Kashmir’s villages keen to be put on state's tourist map

Jehangir Rashid, Srinagar

There are destinations off the beaten track that tourists with a yen for adventure can explore in Kashmir. The list is an enticing one: sprinkled with gushing waterfalls, rambling pastures, wildlife spots, skiing slopes, hot springs, pine forests.

Instead of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and those Mughal gardens, come and stay with us in a picturesque village and get a taste of life deep in the hills and meadows of Kashmir, say villagers of the Pir Panjal range.

Districts like Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla as well as Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu division have the potential to expand the horizon of tourism. Best of all, tourism can be developed without causing any damage to the environment.

“Eco-tourism is the current buzzword. There is no need to go for construction of hotels and guest-houses in these areas. People can convert their small houses into homestays with traditional food being served to guests,” says Mohammad Akhtar, a resident of Khag in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

The villages identified for ecofriendly tourism are Sukhnag, Ringzabal, Brenwar, Drung, Khag, Gogaldara, Hajin-Gulistan, Naristan, Sedow, Hirpora, Dubjan and Gaader (a meadow).

What has disappointed residents is that the tourism department and other departments associated with tourism have not taken any worthwhile measures to boost tourism in such villages.

In February this year the district administration organized a winter carnival to promote Dubjan as a tourist destination. A few days after this festival the restrictions imposed following the Baisaran-Pahalgam attack in April last year that left 25 tourists and a local dead, were finally lifted.

Dubjan hosts snow sports like skiing. It has stunning views of the Pir Panjal mountains and natural hot water springs which are regarded as therapeutic.

“Dubjan needs to be promoted as one of the best eco-tourism spots in the district. Once this is done people will come. Holding a winter carnival without an adjunct promotion campaign makes it a useless exercise,” pointed out Abdul Samad, a Shopian resident.

The closure of major tourist destinations such as Doodpathri, Yousmarg and the Aharbal waterfall led to considerable economic distress among communities whose livelihoods depend entirely on tourism. Residents say the prolonged restrictions left hundreds of families struggling to meet daily expenses.

Pir Sheikh Ghulam Mohideen, vice-chairman, Pir Panjal Conservation Foundation, says the closure pushed many families into economic uncertainty, especially pony handlers, nature guides, taxi drivers, food stall vendors, ATV operators and homestay owners.

“Tourism is the lifeline of villages around Doodpathri and Mujpathri. People are surviving on loans and borrowings. Conservation of nature is important, but the survival of local communities must also be safeguarded,” emphasizes Sheikh, a resident of Mujpathri.

Molvi Maqbool, chairman, Sukhnag Conservation and Development Foundation, points out that the restrictions have had dire consequences. “Tourism once provided seasonal employment to hundreds of youths in Sukhnag and nearby villages. Today many young people remain unemployed. Small vendors, tea sellers and transport operators are struggling to sustain their families,” he says.

People are also upset that the tourism department is simply sitting pretty instead of working to promote destinations which have been identified by residents.

The waterfall at Drung in Budgam, for example,  has been categorized as a tourist attraction. But, on the ground, facilities are missing. The infrastructure for providing amenities to tourists was not developed.

“It is imperative that all facilities be provided so that tourists carry a positive message to other likely travellers. If  basic amenities, such as restrooms and drinking water,  are not available how can we expect more people to come and enjoy the beauty of the Drung waterfall? The stakeholders need to chip in for a better future,” says Shakeel Ahmad, a resident.

The Aharbal waterfall in Shopian district, another exquisite attraction, is also under-utilized with regard to tourism potential. Aharbal has a development authority but very little improvement of facilities has actually taken place. The waterfall has hardly been promoted, say locals.

“The Government of India has been very generous in allocating funds for tourism and tourism-related activities. One fails to understand where the money goes. Virtually no development has taken place at this tourist resort and very few people come to take a look at our waterfall,” rues Reyaz Ahmad, a resident of Shopian.

Along the Mughal Road that connects Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch districts, homestays and small tea shops have come up at places like Hirpora and Sedow, but they are few and far between. Incentives are needed for locals so that more homestays for tourists come up.

“There is scope for religious tourism. The Pir Ki Gali shrine is visited by people irrespective of belief or religion. Here too basic facilities like drinking water and public toilets are missing. The lack of such facilities hampers the tourism potential of this revered shrine,” says Zahoor Ahmad who frequently visits the shrine.

Dr Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, founder, Tosamaidan Bachav Front and the Nature Conservancy Alliance, emphasizes the need for a balanced and community-centred tourism strategy. He says identification of neglected landscapes could open up new vistas for eco-tourism.

“While ecological concerns must be respected, blanket restrictions without livelihood alternatives can devastate fragile mountain economies. The government should identify and develop neglected landscapes with tourism potential and promote nature-based community tourism models,” says Dr Shaikh.