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With the ceasefire between India and Pakistan holding for eight months, the first-ever retreat ceremony at the Octroi Post on the International Border (IB) in Jammu’s Suchetgarh is a major push to promote border tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Significance
- The ceremony on the lines of Amritsar’s Wagah border reflects the great legacy and valour of the Border Security Force, India’s first line of defence.
- Now, the tourism potential of Suchetgarh will be fully tapped, giving a fillip to the economic development of the area.
- It will certainly give a fillip to tourism and hope it’s taken further by using it as a trade and travel route between Suchetgarh and Sialkot.
Suchetgarh
- Suchetgarh border post, has been developed as a tourism spot by the state tourism department.
- The Suchetgarh Border post is 28 kms from main Jammu.
- The road to Nai Basti-Gulabgarh from Jammu follows the train route as it existed prior to 1947 and a number of old buildings can be seen on the way.
- Suchetgarh Post served as the route to Sialkot during the pre-partition era, which is just 11 kms from the post and earlier there was an Octroi post at this point.
- On the other side of the border post lies a spectacular Banyan Tree, which is as old as 100 years.
- In close vicinity are the "Gharana and Abdullian wet lands where migratory birds of a number of varieties flock during winter season.
Source: The Hindu
