Trifter

Vidyarathi is a commendable effort to bring to spotlight Ecotourism which as a the significant aspect of tourism has a special relevance for Jammu and Kashmir.The state endowed with unparallel scenic beauty boasts of large number of undisturbed natural areas that can prove a major attraction for tourists. Especially those who seek to travel to relatively unspoiled natural areas with specified object of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspect found in those areas.

The picturesque mountain ranges and peaks, glaciers, lush green meadows, high altitude lakes, fascinating flower forests and valleys and wildlife that characterize the natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir is also home to a rich cultural heritage which has been attracting tourists and visitors since ancient times.

In present times Ecotourism is being popularized to avoid negative impacts that are harmful to natural and cultural environment. With aims to sensitize the tourists towards responsible travel in natural areas and the issues relating to conservation of nature and natural resources, Ecotourism also envisages direct utilization of revenue resources raised for undertaking the conservation of environment as well as to sustains the well being of local people by providing them economic benefits.

O.P. Sharma ‘Vidyarathi, a senior Indian Forest Service officer, a well known author of number of useful books on environmental conservation, taxonomy, and medicinal plants of J &K, is also a recipient of Sahitya Akedemi Award in Dogri for his contribution to the growth of Dogri literature.                                        Vacation Ideas

In his present book he has brought to light the lesser known Ecotourism destinations like Gurez, Tilel, Gangbal along with world famous Gulmarg. His first hand experiences as a nature traveler into hitherto unexplored and less explored Ecotourism destinations is penned down in the form of a travelogue that painstakingly describes essential as well as detailed information on geography, people, place names along with and existing varieties flora and fauna of the areas in different times of the year.

Vidyarathi’s description laced with literary flavour succeeds in presenting a vivid picture of the joy of chance encounter and discovery of the rare herbs, shrubs, flowers, birds and animals during his travels in the above-mentioned remote areas of Kashmir valley. The scientific names along with native terms for flora and fauna make the book relevant for specialists as well as laypersons.                   Unexplored Beauty of Bhalessa

The chapter on Mountain Poetess, Habba Khatoon, is an interesting part of the book wherein Vidyarathi has presented the persona of the legendary poetess in light of the folk lore that puts Gurez as her birth place and also her traditional knowledge of herbs and shrubs.

Highlight of the book is the more than hundred page directory of mountain trees, shrubs, herbs, wild ornamentals, edibles, grasses and sedges, lesser known plants, mountain insects, fishes, amphibians and reptiles, birds and animals, that can prove very useful for the specialists, amateurs and laypersons who can also have a visual reference of some of rare varieties of flora and funa in the form of photo-profile included in end of the book.