Baramulla, Sep 02 (KNO): More than four lakh tourists have visited border areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir this year, with regions including Keran, Lolab, Machil, Teetwal, Tangdhar, Gurez, Tulail and Uri emerging as tourist destinations.
According to official data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Bandipora, Kupwara and Uri revealed that over 4.30 lakh tourists, including local and non-local visitors, visited the border areas this year.
Kupwara district recorded around three lakh tourist visits, while Uri registered nearly 70,000 and Gurez around 60,000 visitors, the data showed.
The areas, which were once frequently affected by cross-LoC shelling and clashes, have witnessed a change in recent years following the reaffirmation of the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement in February 2021.
Speaking to KNO, residents said the decline in cross-border firing and shelling has allowed tourism and other economic activities to grow in the border areas.
Arif Samoon, a resident of Gurez, said tourism-related activity has increased in the area throughout the year and credited the administration, Army and local residents for promoting the region.
He also called for a separate development authority for Gurez to improve infrastructure and support the growing tourism sector.
Abdul Hameed Lone, another resident of Gurez, said the region has witnessed a significant increase in tourist activity in recent years.
“Earlier, people were hesitant to visit because of the situation along the border. The situation has changed, and tourism has increased,” he said.
Suhail Ahmad, a homestay owner from Keran, said more government support was needed to develop the border areas as tourism destinations.
“Our culture, simple way of life and traditional practices are among the things that visitors want to experience. More support is needed so that tourism can benefit local families,” he said.
“Over the past three years, we have been able to live without the distress caused by cross-border shelling. The ceasefire has also helped development in our area,” said Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Gurez.
Residents of Karnah and Uri also expressed hope that peace along the LoC would prevail, saying the absence of shelling had helped improve life and economic activity in the border villages.
The ceasefire has also changed social life in several border areas. Residents said they can now organise weddings and other functions in their homes instead of moving to safer locations.
“There was a time when we had to spend days inside underground bunkers to protect ourselves from shelling. It was difficult to survive, and organising a marriage function was almost impossible,” said Saleem Ahmad, a resident of Tangdhar.
In another development this year, Gurez was connected to the electricity grid for the first time, ending a long-standing demand of residents.
“We express our gratitude to the administration and the Power Development Department. Grid electricity had been a long-standing demand of the people of Gurez, and we are happy that it has finally been fulfilled,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a local resident.
The opening of Shinon Meeras, a cultural centre dedicated to the Dard-Shina community, has also added a cultural component to tourism in Gurez. The centre was established through collaboration between the Indian Army and the administration and focuses on the heritage and language of the community.
In Lolab, tourism promotion has also received recognition. The valley was named the Best Offbeat Destination at the Outlook Traveller Awards in 2023.
In Uri, the Kaman Bridge, also known as Aman Setu, linking the area with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is being developed as a potential tourism site. Restrictions on civilian access to Kaman Post were also eased this year, allowing visitors to reach the historic location.
The growth in tourism has been supported by initiatives of the Army, district administrations and the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, which have organised events and programmes to promote border areas.
Residents said continued peace along the LoC would be crucial for sustaining tourism and improving economic opportunities in these areas—(KNO)