Seerat-Un-Nisa
Bandipora, Nov 15: In the remote valleys of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a young tribal girl is redefining tourism and empowerment. Shabnam Bashir Gojar, a 25-year-old tourism student from Quil Muqam village, has spent the last eight years trekking through unexplored meadows and documenting their beauty bringing them to the government’s attention.
Her relentless efforts helped Ketsen, Chandaji, a picturesque spot in Bandipora district of North Kashmir which was once unknown to outsiders, to get officially listed among new tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shabnum while speaking with Kashmir Despatch said that it was her dream since childhood to travel and explore new locations and she chose the same by opting tourism as a subject in her Bachelors.
Apart from bringing unexplored tourist destinations on the tourism map, Shabnum Bashir has also played an important role in raising awareness about central sponsored schemes for Tribal people in Bandipora.
She played a lead role in the government’s recent Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan scheme in which Bandipora was chosen which later was awarded first for its work.
“This journey did not only gain government and tourist attraction but i
also creating jobs for the local tribal tribal population,” Shabnum said while adding that many people in the far flung area of Bandipora have converted their homes into home stays also.
Last year several tourists who visited these destinations stayed in these home stays and enjoyed the local food and menu of Kashmir which boosted the economy of tribal communities.
According to Shabnum, after several lesser-known destinations were brought onto the tourism map, many local youths have begun working at these spots. Some have taken up jobs as tourist guides, while others have opened small stalls and shops. Till now she explored the 16 destinations of Kashmir.
Shabnum is also the author of the book ‘Unexplored Kashmir’ which was published in 2021 in which she highlights the tourism potential of Kashmir unexplored tourist destinations which according to her is the guide to the people of Kashmir and others.
In her book Shabnam wrote all the tourist descriptions of that destination like where these destinations are ,roads and how people reach these destinations and which facilitates are there like all the data , details which she can’t communicate to the public individually.
“Behind writing this book my intention was to put to the eyes of administration and public that tourist destinations are unnoticed. I suggested multiple destinations on the tourism map to the District administration among which few have gained attention while people started visiting in summers.”
She has discovered dozens of unexplored tourist destinations like Nachni, Badi Dumgali, Choti Dumgali, Danna, Kemsar, Lashkoot, Banzuri and Naagmarg in Bandipora, which had remained unknown and unheard for even locals.
“It takes me eight years to research these places. I started this journey alone, traveling to these unexplored destinations which was not easy for a girl especially when you belong from a tribal community but the parental support and motivation to bring these destinations on a tourism map helps me to remain consistent.”
Shabnum hopes authorities will take interest in developing these tourist destinations by making good roads as she says it will not only open new tourist destinations but every tourist destination will create job opportunities for local youths.
She concludes those who visit these destinations will not pollute them by putting garbage or plastic at these deatination.
