The terrorist attack on tourists in picturesque Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22 has severely impacted the morale , enthusiasm and economy of the tourism industry, so are the tourists disappointed to miss their choicest destinations across valley.
While all stakeholders were reeling under the fallout of swift actions in terms of imposing ban on scores of popular places, triggering instant cancellations, it is the LOC TOURISM in various sectors which has taken a hit, courtesy Pakistan which is resorting to unprecedented heavy shelling during the last few days.
Military Action on civilians has not only badly damaged infrastructure but also inflicted huge loss of life and property. Upon understanding on cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, if Kashmir may witness gradual footfall, LOC tourism under present circumstances look a remote possibility.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has been promoting tourism in these border areas, with destinations like Gurez, Tangdhar, Machil, Keran, and Bangus that remained open to tourists until recently. Needless to say these places offer unique experiences, including stunning natural beauty and the chance to witness the local culture and traditions.
These places lie along the Line of Control and adjoining areas which have been largely off limits due to the Borders and the sensitive local situations ever since onset of militancy. But with gradual return of normalcy, the Government opened up the areas and JK Tourism and other Departments over the years built infrastructure like Guest Houses, locals built scores of stay homes, vacation lodges responding to increase in footfall of tourists, especially youngsters who used to be keen to explore nascent places and enjoy the beauty of these hitherto unseen places for most.
Kaman Post, a Line of Control (LoC) point in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, is one such popular destination which would see heavy rush of tourists during the last few years. However, this also saw a significant drop in tourism, including a temporary closure after a terror attack in Pahalgam, but now completely shut post military action of Pakistan around these areas.
Originally promoted as a tourist destination by the Indian Army, and a popular spot for picnickers, the post would get briefly closed, along with other tourist destinations in the region, due to security concerns following the attack. However, it is now completely barred.
Kaman Post, also called the Bridge of Peace, in Uri district is actually located on the Line of Control. Credit for more and more tourists influx to this goes to Indian Army which got this area revamped completely. Young travellers and students are drawn to the post, where they can learn about the history of the region and the significance of Kaman Post.
Kaman Post is well-loved by young travellers and student visitors visiting the post. Their additional interest would be teh attention from Indian Army personnels educating them about the Line of Control, the significance of Kaman Post and most importantly, the regional history.
Under LOC Tourism package the tourists would travel mostly in the Kupwara distrcit of Kashmir in the North West which borders the Loc and is home to beautiful Valleys such as the Lolab valley and the largest Alpine Valley in Kashmir, the Bangus Valley. This is also the Home of the Shamsbari Range and one can actually walk along the Kishenganga River and see activities across the Border in areas under Pakistan. The same Kishenganga is called the Neelum River once it goes across the Line of Control.
Most visitors would gladly tell that their visits are made even more special by these interactions with the Army. Even in the reviews of places, nature apart, there is praise for all the efforts made by the Indian Army to promote Kaman Post as a tourist destination.
Other places which emerged as attractive tourist places over the last couple of years include Gurez Valley -known for its alpine landscapes and unique culture, Gurez offers opportunities for trekking, camping, and enjoying the scenic beauty, Keran which is a
destination for trekking besides enjoying the natural beauty and a plethora of homestay options, not to forget mention of
Tangdhar and Machil which are known for its rugged terrain and panoramic views, Tangdhar is a popular choice for adventure enthusiasts.
However, out of security concerns, some areas in normal times would also be no-go zones for the tourists, especially in the event of intermittent ceasefire violations, which gained momentum aggressively during the past one week, explaining why influx may not start anytime soon at these places.
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