Subcontinents largest underground aquarium opens in Jammu

The subcontinents largest underground aquarium in Jammus Bagh-I-Bahu area is drawing a large number of tourists ever since it was opened to the public.

Bagh-i-Bahu (J-K), July 30 : The subcontinent's largest underground aquarium in Jammu's Bagh-I-Bahu area is drawing a large number of tourists ever since it was opened to the public.

Besides students, the aquarium has become a centre of attraction for tourists, giving them an opportunity to revel in the exotic aquatic world.

"I feel proud that such an aquarium, the largest in the subcontinent, has come up in Jammu and Kashmir. It has fishes of several species. There's so much to learn. With regard to tourism too, people will surely throng the place," said Munik Tandon, a local resident.

The centre is a paradise for research scholars and ichthyologists (biologists who specialize in the study of fish), equipped with a full-fledged laboratory and a museum housing around 550 species of fishes, both marine and freshwater.

Part of a two-phased project, the aquarium centre was built at a cost of 10 million dollars. Work on the second phase, an oceanarium, is going on.

"The second phase of the project, where a sea-world will be constructed is also going on. It is the only such project in India. There is one such project in Singapore and the Jammu project is on similar lines," said Mahmud Hussain, a project officer.

The aquarium has generated revenue of 200,000 rupees in just one week of its opening, promising to be a popular destination for a number of tourists visiting the State.

The aquarium-cum-awareness centre comprises of 24 aquarium caves including 13 small caves for holding freshwater fishes, two large caves for holding marine water fishes and nine medium sized aquariums for holding marine and fresh water fishes.

ANI