Khanika, a potential tourist spot in Jamalpur

Khanika, a picnic spot at Bakshiganj in Jamalpur district, has a huge potential for tourism.
Surrounded by hills the picturesque Khanika has been attracting people across the country.
Close to the bordering Indian Meghalaya state the picnic spot is located in the village called Lauchapra, which has eye catching natural sights.
Jamalpur Zila parishad set up the Khanika picnic spot on 1067 decimals of land in 1996.
Only 13 kilometers away from Bakshiganj upazila, the picnic spot is now a recreation place for people. Zila parishad has built many structures, including a Banglo and high observatory tower, for the visitors. Visitors can enjoy natural beauty from the tower. Besides, a lake has been created to make the place more attractive to the visitors. In spite of huge potentiality the spot has not yet been fully developed to satisfy the needs of visitors.
Sources said lack of electricity and scarcity of water are also some of the problems making the stay of tourists uncomfortable. As ground water level in the area goes down and tube wells there remain inoperative during dry season. Zila Parishad sources said during dry season only one tube well gets layer of water out of seven dug there.
Md Shafiul Alam, a visitor, said the place is beautiful and it can be made more attractive by ensuring facilities like water, electricity and faster communication.
Road communication remains a hurdle in reaching the spot. Four curve points along the 13-kilometer road to the picnic spot prevent movement of large vehicles. Another road from Sherpur district connecting the spot is also in bad shape.
Sources said as the area is close to the frontier and has no electricity the Zila Parishad authorities discourage visitors to stay there at night.
When contacted, Mrinal Kanti Dev, chief executive, Jamalpur Zila Parishad said, “Every year, we take some development work of the picnic spot. But lack of proper fund we cannot do sufficient development work there. If we can improve the road communication and ensure supply of electricity and pure drinking
water the place could be an attractive tourist spot.”

 

Khanika, a potential tourist spot in Jamalpur

Khanika, a picnic spot at Bakshiganj in Jamalpur district, has a huge potential for tourism. Surrounded by hills the picturesque Khanika has been attracting people across the country. Close to the bordering Indian Meghalaya state the picnic spot is located in the village called Lauchapra, which has eye catching natural sights. Jamalpur Zila parishad set up the Khanika picnic spot on 1067 decimals of land in 1996. Only 13 kilometers away from Bakshiganj upazila, the picnic spot is now a recreation place for people. Zila parishad has built many structures, including a Banglo and high observatory tower, for the visitors. Visitors can enjoy natural beauty from the tower. Besides, a lake has been created to make the place more attractive to the visitors. In spite of huge potentiality the spot has not yet been fully developed to satisfy the needs of visitors. Sources said lack of electricity and scarcity of water are also some of the problems making the stay of tourists uncomfortable. As ground water level in the area goes down and tube wells there remain inoperative during dry season. Zila Parishad sources said during dry season only one tube well gets layer of water out of seven dug there. Md Shafiul Alam, a visitor, said the place is beautiful and it can be made more attractive by ensuring facilities like water, electricity and faster communication. Road communication remains a hurdle in reaching the spot. Four curve points along the 13-kilometer road to the picnic spot prevent movement of large vehicles. Another road from Sherpur district connecting the spot is also in bad shape. Sources said as the area is close to the frontier and has no electricity the Zila Parishad authorities discourage visitors to stay there at night. When contacted, Mrinal Kanti Dev, chief executive, Jamalpur Zila Parishad said, Every year, we take some development work of the picnic spot. But lack of proper fund we cannot do sufficient development work there. If we can improve the road communication and ensure supply of electricity and pure drinking water the place could be an attractive tourist spot.