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India.com
5 days ago
- India.com
First Time In the Valley? Here's How To Fall In Love with Srinagar On Your Very First Visit
Not Just Dal Lake Snow doesn't define Srinagar. Silence does. And when the morning mist lifts over the Dal, you don't just see reflections — you see a city suspended in memory. Woven in walnut wood, mirrored in still water, wrapped in layers of chinar leaves and centuries-old stories. Most first-timers come for the postcard. Shikara rides. Houseboats. A snow-dusted selfie from Gulmarg. But what if we told you — Srinagar isn't a checklist. It's a rhythm. A feeling. A slow unfolding, like a kahwa cup warming between your palms. Let's step off the houseboat deck. Let's get lost in a lane that smells of dried apricots and saffron. Let's meet Srinagar — not as a tourist, but as a traveller who listens. What Makes Srinagar Different from Anywhere Else in India? It's not just the beauty. It's the balance. Srinagar lives between two worlds — the Himalayan quiet and the bustle of everyday life. A city where paper mache and poetry are still occupations. Where soldiers stand guard beside almond blossoms. Where time slows not because there's nothing to do — but because everything deserves attention. Unlike the loudness of Delhi or the chaos of Manali's peak season, Srinagar moves like a wazwan thali — slow, graceful, unfolding course by course. And each dish, each view, each scent — invites you to linger. This isn't a city to rush through. This is a city that changes you — if you let it. Tired of Dal Lake? These Experiences Will Show You the Real Srinagar 1. Zabarwan Hills – Where Silence Learns to Echo Beyond the postcard lake lies this range — a guardian of the city, draped in green in summer and snow in winter. Hike early. Before the chatter of tourists. Before the sun is fully awake. Watch as the valley reveals itself in fragments — pine needles, distant calls of Himalayan magpies, shepherds warming hands by a fire. It's not an epic trek. It's a whispering one. Bring a journal. And a jacket. 2. Badamwari Garden – The Forgotten Spring Song While Tulip Garden hogs the headlines, this almond blossom park near Rainawari is where locals truly celebrate spring. Come in March. The trees blush pink and white like shy brides. Old men sip noon chai under flowering canopies. Children run between trunks. Photographers stay quiet, stunned. It isn't manicured. It isn't famous. And that's exactly why you'll remember it. 3. Hazratbal Shrine – Where Faith Meets Reflection It stands serene on the banks of Dal — more than just a mosque. Enter barefoot. Let silence guide you through arched corridors and white marble courtyards. Every Friday, the call to prayer rises like mist from the lake. And even if you don't understand the language — your heart might. Tip: Dress modestly. Respect the stillness. 4. Old Srinagar – The City Beneath the City Take a detour into Zaina Kadal. Lose the GPS. Follow the scent of freshly baked girda bread. Here, time folds. Wooden lattice windows lean over cobbled lanes. Spice shops glow with dried lavender and saffron. Copper artisans tap out rhythm on trays they've been crafting for generations. Stop for harissa in the morning. Watch the river Jhelum pass under ancient bridges by noon. This part of Srinagar doesn't care for filters. It's raw. Real. Radiant. 5. Floating Vegetable Market – A Dawn That Moves At 5 AM, while most of the city sleeps, a quiet ballet begins. Farmers on boats. Bargaining mid-lake. Lotus stems. Pumpkins. Haakh greens. Everything traded over misty waters. No engines. Just oars. Just the sound of commerce kissed by cold air. Watch from a distance. Don't interrupt. Just absorb. It's not for show. It's for survival. And that's what makes it magical. First Time Here? These Tips Will Help You Soak Instead of Scramble Dress like the valleyLayer up — mornings are chilly even in June. A shawl is both useful and respectful. Earthy colors blend best. Respect the slowDon't pack your itinerary. Let the city lead. One garden a day. One meal at leisure. One conversation with a local. That's enough. Avoid over-posingThe city isn't a prop. It's a poem. Soften your camera lens. And sometimes, just pocket your phone. Drink localSkip cola. Sip kahwa. Try noon chai even if you find it salty. These drinks tell stories your guidebook won't. Eat earlyDinner happens before 9 PM here. Try wazwan — seek out smaller, family-run places where the rogan josh is made with memory. Talk less. Listen here has a story. But not all want to tell it. Be gentle. Be present. The Hidden Economy Behind Every Smile When you walk through old Srinagar instead of lounging in luxury hotels, you do more than just 'explore.' You: Support carpet weavers and pashmina sellers whose families depend on footfall, not fast fashion. Help vegetable boatmen keep alive one of Asia's rarest floating markets. Show young entrepreneurs in cafes like Books and Bricks or Chai Jaai that beauty and business can coexist. Preserve cultural heritage by proving that the world still cares — not just about mountains, but about meaning. Every rupee here carries weight. Every interaction echoes. So choose with care. So What's Stopping You? The Headlines? The Cold? The Unknown? Srinagar has always been misread. Too delicate. Too complicated. Too political. But first-timers who walk her slow streets know better. They know she is layered like a pheran. That she doesn't shout. She sings. Low and soft and true. Come with an open heart. And warm socks. Leave behind rush. And expectations. Because in Srinagar, you don't tick off sights. You surrender to them. Conclusion Don't just visit Srinagar. Let it visit you. The next time you crave escape, don't just look for beaches or parties. Look north. Look up. Where clouds cradle mountains. Where water holds sky. Where time folds gently into memory. Because the best stories aren't found in itineraries. They're found in gardens with no signs, in chai cups passed between strangers, in walks where you lose GPS but find grace. Srinagar doesn't promise excitement. It promises depth. And for the first-time traveller — that's everything.
The Print
03-08-2025
- The Print
J-K: Authorities order eviction of famed Hotel Nedous in Gulmarg
In an order, Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) Chief Executive Officer Tariq Hussain has directed the assistant director of Tourism, Gulmarg, to take possession of the property within 24 hours. Several Bollywood films and songs have been shot at the hotel located in the famous ski resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The hotel was reportedly owned by a relative of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Srinagar, Aug 2 (PTI) Authorities have ordered the eviction of the iconic Hotel Nedous in the tourist resort of Gulmarg here within 24 hours, citing 'unauthorised occupation' of government land, officials said on Saturday. 'It is requested that the possession of Hotel Nedous, Gulmarg, which is presently under unauthorised occupation, be taken over immediately and handed over to the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA),' the order said. It said that in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and the Department of Tourism, the assistant directed is requested to evict the 'unauthorised occupant' and take over the physical possession of public premises — Hotel Nedous — within 24 hours and handover the possession of the property to the GDA. PTI SSB RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Mint
23-06-2025
- Mint
How tourism battles back in Kashmir: Signs of revival two months after Pahalgam terror attack
Parvez Ahmad has been ferrying tourists on his shikara (boat) across Srinagar's picturesque Dal Lake for over two decades. As is his summer routine, he waits for tourists at one of the lake's ghats. 'Hethin hasa yin (tourists have started coming) finally,' Ahmad smiles as he invites a group of tourists from Punjab to hop aboard his boat. 'But not as many as there were before the attack,' he says on June 22, exactly two months after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in Baisaran Valley, about 100 km from Dal Lake. The April 22 attack in Baisaran valley of Pahalgam came at a time when the Valley was witnessing a tourism boom with a footfall that many estimated was at a fifteen-year high. The attack triggered widespread cancellations by tourists, affecting advance bookings. According to Jammu and Kashmir's Department of Tourism, the number of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024 was approximately 35 lakh, a rise from 27 lakh in 2023 and 26 lakh in 2022. About 5 lakh tourists visited the region in the first three months of 2025. However, news agency PTI reported on April 23, citing Delhi-based travel agencies, that up to 90 per cent of travel bookings to the hilly state have been cancelled owing to safety concerns. Two months after the attack, tourism in Kashmir is finding its feet again, albeit slowly. "It is definitely showing signs of recovery by say 15 to 20 per cent so far. You can see yourself at Boulevard, Lal Chowk, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and other places,' Adil Khan, General Secretary, Skal International and former president of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Association, told local reporters in Srinagar. Khan is right. Boulevard Road, with Dal Lake glistening on one side, is once again dotted with tourists. After a few km drive from this road stand the famed Mughal Gardens – Nishat and Shalimar – both of which saw a fair share of tourists on Sunday. At Shalimar Bagh, most visitors were locals, though a fair number of tourists from outside the Valley had also made their way in. At Shalimar Bagh, most visitors were locals, though a fair number of tourists from outside the Valley had also made their way in. A family from Rajasthan asked a group of local women if they could hold and play with their infant — the women smiled and agreed. Tourism is not the mainstay, but one of the contributors to Jammu and Kashmir's economy. Never before have so many tourists been killed in a single attack in Kashmir's violent past. Tourism stakeholders like Shikara-owner Parvez said that numbers started increasing after the new train link, which for the first time connected Srinagar with the rest of India. On June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train services from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) railway station in Jammu's Katra to Srinagar, Kashmir. 'We boarded a train from Katra and got to Srinagar in three hours,' said Vijay Anand from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, after a jet ski ride with his group on Dal Lake. Tourists waiting for a jet ski ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar. The new train has been in such demand that, according to travel agents, all seats are booked until the end of July. Others credited the re-opening of most of the parks and tourist destinations that had been closed after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack have also been reopened in a phased manner. The Jammu and Kashmir government shut 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across Kashmir Valley in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Sunday that Pahalgam hill station in South Kashmir was 'bustling with activity' with tourists from various parts of the country competing for space with local picnickers. Abdullah shared pictures of the crowded roads of the famed hill station in rainy weather on June 22. 'Today I came back to Pahalgam, which was bustling with activity. Tourists from various parts of the country competed for space with local picnickers who were enjoying the cool climate & rainy weather,' Abdullah said in a post on X. Hoteliers in Pahalgam, however, said tourists visiting the hill station are mostly locals. 'We have seen some improvement in bookings. But the most of the people you see on roads are locals who come on weekends and go back the same day,' said Javed Ahmad, who owns a hotel at the hill station. Last month, Abdullah took it upon himself to lead a campaign for the revival of tourism in the Valley. On May 28, Abdullah chaired a meeting of administrative secretaries and other top officials in Gulmarg health resort as part of his government's efforts to draw tourists back to Kashmir. A day before, he held a symbolic cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, the site of the April 22 terror attack. While the new train service appears to have helped revive Kashmir's tourism, officials told Livemint that the Srinagar airport has also seen an increase in arrivals in the last few weeks. On April 22, the day of the terror attack, 9,235 passengers arrived in 51 flights at Srinagar airport. The number fell to 4,341 passengers on 41 flights on April 25 On May 7, India launched retaliatory strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, during which multiple airports near the border, including Srinagar, were shut down. The Srinagar airport which closed on May 7 re-opened for operations on May 13. People outside Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar on June 22. On May 15, as many as 3,387 passengers arrived in 22 flights at Srinagar airport. This included 641 Hajj pilgrims who returned from Saudi Arabia in special flights. In the past week, the airport has also seen an uptick in the number of passengers. About 4000-5000 passengers have been arriving daily. On Sunday, June 22, 4,300 passengers arrived at the airport, almost half of what the airport handled on April 22. Another 4,200 passengers flew out of Srinagar on Sunday. Srinagar Airport Director Javed Anjum told LiveMint that 50 flights operated from the airport on Sunday. 'We used to handle about 19000 passengers daily before Pahalgam attack. This number had come to 2000 passengers post the attack. Yesterday, we handled 8000 passengers, both inbound and outbound," Anjum said. Travel agents with whom LiveMint spoke said the number of people travelling on flights has come down since the Airlines reduced flights and are operating around 50 daily flights to Srinagar compared with over 90 they operated before the attack. 'Since there are less planes operating, the ticket fares have also gone up. As against ₹ 4500 from Delhi to Srinagar the rates today are around ₹ 8000 if you book three days ahead of your journey,' said Soleh, who runs a travel agency in Srinagar. Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Association, said his association sought support for hoteliers in terms of interest waivers on loans for at least six months during a recent meeting with CM Omar Abdullah. "We have also requested for relief on electricity bills and other expenses. The business is badly hit and occupancies are almost zero," he said. Many hotels in Kashmir have been offering discounts to lure tourists. In Gulmarg, a hill station in the north of Srinagar, a four-star hotels that usually charge ₹ 15,000 per night has cut its rates in half. There are 82 hotels in Gulmarg, including the five-star Khyber Resort, a few four-star properties, and the rest are three-star hotels. Last month, representatives from airlines and the hospitality industry asked the government for incentives to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, which suffered badly after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India have requested the government to waive the user development and aviation security fees at the Srinagar airport for a year so that they could offer cheaper tickets to passengers travelling to Kashmir. At present, the airport charges a user development fee of ₹ 1,050 and an aviation security fee of ₹ 200 per traveller. These charges are included in air ticket prices. As more tourists visit Kashmir, things are expected to improve with the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra next month. But as Ahmad says, it is 'not like before, but better than nothing' The annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave in Pahalgam commences from July 3. Not like before, but better than nothing. 'The season will be over by July end. We won't be witnessing the pre-April tourism at least this year again. But we are still hoping for things to improve with Amarnath Yatra on the cards," he said.
India Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Operation Sindoor: Jaish headquarters, Lashkar camp among 9 targets hit by India
In a calibrated military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian armed forces on early Wednesday launched "focused and precise" missile strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). The attack, named "Operation Sindoor", targeted infrastructure linked to three major terror outfits: Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. One of the most significant targets was the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, located around 100 km from the international border. The town is widely considered the nerve centre of JeM operations and has been under Indian radar since the Pulwama attack in 2019. Another major strike hit Muridke, 30 km from the India-Pakistan border opposite Samba. The location is known for housing a Lashkar-e-Taiba facility directly linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The armed forces also struck deep inside POK. In the Tangdhar sector, missiles hit the Sawai camp — an LeT hub linked to a series of high-profile attacks, including Sonmarg (October 20, 2024), Gulmarg (October 24, 2024), and the recent Pahalgam ambush. Gulpur, 35 km from the Line of Control in the Poonch-Rajauri belt, was also targeted. Intelligence inputs suggest its role in both the April 2023 ambush on Indian soldiers in Poonch and the June 2024 attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims. Highly placed sources told India Today TV that India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), had identified each of the nine targets following extensive surveillance. Based on this intelligence, the military executed the strikes in a meticulously coordinated plan targeting high-value Lashkar and Jaish locations. The Indian action covered a wide geographical span: BAHAWALPUR: 100 Km from International Boundary (JeM Headquarters) 100 Km from International Boundary (JeM Headquarters) MURIDKE: 30 Km from border, opposite Samba (LeT camp linked to 26/11 Mumbai attacks) 30 Km from border, opposite Samba (LeT camp linked to 26/11 Mumbai attacks) GULPUR: 35 Km from LoC, Poonch-Rajauri (linked to 2023 Poonch attack and 2024 bus attack on pilgrims) 35 Km from LoC, Poonch-Rajauri (linked to 2023 Poonch attack and 2024 bus attack on pilgrims) SAWAI: 30 Km inside Pak-Occupied Kashmir (linked to Sonmarg attack, Gulmarg attack and recent Pahalgam attack) 30 Km inside Pak-Occupied Kashmir (linked to Sonmarg attack, Gulmarg attack and recent Pahalgam attack) BILAL CAMP: JeM launchpad JeM launchpad KOTLI CAMP: 15 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri (LeT bomber camp) 15 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri (LeT bomber camp) BARNALA CAMP: 10 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri 10 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri SARJAL CAMP: 8 Km from IB, opposite Samba-Kathua (JeM camp) 8 Km from IB, opposite Samba-Kathua (JeM camp) MEHMOONA CAMP: 15 Km from IB, near Sialkot (Hizbul Mujahideen training Camp) The military strikes were carried out under Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am. It said the actions by the Indian armed forces were "focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature". Sources said that the strikes on all nine targets were successful and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring Operation Sindoor closely.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
Pahalgam terror attack: People were being killed 10 minutes from where we stood, says Kolhapur survivor
Kolhapur: Ten minutes, that's how long the "memories of a lifetime" lasted for this group of tourists from Kolhapur. Ten minutes is also what saved their lives. Having spent a lovely afternoon in the picturesque Baisaran Valley on Tuesday, Sudhesh Saphale, his relatives and friends were preparing for the next adventure when gun-totting militants unleashed terror on tourists in Pahalgam. "Seventeen of us had travelled to Kashmir. Pahalgam was our third stop. Around 2.30pm, we were just leaving the location when we heard the bullets. People were getting killed just 10 minutes away from where we stood. We rushed with our belongings and frantically started looking for our bus. We stayed in the bus till the evening as there was a total lockdown immediately after the attack," said Saphale, a contractor from Gargoti town in Kolhapur. "We approached the local authorities, and they helped us get back to Srinagar. We then spoke to the Kolhapur collector. Subsequently, a Maharashtra official contacted us. We are now safe," said Saphale on Wednesday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo Meanwhile, 48 tourists from Solapur's Madha tehsil, who reached Kashmir on Tuesday, have now decided to return. Sarhad, a Pune-based NGO, is helping them return. "We were planning to visit Pahalgam after Gulmarg and Sonmarg. We faced many difficulties getting here. There was a road cave-in and a heavy traffic jam. That is why we reached Srinagar late on Tuesday. We have now decided to return," said Rahul Petkar, a resident of Madha.
