Is Kashmir Safe

Kashmir is well-known for its magnificent scenery, diverse culture, and friendly people, earning it the moniker “Paradise on Earth.” Nevertheless, there have occasionally been turmoil and geopolitical problems in the area. Many travelers are concerned about the safety of their trip to Kashmir and want to know if it is safe to visit there at this time. Although there has been a lot of misinformation about Kashmir, anyone who has been there can attest that it has the finest level of tourist safety in the nation. The safest destination for tourists is Kashmir. It has zero crimes against tourists and extends a warm welcome to all visitors. Here, visitors of all stripes are made to feel very welcome and at home.

This subject has been brought up multiple times in social media platforms. Is it safe to visit Kashmir? Indeed, visiting Kashmir in the summertime is perfectly safe throughout the year.
• Violence does occur in Kashmir occasionally, but it is uncommon for visitors to become involved in such incidents.
• Major tourist destinations like Srinagar Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, or Sonmarg are rarely the scene of stone-pelting, gunfights, or other violent incidents.
Many people, including travel agencies, hotel and houseboat owners, shikara owners, tour guides, drivers, pony owners, and others, make their living from tourism, which is regarded as a significant portion of the economy. Nothing bad will happen to the tourists, according to the locals.

History Of Kashmir

The Muslim Moghul rulers took over Kashmir in the fifteenth century, converting the local populace to Islam and assimilating it into the Moghul empire, following centuries of domination by Hindu and Buddhist authorities. It’s important to distinguish between contemporary authoritarian Islamic regimes and Islamic Moghul dominance. One hundred years before the European Enlightenment emerged, the Moghul empire, led by individuals such as Akbar the Great (1542-1605), personified the values of tolerance and plurality. (The succeeding Sufi-influenced type of Islam that ruled the subcontinent in India and Pakistan, prior to the development of more Islamist clerics inspired by jihadists, bore the Moghul stamp.) In the eighteenth century, Afghan invaders trailed the Moghuls, who were forced out of Punjab by Sikhs. In the 19th century, Britain launched an invasion and sold the whole Kashmir Valley to the cruel and oppressive Hindu Gulab Singh of Jammu for 500,000 rupees, or three rupees each Kashmiri. The Kashmir Valley was incorporated into the state of Jammu and Kashmir during Singh’s administration.

Kashmir was offered the choice to become independent or join either India or Pakistan under the terms of the Indian Independence Act’s partition plan.

At first, Hari Singh, the Dogra king at the time, desired Kashmir’s independence. But in October 1947, he consented to join India in response to a Pakistani tribe’s effort to overrun the area.
Jawahar Lal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister, dispatched soldiers to guard Kashmir from a potential Pakistani invasion. Hari Singh thereafter signed a document acceding the state to Indian sovereignty. As a direct result of the document, the Indian constitution also included Article 370, which ensured Kashmir’s autonomy inside the Indian Union.

Both India and Pakistan have fought several battles over Kashmir since October 1947, claiming to be fighting for the welfare of the indigenous populace. However, they collectively silenced Kashmiri voices that demanded independence and criticized the conduct of both nations.
But for the better part of a decade following the 1990 political instability, travel was completely stopped. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that travel began to pick back up.

Importance Of Tourism In Kashmir

The tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir has enormous potential. The State has extremely little room for large-scale industrial expansion. Due to its labor-intensive nature, the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir offers a wide range of job opportunities. Compared to other industries, this one offers a higher percentage of work chances. Since the tourism business is thought of as multi-segmental, it offers a variety of occupations, including those for hotel managers, travel agents, chefs, transport operators, accountants, clerks, and receptionists. There are a ton of commercially viable products available in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. From a tourist perspective, every region in the state has a lot to offer, including: abundant natural resources; adventure tourism (canoeing, river rafting, mountain climbing); a wide variety of trekking routes; and pilgrimage tourism. (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist), Wildlife Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Springs, Festivals and Cultural activities, Handicrafts etc.

Jammu and Kashmir’s Union Territory (UT) received 12.7 million tourists in the first seven months of 2023. This amount rise to 22.5 million by the end of the year, a huge increase over previous year’s 18.8 million tourist arrivals, the largest number of visitors to the UT since India gained independence. Significantly, the number of international tourists visiting the UT has increased by 700%, from 4,028 in 2022 to 30,647 in the first eight months of 2023.
Kashmir had a tourist footfall of 15.65 lakh in the first half of 2024, up 20% from 13 lakh in the same time previous year.

The greatest sign that the Valley is experiencing peace again after August 2019 is the rise in both local and foreign visitors, which may be attributed to improved safety and security. In addition to cost and location, travelers often consider their own security and safety when selecting their locations. The significant influx of visitors is accelerating the transition towards positivity and peace and supporting the region’s economic change. By exposing Kashmiris to cultures other than Pakistan’s “implemented” gun culture, which they have lived with for decades, tourism in the war-torn Valley also benefits them mentally. The Valley’s long-standing syncretic culture is being revived, which is the biggest effect of increased tourism. Other positive effects include tolerance and a greater recognition of others’ rights.

How Safe Is Kashmir Now

Fortunately, visiting tourist sites in Kashmir is just as safe as visiting any other part of India. Regarding tourists in particular, Kashmir might be safer than some other Indian states since the people there understand that visitors bring in money and handle them with respect rather than taking advantage of them. Visitors are greeted warmly and respectfully by the primarily Muslim locals, who also go above and beyond to assist them. Under the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, the Tourist Reception Center has a dedicated cell that handles complaints of cheating, harassing, nagging, and touting in order to assist visitors who may feel they are being taken advantage of or threatened.

Kashmir is an excellent place to organize a family vacation and honeymoon in India. The picturesque locations of Gulmarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg make a family vacation or honeymoon in Kashmir an unforgettable experience. Kashmir is even home to the famed Amarnath Cave, which attracts Lord Shiva worshipers from all over the world.
While the gorgeous Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar provide an opportunity to stay on a houseboat and take a Shikara ride, alpine lakes such as Tarsar Marsar, Vishnasar, and Gadsar Lakes beckon adventurers seeking the greatest trekking experience. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of skiing in Gulmarg during the winter season.

Also read: Kashmiri Pheran