Kupwara, May 31: Just 7 km from Handwara in the heart of the Rajwar-Magam forest range is Poshnar Doodipora, an offbeat tourist destination waiting to be explored.
This breathtaking locale is encircled by majestic deodar and alpine trees and features a serene lake amidst a pastoral landscape that seems to have leapt out of a fairytale.
Known primarily for its sheep rearing, Poshnar Doodipora hosts one of the region’s major sheep husbandry operations.
Despite its agricultural prominence, the area’s natural beauty remains relatively unknown to the broader public.
Recently, a group of adventurous youth from Baramulla decided to venture into this unexplored territory, staying overnight in mobile tents.
One of them, Bilal Ahmad from the old town Baramulla, shared his experience saying, “I had heard about this beautiful place from a friend, and after visiting, I found it mesmerising. It was a bit hard to reach as it is not on Google Maps and the concerned department has not listed it as a tourist destination yet.”
Locals also suggested the district administration propose enlisting Poshnar Doodipora as an official tourist destination.
They emphasised the need for essential amenities like drinking water, washrooms, and the construction of tourist huts to accommodate overnight visitors.
They believe that such developments would not only enhance the visitor experience but also boost the local economy and generate employment opportunities for the youth.
A local Zahoor Ahmad said that the Rural Development Department (RDD) approved two tourist huts but work on those had not started yet, raising concerns among the locals.
Shiekh Jamsheed from Magam, Handwara, expressed concern over the lack of mobile connectivity in the area which causes hardships to the tourists.
“The administration should provide basic amenities to the tourists and ensure the area has mobile connectivity,” he said.