(IBNS): According to many experts, if you have to travel, pursuing outdoor adventure is one of the relatively safe options in the COVID-19 situation.
And with the opening of the Skyview Patnitop by Empyrean, the recently launched hospitality venture of Empyrean Skyview Private Limited (ESPPL), you can engage in some adventure sports in the scenic mountains of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Skyview Patnitop, an Indo-French collaborative venture, was executed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in partnership with Patnitop Development Authority.
One of Jammu’s popular mountain resorts, Patnitop (in Udhampur district) is known for its scenic peak views, forests and meadows, and ancient temples.
In summer, Patnitop attracts scores of visitors who go on treks and birding trips in the surrounding hills. In winter, its snow-bound slopes attract amateur skiers.
Skyview Patnitop, which occupies over 11 acres of land and has many onsite adventure activities in place, scheduled to open on October 10, is poised to become a mountain adventure destination for the new age, responsible traveller.
For accommodation, they can arrange for your stay at any of their partner hotels at competitive package rates (and inclusive of ropeway tickets).
One of its biggest attractions is the state of the art ropeway, said to be India’s highest in terms of ground clearance, over 65 meter.
The ropeway connects Sanget, an idyllic hamlet where the lower terminal is situated, to Patnitop, the upper terminal.
However, to eliminate the 45-60 minute road journey, it runs a gondola ride of over 2.8 km of inclined destination in just 10-12 minutes.
Some of the onsite adventure sports include Zipline, Magic Carpet and Tubing Sledge.
And if all that adventure activity has made you hungry, you can always drop in at their restaurants, or visit the indoor food court, coffee shop and street food carts which offer a range of cuisines to serve every taste.
Said Syed Junaid Altaf, Managing Director, Empyrean Skyview Projects, “Skyview Patnitop is sure to drive tourism to this unexplored paradise with its clean air, unique landscape, endemic flora and wildlife, biodiversity and the timeless local culture and history.”
“Skyview Patnitop is an ideal getaway for tourists who visit nearby Katra for religious tourism and for those looking to combine or extend their stay in Patnitop. In addition to onsite and offsite activities at Skyview Patnitop, there are several places to sightsee and explore, namely Sanasar, Nathatop and temples such as the 600 year-old Naag Mandir and other ancient places of worship,” said managing director Altaf.
Travelling and running a facility during this pandemic crisis calls for utmost care and strict following of safety and hygiene protocols.
According to the company, during the lockdown, the site was comprehensively audited for COVID-19 preparedness by SGS – the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
A COVID-19-ready compliance certificate of safety was issued by them to ESPPL just before the reopening, making it a safe destination for all visitors and employees.
The company said it is following stringent pandemic containment rules, including online bookings, thermal screening, distancing, sanitization routines, digital menus, etc.
A holiday is never complete without shopping.
So don’t forget to keep some time aside to browse through Skyview Patnitop’s Hands of Gold to purchase the finest honey, handicraft items, and dry fruits from J&K.
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A pro shop offering all adventure and sports related equipment and gear is slated to open soon.
Skyview Patnitop is currently scheduled to operate every weekend until November 30.
Getting there: It takes a two-hour drive from Jammu, along the four-lane highway Jammu-Srinagar highway, across four spectacular tunnels, to reach this picturesque destination, just three km from the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee tunnel (formerly known as Chenani Nashri tunnel). Sanget is about 90 minutes’’ drive from Katra and Udhampur is only 45 minutes away.
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