Gurez Valley: From terror corridor to niche tourist destination

From being an infamous route of infiltration to being a sojourn of peace, the picturesque valley of Gurez near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir is all set to charm tourists.With a three-day festival that begins on Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir government is attempting to market the valley as a niche tourist destination notwithstanding the recent infiltration incidents that ended in five militants being killed last month.Situated at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the Gurez Valley is surrounded by the Himalayas and is 135 kilometers away from Srinagar. It remains cut off from the rest of the state for six months during winter.Lofty mountains, roaring rivers, lush meadows, exotic wildlife and rich Dardi-Sheena cultural moorings are enough to cheer up people in this virgin valley that has remained unexplored so far due to militancy."We want to put Gurez Valley on the tourism map. We want tourists to visit this place and there is no need to seek permission for the same. Anybody can come here. They will be frisked at one or two places, but that is a routine. We have given instructions that people should not face any problems," Sajad Hussain Ganie, deputy commissioner, Bandipora, told DNA.Meanwhile, foot-tapping music, local gourmet, trekking expeditions and handicrafts and local art are on the table for next three days in Gurez. "Cultural programmes showcasing the local and Kashmiri culture and stalls showcasing local and Kashmiri handicrafts are some of the highlights of this event. Local artists will also display their work at the festival," said Ganie."Adequate accommodation and catering facilities have been put in place so that tourists are not inconvenienced," said Ganie."We have invited tour operators and we hope they also promote Gurez as a tourist destination," he added.