SRINAGAR: The border areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, including Keran, Lolab, Machil, Teetwal, Tangdhar, Gurez, Tulail, and Uri in North Kashmir, are emerging as premier tourist destinations. Official data reveals that 4.30 lakh tourists, both local and foreign, visited these destinations this year.
In specific figures, Kupwara’s remote villages recorded approximately 3 lakh visitors, Uri saw 70,000, and Gurez hosted 60,000 tourists. Formerly marked by cross-LoC shelling and conflict, these areas are now open to tourists, with residents expressing joy at the positive transformation.
“Border tourism, which garnered attention following the cessation of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in February 2021 due to the reaffirmation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, is gaining popularity among tourists,” noted the report. Residents in border villages note increased engagement in tourism, attributing it to joint efforts by the army, locals, and the government.
“Over the past three years, we’ve been fortunate to escape the distress caused by cross-border shelling in the border areas. The ceasefire’s implementation has spurred substantial development in our regions,” said Sajad Ahmad, a Gurez resident.
However, there are calls for a separate development authority for Gurez to enhance infrastructure. Despite initial reservations due to border tensions, locals observe a significant improvement in the situation.
“Since the ceasefire pact in February 2021, our region has undergone a remarkable transformation. Life, previously marred by daily shelling, has seen a positive shift,” they conveyed.
Homestay owners, like Suhail Ahmad from Keran, welcome tourists and call for intensified government efforts to transform border areas into tourism hubs. They highlight the cultural richness and simplicity that attract visitors.
“It’s cultural richness, simplicity, and traditional elements, which bring happiness to visitors who may not experience such aspects elsewhere,” added Suhail Ahmad.
Residents from Gurez express gratitude for the ceasefire, citing substantial development in the region over the past three years. Notably, the Gurez Valley was recently connected to the electricity grid, and a cultural centre highlighting the Dard-Shina tribes was established in collaboration with the Indian Army.
“Since the ceasefire pact in February 2021, our region has undergone a remarkable transformation. Life, previously marred by daily shelling, has seen a positive shift,” said Sajad Ahmad, a Gurez resident.
Lolab Valley received the Best Offbeat Destination Award 2023, and efforts are underway to develop the Kaman Bridge, also known as the Peace Bridge, into a promising tourist destination on the LoC. Travel restrictions at Kaman Post have been lifted, offering opportunities for border tourism.
Residents from Uri echo similar sentiments, emphasizing the positive shift since the ceasefire pact in February 2021.
“The shelling has led to the loss of many lives and the destruction of numerous houses. We fervently pray never to witness such devastation again,” a group of Uri residents told KNO.
The absence of gunfire has also rekindled memories of weddings for border residents, enabling them to host ceremonies in their own homes rather than relocating to safer venues.
“There was a time when we had to spend days inside underground bunkers to save ourselves from relentless shelling from across the LoC. It was difficult to even survive, and holding a marriage event was next to impossible in those days,” shared Saleem Ahmad, a resident of Tangdhar. (KNO)