KARGIL: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the second edition of the Suru Summer Festival, a two-day event aimed at promoting the tourism potential, culture and heritage of Suru Valley in Kargil district.
The festival, being held at Damsna on August 26 and 27, has been included among the nine Union Territory-level events under the “Celebrate Ladakh” calendar.
Addressing the gathering virtually, the Lieutenant Governor said Suru Valley possesses significant potential for tourism owing to its Himalayan landscape, rivers, cultural heritage and adventure opportunities. He noted that the valley has received national and international recognition, including being listed by National Geographic among its “25 Best Destinations to Visit in 2025”.
Referring to the Nun-Kun massif, including Nun Peak (7,135 metres) and Kun Peak (7,077 metres), Saxena said the region offers considerable scope for mountaineering and high-altitude adventure tourism.
He said the Suru Summer Festival should evolve into a larger tourism platform capable of promoting the valley nationally and internationally while generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the potential for activities such as river rafting, paragliding, cycling, trekking, fishing and nature walks, and stressed the need to develop these opportunities beyond the festival period. He said such initiatives could create employment opportunities for local youth as guides, instructors, operators and entrepreneurs.
Saxena also emphasised the importance of promoting the valley’s traditional lifestyle, local produce, handicrafts, cuisine and village culture as part of the visitor experience.
Calling on local youth and entrepreneurs to participate in the region’s tourism development, he said the government would continue to provide infrastructure, connectivity, promotional support and policy assistance, while stressing the role of local communities in building a sustainable tourism destination.
He congratulated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, district administration, Tourism Department and local residents for organising the festival and expressed hope that it would emerge as a prominent event on the national tourism calendar.
