People take 'shikara' rides in the Dal Lake, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI)
The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to shut down around 50 tourist destinations and trekking trails in the Valley citing security reasons after last week’s terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
The destinations that have been shut down for not having “adequate” security presence included famous resorts like the Gurez valley, Dodapathri, Verinag, the Bangus valley and Yusmarg.
Officials said the government decided to close these destinations for the “safety of the tourists” after last Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam left 25 tourists and one local dead. Tourist destinations that do have adequate security presence remain open, they said.
Gurez, one of the closed destinations, is a valley on the Line of Control (LoC) in Bandipora district that had become a hit with tourists over the last decade.
Dodapathri, a meadow that was emerging as a favourite tourist destination for its proximity to Srinagar city — just 45 km away — has also been shut.
The Bangus valley in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Verinag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag have also been closed for tourists.
The Kaman post in Uri, on the LoC, that had been opened for tourists some time ago, has also now been closed. It had been a favourite spot among picnickers both from within and outside Kashmir.
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The government has also decided to close Kousarnag, a high-altitude lake in south Kashmir’s Shopian, for tourists. Kousarnag is also a trekking trail famous with the adventure tourists and trekkers.
In Srinagar city, the government has decided not to allow the tourists to visit Jamia Masjid — the grand mosque at the heart of the Old City.
Officials said police and paramilitary forces will erect checkpoints outside these tourist destinations and not allow them to go beyond designated areas.
Pahalgam itself and other famous destinations like Gulmarg remain open for tourists, but some areas within these places will be restricted, officials said.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
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