Gurez, Jun 29: Gurez Valley has officially stepped onto the adventure tourism map with the launch of a 482 metre zipline at Markote, marking a fresh push towards border tourism and experiential travel in the remote north Kashmir region.
The newly developed facility stretches 482 metres with an approximate horizontal span of 453 metres. It features a starting platform height of 55 feet and a landing platform height of 10 feet, creating a vertical drop of 45 feet. The structure has a maximum sag of 24 metres and has been designed for riders weighing up to 100 kilograms.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad, said the project is part of a broader plan to promote border tourism and position Gurez as a key adventure destination in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The zipline is expected to enhance the overall visitor experience and draw more tourists to the border valley. Gurez has immense potential and such initiatives are aimed at unlocking that potential in a structured and safe manner,” he said.
Sajad said the project has been executed after obtaining necessary technical clearances and adhering to prescribed safety standards.
“Safety remains central to all our adventure tourism projects. This facility has been developed after proper technical evaluation and with robust safety systems in place,” he said.
The Director added that the initiative is also aimed at generating livelihood opportunities for local youth by integrating them into the tourism ecosystem.
“Our focus is to ensure that local youth become active participants in tourism growth. Adventure tourism opens avenues for employment, guiding services and allied activities that directly benefit the local economy,” he said—(KNO)
