Aharabal gets its grace back

After Pahalgam, the world famous tourist spot Aharabal, in south Kashmirs Kulgam district is emerging as a new tourist destination with hundreds of tourists thronging the place everyday to see the Asia's largest waterfall.

Besides locals the domestic tourists from many states of the country could be seen enjoying the freshwaters falling terribly from the height of 25 meters.

"I had heard a friend of mine praising Aharabal a lot and was desperate to visit this place. It is really a nice experience to get soothed by the crystal clear and murmuring waters of the waterfall," said a resident of Chennai, Vinod who has planned a two weeks stay in the valley.

The place has also become the favourite picnic spot for the school children as the dozens of school buses could be seen moving towards the spot everyday.

"Besides many schools from Srinagar almost all the schools of the nearest districts Kulgam and Shopian prefer Aharabal for taking the children on picnic," said Bilal Ahmad who is running a shop near the spot. Aharabal Development Authority (ADA) meant for the development of the spot in order to attract the more and more tourists has taken up many schemes to developed the spot on modern lines.

Chief executive officer, ADA, Mohammad Shafi Kakroo said that keeping in view the tourist rush to the spot they are trying to develop it all the modern and hygienic lines. "Besides developing a recreational park on about 51 kanals of land we have developed many viewing desks which will soon thrown open for the tourists," Kakroo said.

He said t they have also taken steps for the night accommodation of the tourists by maintaining the paying guest houses or by constructing the huts and guest houses.

"Besides a 20 roomed guest house 4 double bedded huts which are under construction at the spot many residential houses have been converted into paying guest houses for the night stay of the tourists," CEO said adding " A modern cafeteria is also under construction for the refreshment of the tourists". He said that for the cleanliness of the tourist spot they engage many people against the daily wages.

" Besides development the cleanliness and hygiene of the place is my priority. For that purpose i engage some people against daily wages who pickup the garbage from the pathway, viewing desks and around the waterfall, take it to the far off place and burn it there on daily basis," he said.