NITN | @notintownlive | 14 Sep 2025, 01:03 am

Manasbal. Photo: Jammu & Kashmir Tourism FB.
Srinagar: India's first Seri-Eco Tourism project was recently launched at the Central Silk Board's Basic Seed Farm in Manasbal, in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, Daily Excelsior reported.
The project, named "Soil to Silk – A Journey into Heritage, Nature & Livelihood," aims to transform the scenic mulberry farm into a destination, where visitors can learn about the silk value chain, as part of efforts to promote sustainable development in the region, officials said.
Key Features of the Project
Mulberry cultivation to silk production: Visitors can witness all stages of silk production, from mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing to cocoon reeling and weaving.
Temperate Mulberry Germplasm Bank: The farm houses India's only Temperate Mulberry Germplasm Bank, conserving 150 unique mulberry genotypes from 17 countries.
Sustainable livelihoods: The project aims to generate rural employment, empower local women and youth, and promote sustainable development in the region.
The project was inaugurated by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Textiles, who described it as a landmark initiative linking tradition with innovation, Daily Excelsior highlighted.
Rao emphasized the critical role of women's participation in strengthening the sericulture sector and encouraged artisans to use the farm's platform to showcase their craft and earn better economic returns.
According to the officials, the Ministry of Textiles envisions the Manasbal Seri-Eco Tourism project as a model for developing scientific institutions into self-sustaining tourism hubs that promote education, heritage, and rural empowerment.
- Egypt returns to IFTM Paris 2025 with new travel experiences
- Dan Brown’s latest thriller brings Prague’s Gothic charm to life
- Tourist claims 56 Indian travellers with valid e-visas faced 'inhuman behaviour' while trying to enter Georgia
- India's first Seri-Eco Tourism project launched in Kashmir's Manasbal
- Anand Mahindra says heights keep Vizag’s new glass skywalk off his bucket list
- Skål International Kolkata twins with Skål International J&K to boost tourism
- US tightens visa rules: Indians must now book interviews only in country of nationality
- Navi Mumbai Airport to support safe landings in adverse weather and low visibility
- Mumbai's newest attraction is its 5-km sea promenade along Coastal Road
- Newly launched booking site QuietHotelRooms.com helps travellers sleep better
Etihad Airways has launched its new A321LR aircraft on all flights to and from Kolkata, introducing a refined travel experience on the popular Indian route.
Etihad Airways is set to expand its global network with the addition of Damascus, the Syrian capital, as a new destination starting June 2026.
IndiGo and AEGEAN, the flag carrier of Greece, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a codeshare partnership. The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approvals, will enable both carriers to offer flights on each other’s networks.