Jammu,24 May:President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday visited the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir and was bewitched by the beauty of the place. "Everything here is so beautiful. It soothes our mind. The snowcapped mountains and the river looks like a silver streak," Patil observed after enjoying a ride on the Gondola cable car project.
The President, who is on a five-day visit to the state, took a ride on the longest cable car project in Asia at 11,000 feet high from the sea level."It is very enjoyable ride. One can oversee the scenic beauty all over the place," the President wrote on the visitors’ book after the ride.Patil said the tourism and other sectors of the state need to be developed so that every person can get employment in Srinagar.The beauty of Kashmir is not only famous in India but all over the world. There should be development of tourist places, education and other sectors so that everybody gets employment, she said.
Patil said the central and state governments were making all efforts to put Jammu and Kashmir on the fast track of development and progress.Patil had some special remarks about the people of Kashmir whom she described as industrious.
"We are all proud of people of Kashmir. They are industrious. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians live here in harmony. We have a lot to learn from them," she added.
The President, who spent Friday night at Rajbhawan located at the foothills of Zabarwan range overlooking the picturesque Dal Lake, will be staying overnight at Gulmarg.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was accompanying the President during the Gondola ride.She will be going to Bhaderwah in Jammu region on Sunday for the inauguration of the university campus there before returning Srinagar in the evening.
She is also scheduled to visit the Dachigam national park in Hrawan area of the city.State Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha will host a banquet in honour of the President on Sunday night.
On Friday, Patil visited the forward areas near Line of Control in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district and interacted with officers and jawans.She also addressed a sainik sammelan at Baramulla town and joined the big feast (bada Khana) with the jawans there. Courtsey : DD NEWS