Kashmir has been bestowed with scenic beauty, evergreen forests, springs, rivers, meadows, and much more. There are numerous places that are worth to visit by tourists. Uri-the border town of northern district of J&K is one of such places to visit. Uri is a beautiful town which is located on the banks of river Jehlum. The town is 45kms from district headquarter and near about 100 kms from the summer capital Srinagar. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountains which add more beauty to the town. In ancient times uri was known as the gateway to Kashmir , and a halting station cum transit camp for the passengers and tourists coming from outside to visit Kashmir. Uri is also famous for the its walnut market which is mainly established at Lagama.. Two main power projects functioning in Uri have shown good impact on the economic condition of the people of this area and are supplying power to JK UT and rest of the country on large scale. Uri has more than 40 villages and Namblais one of the village of tehsil Uri. The nature has blessed the village with scenic beauty. Nambla is located at a distance of 8 Kms from Tehsil Headquarter and about 52 Kms from District Headquarter Baramulla.It is one of the biggest villages of tehsil in terms of population as per 2011 census. The nature has bestowed the village with fresh water bodies and a good forest cover. The village is covered with small mountains presenting a beautiful valley like view. The main two water streams flows in between the village which also acts as the main source of irrigation for agriculture purpose and also supplies drinking water facilities to nearby villages vizGarkote,SaidPura,Balkote and also tehsil headquarter Uri. There are number of small ponds and springs which also act as source of drinking water to the local habitants.The village witnessed a good number of tourists visiting from various parts of the valley to enjoy the scenic beauty of the villageduring covid-19 lockdown and restrictions post abrogation of Article 370.The most important and famous destinations which attracted tourists the most include the Rustum, waterfall, Baba Faridziarat, Danna and Kandi- the highest mountain peak in Uri. The village is a good place for Botanical Tour for medical students of Higher Secondary and College level as there are number of Medicinal Plants and herbs in various places of Nambla Village. The main crops which are produced in the village include Maize, Walnuts, Apple, Pear, Apricot, etc which acts as income source for the habitants. The Waterfall which is located in the upper belt of the village is one of the important places which attract the tourist more. Waterfall Nambla which showers at an estimated height of 250 to 300 feet is worth to watch. The waves of water falling from such a height are making the place quite cool and people low to sit in the lap of waterfall to spend some time there with nature. The place is surrounded by beautiful pine trees and other plants.From the left side of the waterfall is an uphill track which goes towards the glacier which is main source of water fall at an estimated distance of 1 to 2 km by foot from waterfall. People use to go to the bhaks in the month of May June and July for grazing their cattle and other live sty. Two important bhaks are under security forces as they are located on the border line of the India Pakistan and people are permitted only after security check at the post located at the entrance of the bhaks. ChapparGalla, Jodhralla and lonewalla are main important bhaks of the village. Baba Farid is also a tourist destination present in the village.
Baba Farid is a religious place of sofi saint Baba Farid Ud Din which is located at the top of the mountain, is also an attraction for tourist throughout the year except the harsh winter as there is no road access towards this place. The road access to this religious place is long pending demand of the locals and also tourists. The demand of Rope Way towards the Shrine will ease the access and also promote the place as famous tourist destination and ultimately will give employment opportunities to the local habitants. The road access to these places particularly Baba Farid and Nambla Waterfall will increase the tourist footfall &commuters may not face any hardships while travelling to these places.Peeople of the village are awaiting the kind attention of the local and UT authorities for the upliftment of these places as tourist spots.Most of the areas of Uri are worth to be promoted as tourist destinations Baba Qazinag Shrine at Kamalkote, Bosnia and Baaz in upper Gingle, ChattiPadshahi in Paranpillan, NHPC 1st&2nd reservoir sites, Salambad Tourist Reception Centre, Garkote View Point, Nambla Danna, Sokar, are few to name among them. The local habitants mostly belong to the labour class and are economically weaker; the promotion of these places will generate a good revenue and will ultimately help the common masses to earn their livelihood. As we are aware that Uri being a border tehsil some of its villages are affected badly during the cross border shelling. The residents suffer huge economic and life losses due to this cross border selling from time to time and are forced to shift to safer places leaving their homes. It has been now over an year that there is complete ceasefire on the border which give locals a ray of hope to live in peaceful environment. The dwellers are very much peace loving and Hospitable. School Education Department & Physical education department also organised various local tracking tours of students of schools present of the Sub division to these places from time to time. Local picnics are often organised to these destinations in order to enjoy the scenic beauty. It is worthwhile to mention here that Nambla and all these destinations are good places to visit for Botanical Tour, Environmental Tour, and other Educational Activities for the Higher Secondary and College level students. In the recent past Department of Tourism has released list of notified tourist villages but it is very unfortunate that Uri has been neglected by the authorities concerned. It is very long pending demand of the locals that the village may be promoted as fulltime tourist destination and hope necessary steps will be taken in near future to promote these sites on tourist map.
(The author is a freelancer. Views are his own)
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