Maiden Snow Marathon held in J&K’s Bhaderwah

The mega marathon was organized after the recent successful conduct of ‘Askini Bhaderkashi Utsav’ to project Bhaderwah as an all-weather tourist destination.

BY RED Staff | Picture- Mansoor Qadir

The first-ever snow marathon was held at tourist destination Gurdanda on Bhaderwah-Pathankot inter-state road in UT Jammu and Kashmir.

Deputy Commissioner Doda Vishesh Paul Mahajan along with Sanjay Sachan-Tourist Information Officer, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Delhi and Marcos P. Rai, Joint Secretary-Sikkim Tourism flagged off the marathon in presence of SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom and CO 4RR Rajat Parmar, at 11’clock in the morning in which more than 150 runners from across the country and from the Army and police competed in the race amid very low temperature at an altitude of over 12,000-feet where low oxygen levels make breathing tough during the normal walk, leave aside running.

The historical marathon was organized by Ministry of Tourism (North), Government of India through Real Sports India in collaboration of local Organization ‘Amazing Bhaderwah Tourism Association’ with full support of District administration Doda, J&K Tourism, Indian Army (4RR), Bhaderwah Campus University of Jammu, J&K Police, Border Roads Organization 118 RCC and the people of Bhaderwah under the banner ‘Jammu Snow 25K Run Safari’.

The marathon was held in three categories—full marathon (25 km), half marathon (10 km), and 5-km run through snow covered road. The marathon concluded back at Gurdanda where a felicitation function was organized. The winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions of all 3 categories were given trophies and gift hampers along with medals and certificates, while all participants were also presented certificates.

By this event Ministry of Tourism, GoI (North) have initiated Yuva Tourism India project in Bhaderwah along with Bhaderwah Campus University of Jammu with many more future plans to develop and clean Green Bhaderwah.

Pertaining to mention here that after the successful conduct of ‘Askini Bhadrakashi Mahotsav’ recently, Bhaderwah has got a chance to organize Mega Marathon. By adding such events, the effort to present Bhaderwah as a perennial tourist destination seems to be successful.