Doodhpathri: In order to tap the winter potential of the Doodhpathri tourist resort, the department of tourism Kashmir Saturday organised ski and snowboarding event here in which scores of the players and tourists participated.
Doodhpathri is a newly developed summer off-beat destination in Budgam district just 42 kilometers from Srinagar district at an altitude of of 8,957 ft. The resort has bowl-shaped unending meadows which lie in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas and remain snow-capped during most part of the year.
The ski and snowboarding event was held in the main bowl of the resort which has natural slopes for the beginners.
This is first time winter sports activities were held at Doodhpathri which also saw the participation of the locals and the tourists.
Tourists who were present on the occasion also enjoyed ski and sledge rides during the day.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said, like Gulmarg, Doodhpathri also receives good snowfall and has good slopes for beginners.
He said many youth from district Budgam visit Gulmarg to learn skiing which they can also do at Doodhpathri.
“The skiers go to Gulmarg, spend few days there and leave back to their respective countries. If we develop this resort for skiing also, they will extend their days in Kashmir and visit the resort for skiing which will add to their stays in Kashmir and bring further revenue to the locals,” said Director Tourism Kashmir.
The department is also planning to construct drag lifts in future at the resort to utilize its winter sports potential in skiing and cross-country skiing.
“Today’s successful event has given us a hope that the place can be a future ski destination,” said Director Tourism Kashmir.
With the creation of facilities at the resort, the department also intends to provide basic ski training to the locals of the area.
“We can organize ski course for children and locals of the district Budgam here initially till the resort is fully developed for winter sports activities.”
The event was organized in collaboration with Doodhpathri Development Authority. CEO DDA Mohammad Farooq Dar was also present on the occasion who had put elaborate in arrangements for the event.
