Aharbal emerging as major tourist attraction

Shopian: Famed tourist spot Aharbal, known for its burbling waterfall has again sprung to life with government lifting COVID-19 restrictions on public parks and tourist places.

Located around 27 kms from south Kashmir’s Kulgam town and 14 kms from Shopian, the area is abuzz with both local as well as outstation tourists.

“Every year we come to picnic here. This place gives us a heavenly feeling”, said a family from Srinagar.

Ghalib Mohidin Shah CEO Ahrabal Development Authority told Greater Kashmir that on weekends around eight thousand people visited the area.

Over past several years, Aharbal has turned out to be a major attraction for tourists due to the significant attention given to the development of infrastructure in the area.

“Budgeted accommodations, restaurants, water points and many public conveniences have been constructed in the area”, said Shah

According to Shah, fencing has also been erected around the awe-inspiring waterfall to contain the accidents. “We have also deployed security guards around the waterfall to make sure that people would not draw very close to the water fall”, he said.

The authorities have a flurry of plans in pipeline to tap the maximum tourist potential of the area.

“We will hold festivals, introduce adventure tourism like Zorbing and promote tracking”, said Shah.

He said that the upper areas including Chiranbal, Kongwaten and Kausarnag would also be developed. “A proposal has already been sent to Directorate of Tourism for the funds”, Shah added.

To give further impetus to tourism and responding to the long pending demand of people, the government is also planning to roll out a cable car in Ahrabal.

Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) has been already invited to carry out a technical and feasibility survey in the area.

“It may be introduced from Sedow to Aharbal”, said Shah. He, however, said that the technical experts would have a final say. GK