction of the affected government tourist facilities. This will be above the Rs 95 crore of sanctioned central financial assistance given for developing tourism infrastructure this year. Earlier, the minister had pledged Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD fund for the victims.

The special financial package is expected to help rebuild the now damaged government tourist infrastructure.

The state has been advised to assess the destroyed and damaged tourist amenities and conveniences and come back with the requirement of funds for rebuilding the infrastructure.

The funds sanctioned in the relief package will be utilized for restoration and reconstruction of tourist infrastructure across the state with a special focus on tourist facilities along yatra route which will be used for providing shelter to the disaster hit pilgrims and tourists.

Top 10 Places to visit in Kashmir During Amarnath Yatra 2013

The Amarnath Yatra 2013 Dates have been announced and the Yatra is all set to start from the 28th June, 2013. If you are planning to visit the holy shrine this year, you must seize the lifetime opportunity of visiting the heaven on the earth. So, here is a take what all the things we have in the platter. Here’s the list:- 

In this post, we are going to share the 10 Top Most Popular and Must visit Places in Kashmir. 

 1. Dal Lake:-

If you know Dal lake is the second largest lake in Kashmir. It attracts lakhs of tourists every year. People from both India and abroad come here to witness the scenic beauty. It is a very famous destination amongst the people who come in the state for the yatra itself. You can experience the life in water, with the houseboats and shikaras available there. The lake is completely frozen during the winter time. In short, the Dal lake is called the lifeline of Kashmir. 

2. Pahalgam:-

Pahalgam is another famous destination. The place is located on the banks of Lidar river. The place remains a hot spot as it is the base camp of the Amarnath yatra. Pahalgam is located in the Anantnag district. It is associated with the Amarnath Yatra ji. Pahalgam is mostly associated with the annual Amarnath yatra as it is the starting point of the yatra.

3. Shalimar:-

The garden was built by the Mughals in the Islamic nature. The place is a hit with the tourists because of the feature it includes- pool, fountains and canals. The bagh was actualy built by the famous Mughal emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. Tourists visit the place across the year to witness the beauty of nature. It is a very famous picnic spot, otherwise too.

4. Nishat Bagh:-

The bagh is also a part of the Mughal gardens. Located on the eastern side of the Dal lake, it is the second largest Mughal garden after the Shalimar bagh. The word “Nishat” means Garden of Joy. The bagh was designed and finally built by Asif khan, the elder brother of Nur Jahan to which the bagh is dedicated. Every year, umpteen number of tourists visit the place for its world famous scenic beauty. 

5. Shankracahrya Shrine:-

The shrine is built in memory of a famous Indian philosopher Shankaraacharaya. The temple is located in the Kashmir city at a height of 1000 meters above the city. The shrine is located to Lord Shiva. A lot of people visit the shrine while going for the yatra. People enjoy the shrine and pray to the lord. 

6. Sonmarg:-

Sonmarg is a hill station, which is located in the Ganderbal district of the state. The place is famous all across the world for its eye catching scenic beauty. Also, called the meadow of gold, the climate here is a bonus for the tourists. There is frequent rainfall and in winters it witnesses heavy rainfall. While going for the yatra, you can easily witness the place as it is easily accessible from Srinagar. 

7. Sheshnag Lake:-

The lake is a high altitude lake situated on the track which finally leads to the Amarnath yatra from Pahalgam. According to the mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva had taken off snake near the lake. Till today, a lot of snakes are found near the lake. People specially visit the place for its scenic beauty and its mythological importance.

8. Chashmashahi Bagh:-

The bagh was originally built by the Mughals. The place is an extension to the royal scenic beauty one expects to witness in Kashmir. The garden mainly focuses on the spring which flows down the terrace, and which further divides into three sections- aqueduct, waterfall and the fountains. The bagh is very beautiful and is a must visit place while going for the yatra.

9. Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve:-

The reserve is 49 Km from Srinagar. The reserve is very vast. It can be understood from the fact that it covers an area of around 180 sq-km. The main attraction of the reserve is the Musk deer, as it is considered to be one of the endangered species. A lot of other flora and fauna species can be found like fox, brown bear etc. The place generally attracts students. 

10. Roza Bal:-

Roza Bal is the name of the shrine located in the city of Kashmir. The place is visited by people from all sects- Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. The tomb is a rectangular building made on a low height surrounded by the high railings in the front. Many people believe the sage buried there with Yuz Asaf, whom they believe visited Kashmir after surviving the crucifixion. The tomb was looked after by the local descendents. It is a must visit place if you happen to visit Kashmir. 

Uttarakhand: a tiny village does what a state fails to do

A tiny impoverished Himalayan village on the banks of the Bhagirathi river has done what the state government is still struggling to do - reach out to the stranded and offer them some comfort.
Residents of Bhagori, a village of around 350 families, are providing food to the hundreds of pilgrims awaiting their turn to be airlifted from the Harsil army helipad, which is close to the village and 25km downstream from pilgrim town of Gangotri in the flood-ravaged Uttarkashi district.
The villagers, mostly shepherds, weavers, small farmers and some servicepersons, bring in whatever they can afford -- cooking oil, flour and lentils.

The women then cook and offer the pilgrims dal-chawal or puri-sabzi. Tea is available through the day. 

Visiting home for their annual vacation, young men and women, students in Delhi, Dehradun and other cities, escort the survivors to the community kitchen set up in an apple orchard. They have spilt duties.

Some take drinking water to the pilgrims queuing up for the helicopter in the searing heat of the sun.

"Do not worry about us. We have enough grain to feed ourselves. Please eat well," 56-year-old Shanta Devi assures the pilgrims as she kneads dough for puris.

Villagers, who practice both Hinduism and Buddhism, set up the kitchen on Thursday but haven't kept the count of the meals served.

"We will continue this kitchen till the pilgrims are here or till our resources last."

"We're grateful to these villagers who are keeping us alive when the government here seems to be dead," said Naresh Devgan, a businessman from Ludhiana.

Like Devgan, most of the people have run out of money. The nearest ATM is 70 km away in Uttarkashi town, which is cut-off as rain has washed away roads. Repairs will take at least two weeks.

The village kitchen complements the efforts of the 5th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles stationed at Harsil.

Around 2,000 pilgrims are staying in its barracks and the local school.

Every day, new people join in and supplies are running low.

"We will soon run out of supplies but for now, we will eat the same dal-chawal together," says commanding officer Col Pradeep Singh.

Army officials haven't been asked by the district authorities to help but are taking in pilgrims purely on humanitarian grounds.

Over 40% of Amarnath Shivling melts days before yatra

Jammu: The holy Shivling at the Amarnath cave has shrunk to almost half its actual size barely two weeks ahead of the commencement of the annual Hindu pilgrimage.

Reports claim that over 40% of the ice stalagmite has melted even before the yatra that begins June 28, raising questions over how the thousands of pilgrims who trek the treacherous mountainous ravines to reach the holy cave will be able to chance upon a ‘darshan’ of the same.

The presence of a large number of pilgrims inside the cave is sure to further raise the temperature inside the premises thereby further damaging the stalagmite figure.

The premature melting of the ‘Shivlingam’ is rumoured to be the effect of either global warming or due to the heavy presence of pilgrims and security personnel inside the Amarnath cave.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra formed a two-member team to review the status of arrangements for the yatra and the duo could meet stakeholders to discuss ways to handle the issue. 

100 houses collapse; 25 dead, over 50 missing as rain batters Uttarakhand

Dehradun: Uttarakhand has been battered by the rain fury. The torrential rain has caused landslips in the higher reaches and swept away several roads and bridges in Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts. It has also led to suspension of the Char Dham Yatra.

The rain has caused havoc in Kedarnath Valley, one of the four Hindu pilgrim spots (Char Dham) in Uttarakhand, where more than 100 houses have reportedly collapsed due to landslide. Reports say 25 people have been killed and more than 50 others are missing. Reports also say that nearly 24,000 pilgrims are stranded in the valley because of landslides.

10 choppers have been ordered to assist in evacuating those stranded, however, unfavourable weather conditions have made it impossible for the choppers to land. 12 teams of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) have reached some of the worst-affected areas like Rudraprayag .

Flash floods in the Assiganga in Uttarkashi swept away vehicles and heavy machineries yesterday evening with a high alert being sounded for local residents and labourers to move to higher ground. The state government has sounded a warning of 48 hours to all those on the Char Dham Yatra across the hill-districts.

Both Mandakini and Alaknanda, major tributaries of the Ganga, are flowing over the danger mark and the bridge connecting Rudraprayag and Gaurikund has been damaged leading to its closure, disaster management officer Meera Kenthura said.

State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Yashpal Arya said the administration is on alert to deal with any emergency.

All government schools in capital Dehradun have been closed as precautionary measure.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is busy repairing the roads damaged by rains, he said, adding that the state government has also sought the assistance of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to clear the roads blocked due to landslides.

Jiah Khan suicide case: Sooraj Pancholi in judicial custody till June 27

MUMBAI: A Mumbai court on Thursday sent Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, to judicial custody till June 27 on charges of abetting the suicide of actress Nafisa alias Jiah Khan.

Shortly after the court decision, Sooraj's lawyer said he would move a bail plea in a sessions court. Sooraj was arrested on Monday.

Sooraj, 22, was presented in the court after the end of his three days' police custody.

The public prosecutor sought more time for questioning the accused in police custody to unravel details on Jiah's suicide, especially since he (Sooraj) had allegedly deleted all mobile records of SMSes and MMSes sent by the late actress.

Police contended that statements of as many as 27 people had been recorded.

Sending Sooraj to judicial custody, the court ruled that he would be lodged in the Arthur Road Central Jail.

Sooraj's arrest came soon after a letter penned by Jiah was recovered by her family who handed it over to police last week. In the six-page letter, Jiah also mentioned about her abortion.

Jiah ended her life by hanging herself at her Juhu home June 3.