Old Srinagar travels from stone-pelting hub to tourist spot

From the epicenter of stone-pelting to a tourist sojourn, the sensitive old Srinagar city has come a long way to become the new abode for peace.

Cable-car, art galleries, swanky restaurants and shopping arcades have opened up to attract tourists. The icing on the cake will be the opening of Mughal era sites and makeover of Sufi shrines.

“There are so many things planned for the old city. Naagar Nagar tourist circuit is part of this Rs29 crore project, which has been approved by the Centre,” said Ali Mohammad Sagar, law and rural development minister who represents Khanyar constituency of the old city in the assembly.

Considered the stronghold of Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the old city had been at the forefront of the unrest in 2010. The J&K government is now trying to bring in economic prosperity there.

“We are establishing the cable-car from central cemetery to shrine of Makhdoom Sahib, and setting up restaurants and art galleries. We are also expanding the central grand mosque and shrine of Dastagir Sahib and tomb of king of Zain-ul-Abidin and others to promote tourism,” said Sagar.

The Naagar Nagar project has been conceived to restore cultural properties. “A major component will be restoration of the rampart wall around the Hari Parbat Fort,” said a tourism department spokesman. Over seven lakh tourists have visited Kashmir so far this year.