Govt fails to provide facilities at tourist spot
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Noori Chamb (Poonch), June 10
The state government may have failed to develop this place as a tourism spot, but still that doesn’t prevent tourists to come here for picnic.

Though the government doesn’t seem to put this place on tourism map and has failed to provide even basic infrastructure for a tourist spot, yet the tourists continue to throng this place with breathetaking beauty.

In fact, Noori Chamb lying along the Mughal road----named after the Mughal queen Noor Jahan------- situated in Surankote tehsil of this border district, is famous for its scenic beauty and waterfall.

A tourist clicking a picture of a young girl at Noori Chamb in Poonch. — Tribune photo by writer

The fall of the stream gives rise to dense clouds of water vapours which engulfs the area and spreads all over.

Emperor Jahangir had developed so much fancy for this fall that he named it Noori Chammb after the name of his beloved queen Noor Jahan. The Mughal queen used to stay here to relax and take bath while on the way to Kashmir.

Even as this place is a huge hit as a picnic spot among the local picnic goers and tourist coming from outside the state, they say that the state government has not done anything to provide basic tourism infrastructure at the place.

“Though the place is one of the most beautiful tourist spots I have ever seen but the fact that there is no accommodation for tourists and no cafeteria has pained me the most,” said Malvika Sharma, a 12th class student from J.P. Institute of Zoology, who for the first time had come here for picnic.

“The government should provide basic tourism infrastructure here so that lack of facilities don’t act as a deterrent to the tourists. To start with it should construct tourist huts, build toilets, and cafeteria, besides the area around the waterfall should be developed.”

Says Niharika Gill, a sixth standard student, who came here for the first time “This place is beautiful especially, the waterfall. I will tell my friend and classmate Diksha Sharma about this place. I reckon every tourist coming to the state must see the beauty of nature here.”

However, going by the lack of facilities here, it doesn’t seem the government is interested in developing this place. They should wake up from slumber and establish tourism infrastructure here,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, B.D. Sharma said that they were first developing religious places as tourism destination in the district.

“We are developing places like Sain Mirian Shrine, Nangali Sahab Gurdwara, Buddha Amarnath Shrine in the first stage. However in the second stage we will develop places like Noori Chamb.