Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the parks at tourist places, which were closed in view of security considerations after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, are being reopened in a phased manner to allow tourists to visit the destinations.
"Some places were closed after April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in view of security considerations. The Divisional Commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner," Sinha said.The Lieutenant Governor was speaking to reporters after visiting the Nunwan Base Camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Sinha said the destinations that have been decided to be reopened for tourists in the first phase include Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in the famous tourist destination of Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district.In Srinagar, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal will also be reopened in the first phase. These eight places are being reopened and tourists can visit these, he added.
The lieutenant governor also said that eight destinations would be reopened in Jammu region as well."Eight places are being reopened in the first phase. In the next phase, some other destinations will be re-opened," he said.The closure was imposed in late April 2025 after Pahalgam attack, which left at least 27 people dead and many more injured.The reopening was officially confirmed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who said the security situation had improved significantly. “We are committed to ensuring safety while facilitating normalcy in the region,” he stated.
In the days following the attack, authorities closed 48 public parks and gardens across the Kashmir Valley, citing security concerns.
These included popular sites in Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla, impacting both locals and tourists during the early summer season. The decision drew criticism from sections of the tourism industry, which suffered losses during the peak travel period.
However, both the government as also major stakeholders in tourism industry have been trying to give boost to revival of tourism and tourist footfall which was expected in lakhs of numbers prior to terror attack in Pahalgam. With the commencement of Vande Bharat Express train from Katra to Srinagar, even though a number of people have been seen travelling to Srinagar, it is the government and politicians of J&K who are seen giving assuring call in terms of safety of tourists across Kashmir valley.
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