J-K govt plans to put Ladakh on pilgrim tourism circuit

Jammu and Kashmir government today said it has embarked on an ambitious plan to put Ladakh on the pilgrim tourism circuit in view of large number of Buddhist monasteries in the region.
"State government is planning to restore existing monasteries in the region, hire landscaping experts, set up tourism centres and provide basic road infrastructure in the region to woo Buddhist pilgrims from around the globe," state tourism minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Western and Eastern mixed flute concert by Maestro Andrea Griminelli with Emanuele Segre accompanied by Ladakh Musicians at Stok Palace, Leh.

"A detailed project report of Rs 150 crore has been submitted to the Centre for developing tourism circuit in the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," Mir said.
Out of this fund, Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for developing a Buddhist circuit in Ladakh, while the remaining will be spent on encouraging Sufi tourism circuit in Kashmir and pilgrimage centres in Jammu, he said.
Keeping in view the increase in flow of tourists to Ladakh every year, the government plans to have facilities like tourist centres not only in the main city, but also in places which hold tourists' interests like monasteries and areas around the banks of Indus river, the tourism minister said.

"The centres will guide tourists, provide them information and also cater to their needs," he said adding, last year around 1.79 lakh tourists visited the region of which over 30,000 were foreigners.
Ambassador of Italy, Daniele Mancini, the King of Stok Palace with Queen Mother-Disket Wangmo, Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC, Rigzin Spalbar and others were present on the occasion.