J-K: Historic Mughal road draws tourists after reopening

Mughal Road, a historic roadway in Jammu and Kashmir, became a tourist hot spot soon after it reopened, with people from across the state visiting the mountain ranges and enjoying the scenery.

The 84 kilometre road, situated in Bafliaz area of Poonch district, was opened to traffic on May 3 at the onset of summer, after being closed throughout the winter due to heavy snowfall.

"Traffic authorities are allowing light vehicles to pass by both ways. But heavy traffic is only being allowed one way. This time we used snow cutters and heavy mechanical equipments for the first time. We had snowfall even till March end. So the opening of the road is a result of equipments and efforts," said Assistant Executive Engineer, Mughal Road Division, Bafliaz, Ratan Rajput.

The Mughal Road which connects Rajouri and Poonch districts with the rest of Jammu and Kashmir is a lifeline for the villages located on the border of the province as it connects them to the prominent cities of the state, which are the hub of economic activities.

Last month in April, the state government decided to give an alternative highway status to the road when the crucial Srinagar-Jammu highway was damaged in floods.

With the road being opened as an alternate highway, the region in the Himalayan Pir Panjal range has become popular among tourists with diverse places of attraction including Mughal-era monuments, untouched forests, springs, lakes, waterfalls and shrines.

Tourists from other parts of the state were thrilled with the reopening of the road.

"Thanks to God, the road has opened this year. Since yesterday, vehicles are on the road. It is good that the climate is cold here when people in nearby areas of Rajouri and Jammu are experiencing heat. Here in the Peer Ki Gali, the ice is eight to ten feet deep. So it feels good here," said a tourist, Farooq Ahmed Khan.

Tourists and officials alike hope that the road continues to be open for the benefit of the people and the region as a whole.