As tourism in Ganderbal District continues to grow to significant levels, Manasbal Lake has become a premier destination, and the process of developing the area by its custodians is proof that they are making the right choices in how to grow. Moving towards responsible tourism and creating a successful impact through sustainable planning while increasing the attractiveness of the site.
Traditionally, the objectives of developing tourism in an area have generally conflicted with caring for the environment. The district of Ganderbal, through the Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority (WMDA) , is developing the area with a completely new approach by carefully balancing infrastructure improvements with caring for the environment.
One example is the environmentally friendly construction of a 1.8 km scenic walkway through the area. This walkway will not only improve visitors’ experience but will help protect the fragile ecosystem of the lake and delineate how encroachments will not be allowed in the future.
Sustainability has also been demonstrated in other aspects of the area. After almost 8 years of no large-scale dredging activity, this activity has once again been initiated to improve the ecological health of one of Asia’s deepest freshwater lakes.
There is also a strong plan to address the pollution at its source, which includes establishing a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for the seven villages surrounding the lake so that only treated effluent goes back into the pristine waters of Manasbal.
It is not only a construction project but a commitment to the future generations regarding the beauty of Manasbal.
The most exceptional aspect of this transformation is the creative imagination regarding the tourist experience. Manasbal will be much more than simply a place to take a peaceful ride in a shikara; it will become an adventure tourism destination.
There is so much potential that the government has announced plans to build a unique canoeing and kayak facility at Manasbal lake, potentially leading to future international sporting events being hosted at Manasbal.
