J-K to restore sufi saint Noorani's cave to boost tourism
Badgam, Oct 22 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has planned to take steps for the restoration of the historical cave of well-known Sufi saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, popularly known as Alamdar-e-Kashmir, with an aim to provide impetus to the tourism industry. The cave of Sufi saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani is situated in Chrar-e-Sharif town of the Badgam district. It is said that the historical town is well known for the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-u-din Noorani, who preached Islam through his poetry. The Director of Tourism, Talat Parvez, said that the cave would attract large number of tourists and the department will provide ample facilities to the tourists visiting the area. "Our minister has asked to project a plan and we will invest money with an aim to restore it. It will be an attraction for those people who love heritage. Obviously, to attract the tourists we will have to maintain the sanctity of the place. The people living near the cave have demanded for relocation, so that the area becomes more wide and open. It is not enough to take the tourists there but it is essential to provide them other facilities like. There should be a place where the tourists can be made aware about the place. We will introduce all such things," said Parvez. A local, Gulam Rasool urged the provincial government to take adequate steps for the restoration of the cave. "The number of tourists can be increased if the government pays attention on it. The tourists are attracted more towards the historical monuments. If the government wants they can take adequate steps to restore it. The tourists will get to know how did the saint spent his life, how he used to pray," he said. Kashmir was once dubbed the Switzerland of the east. It was once a Mecca for climbers, skiers, honeymooners and filmmakers drawn to the state's soaring peaks, fruit orchards and timber houseboats bobbing on Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital. Planeloads of India's upwardly mobile middle classes have visited the picture postcard-perfect Kashmir Valley this summer, making it the busiest tourist season since the armed revolt began in 1989. (ANI)
