SRINAGAR: Gurez Valley has entered Jammu and Kashmir’s adventure tourism circuit with the launch of a 482-metre zipline at Markote, a move aimed at promoting border tourism and attracting more visitors to the remote north Kashmir destination.
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 to accommodate riders weighing up to 100 kilograms.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said the project forms part of a broader initiative to position Gurez as a key adventure tourism destination in the Union Territory.
“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.
Sajjad said the project had been executed after obtaining the 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 said the initiative is also intended to create livelihood opportunities for local youth by integrating them into the tourism sector.
“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)
