Tourism treat soon in erstwhile terror territory

The Pathargarh fort in Bijnor — from where the dreaded Sultana Daku carried out his anti-British operations — will soon find a place in the tourism map of Uttar Pradesh.

"The tourism department is planning to give the fort and a few other places around it a facelift and has sent a proposal worth Rs. 14 crore to the tourism ministry," said Preeti Srivastava, deputy director, tourism.

"Though Sultana Daku passed away long back, he is still alive in folklores. People want to know about him. He had become a legend in the region for his good deeds," added Srivastava, stressing that locals still narrated his pro-poor tales with great interest.

"They tell you how he became a terror in the United Province in 1920 and a cause of concern for the British," she added.

"Just like Sultana, there are several stories about the fort he used to live in. We want to develop it as a prominent tourism spot in the district, keeping in view its historical importance," Srivastava said.

"By putting in good facilities of lodging and connectivity, we want to propagate about this tourist hotspot at main airports in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh," she added.

The department has also identified Vidur Kuti in Bijnor and Kachhla Ghat in Buduan as other potential tourist hubs in the zone.

"Once the proposal is approved and the fund is released, the department would start developing facilities, including decoration of the spots bringing out its historical importance with modern touch," claimed Srivastava while insisting that the zone has tremendous scope for attracting domestic as well as international tourists.

"From Bareilly, Bijnor, Moradabad to Buduan, each district consists of at least one historical spot that could attract the tourists from across the globe," she said.