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India Gazette
5 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Tourist spots reopen in Kashmir a day after LG Sinha's announcement; move widely welcomed
Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 15 (ANI): A day after Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the reopening of eight major tourist destinations to revive tourism and restore public confidence, several locations in Kashmir were thrown open to tourists on Sunday. The reopened sites include the picturesque Betaab Valley, the serene Verinag, Kokernag, Achabal Mughal Gardens, and multiple parks in Pahalgam town. The decision was welcomed by locals, political leaders, and tourists alike. These destinations had been temporarily closed following the terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen. With the reopening, tourists were seen flocking to the sites in large numbers. A female tourist in Pahalgam told ANI, 'This decision of the government is right. If there is no tourism, how will the locals survive? The government's initiative is good. Tourist places are reopening with adequate security. I urge everyone to visit and support tourism here...' Local politicians also hailed the decision. Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said, 'It's a welcome step. It sends a positive message to the nation that Kashmir is normal now. I appeal to people across India, come to Kashmir. It's as safe as your cities and homes.' Pahalgam MLA Altaf Kaloo said, 'The places have opened and the Amarnath Yatra is also going to start soon. This is a positive thing. In the coming time, all other tourist places will also open. The number of tourists has started increasing, which is a positive sign. Our message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is that it is our duty to make the Yatra a success...' On Saturday, LG Sinha, during his visit to Pahalgam, had met delegations comprising MLAs, DDC chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, tour operators, Ponywala associations, and hoteliers. He assured them that other restrictions would be lifted after a thorough security review. Sharing an update on social media platform X, LG Sinha said, 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir & Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures. Betab Valley & Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden to be reopened from 17th June.' He added, 'Other tourist destinations being reopened includes Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar, Sarthal, Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda & Jai valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur. Reopening will be in phase-wise manner.' (ANI)
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
J&K LG announces reopening of 16 of 48 tourists destinations closed after Pahalgam attack
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday announced that 16 tourist destinations across the Union Territory have been thrown open for tourists that were closed following the attack in Pahalgam that killed 25 tourists and one local. Following the attack on April 22, the administration had closed 48 tourist destinations mostly in the upper reaches of mountains, for the security review. The LG said that other destinations would be reopened in phased manner. We have got reports from all the districts of J&K and it was decided that some spots would be thrown open for tourists in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures," said Sinha. Eight destinations inclduing Betab valley and Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden, Achabal Garden, Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar have been opened in Kashmir valley. In Jammu divison, Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur have been thrown open. The destinations would be better remain open from June 17. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo "People are excited after the start of Vande Bharat train and tickets are booked for next 10 to 12 days. Tourists arrivals are slowly increasing. Parliamentary committee meetings and other government functions would be held in Srinagar. This is aimed to restore trust on ground," said Sinha, who met the delegation of legislators, DDC Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons, tour and travel operators, Ponywala association & hoteliers' associations at Pahalgam. "I've assured the delegation that restrictions on other tourist spots will be lifted after thorough security assessment," he said. The LG also met the family of Syed Adil Hussain at Anantnag, who was killed on April 22 and handed over appointment letter to his wife Gulnaz Akhter on compassionate ground. Live Events The ruling National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq in a sarcastic reference to LG's handing over of appointment letter to Akhter said that the job order was already prepared by the Fisheries Department which is under the elected government led by the minister Javed Dar. "This reflects the maturity and responsibility shown by the elected government, we did not allow egos to come in the way, but stood by our commitment to Adil's family in their moment of grief," said Sadiq. "Just as earlier, the elected government had prepared similar job orders for NoKs in Poonch, which were later distributed by the Home Minister after the CM had personally visited and personally committed these jobs to the families immediately after the shelling," said Sadiq adding, "In moments of pain, politics must make way for compassion, and governance must honour its word."
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
J-K LG Manoj Sinha orders phased reopening of tourist spots across UT from June 17
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 14 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has announced the phased reopening of several prominent tourist destinations across the Union Territory starting June 17, following their temporary closure as a precautionary security measure in the aftermath of the April 22 attack. Posting on social media platform X, LG Sinha stated, 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir & Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures. Betab Valley & Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden to be reopened from 17th June.' Speaking to the media, the LG Sinha stated that the decision was taken after security assessments by the Divisional Commissioner and senior police officials. 'After April 22, a few tourist spots were closed for security reasons. Now, based on reports from the Divisional Commissioner and IGs of J&K, we have decided to reopen some of these spots -- including Betab Valley and parks in the Pahalgam market area, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden, and Achabal Garden in Anantnag,' he said. He also met the delegation of MLAs, DDC Chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, tour and travel operators, the Ponywala association, and the hoteliers' associations at Pahalgam. LG assured the delegation that restrictions on other tourist spots will be lifted after a thorough security assessment. He added that several parks in Srinagar city, including Badamwari Park, Duck Park, and Taqdeer Park, will also reopen to visitors from June 17. In the Jammu region, tourist destinations such as Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda, and Pancheri in Udhampur will be reopened gradually in a phased manner. The move comes as part of the administration's efforts to restore normalcy and revive tourism ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra. On preparations for the yatra, LG Sinha noted, 'In the past 3-4 years, there has been a rise in the number of devotees participating in the Amarnath Yatra, and we have enhanced several features to ensure a seamless journey. Accommodation facilities have also been upgraded with better quality and increased tourist capacity. The J&K Police and CRPF have made excellent security arrangements.' The Pahalgam Terror Attack, which took place at the Baisaran meadow, one of Kashmir's popular tourist spots, claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. It struck nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI)
United News of India
a day ago
- United News of India
J&K begins reopening of tourist spots and parks shut after Pahalgam attack
Srinagar, June 14 (UNI) J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered reopening of several tourist destinations and parks from Tuesday. The tourist destinations and parks were shut in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack. The Jammu and Kashmir government had shut down around 50 tourist destinations and trekking trails in Kashmir on April 30, citing security reasons after the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. The decision to close these destinations was taken for the 'safety of the tourists' after the Pahalgam attack. LG Sinha said the reopening of other tourist destinations would be done in a phased manner. 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir & Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures. Betab valley & Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden to be reopened from from 17th June,' office of LG said in a post on X. He said other tourist destinations being reopened includes Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar, Sarthal, Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda & Jai valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur. 'Reopening will be in phase-wise manner,' he said. The LG said he met the delegation of MLAs, DDC Chairpersons & Vice Chairpersons, tour and travel operators, Ponywala association & hoteliers' associations at Pahalgam. 'I've assured the delegation that restrictions on other tourist spots will be lifted after thorough security assessment,' Sinha said. The tourism industry has been worst hit in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terrorists attack UNI MJR BD
