Selfless Service: Farhan's mission to put Babagail on ecotourism radar

Uri, July 6: If you plan to visit Mithwin waterfall in Babagail area of Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, a 20-year-old youth will gladly assist you without charging any money, but all he wants is that his area should be explored by all to promote ecotourism.

Farhan Lone, a resident of Babagail village has been working for the last many years to promote the ecotourism of his area by showing its beauty to the world. Lone actively promotes Babagail’s beauty through his Instagram handle - Exploring Babagail.

“I offer free assistance to the visitors travelling Mithwin waterfall and other locations of my village. I want my village to be explored and I believe it has a rich potential to come on the tourism map,” he emphasised.

Babagail, a picturesque village in Boniyar tehsil boasts attractions like Mithwin waterfall and Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, drawing a good number of visitors every day. The waterfall is trending on Instagram.

A class 12th student at Boys Higher Secondary School Baramulla, Lone said that he has attended and assisted more than 3,000 groups in the last many years to the waterfall.

“Visitors from different parts of India and Kashmir visit this waterfall. They love to visit Babagail and keep coming back,” he said adding “I also take them for birdwatching in the higher reaches of the Babagail.”

Lone, a photographer has captured more than 100 species of birds in his camera. “People come to see these birds. There is a huge scope of ecotourism in my village but the government needs to work on this,” he suggested.

Son of a retired wildlife official, Lone appeals government to promote his area for tourism. “If more visitors will come, it will surely bring more employment to the area,” he added.