The Jammu Tourism Department has unveiled a &lsquoJammu Darshan&rsquo bus service, an economical open-air tour that takes tourists across the sights and sounds of Jammu district. The tour, launched in collaboration with the State Road Transport Corporation, spans several scenic destinations, including the Bahu Fort and Balidan Stambh war memorial in Jammu city, the Hari Niwas Palace overlooking the Tawi river, and the Jia Pota Ghat and Ambaran Buddhist Monastery in Akhnoor. The service also offers trips to the Suchetgarh border area, where passengers can view the India-Pakistan border and the Indian BSF post for an hour.
An influx in pilgrims for the Amarnath yatra this year prompted the tourism department to make a move and capitalise on the numbers. And despite occasional hassles like turbulent weather, tourists have given the tour their seal of approval.
The buses ply from Yatri Niwas in Bhagwati Nagar at 9am, covering all destinations within four to five hours. Tickets are priced at â¹200 for the general tour buses, while the border bus, which plies twice a day, is priced at â¹100 for a single trip. To further sweeten the deal, the department plans to organise cultural events at Yatri Niwas after sunset, to entertain and inform pilgrims of the heritage of the mountain state.