The areas situated close to the Line of Control (LoC), like Keran, Gurez, Tangdhar, Machil, and Bangus, have now been thrown open to the public, thanks to the Indian Army which played a vital role in bringing these areas on to the tourism map.
With heart-throbbing views of hills, streams and famous Neelum (Kishanganga) River, Gurez Valley is being promoted as a prime tourist destination. It is hoped that the neighbouring county will not let these tourist places be used as infiltration routes anymore. Gurez Valley has been used as an infiltration corridor by the militant outfits and people living along LoC have been victims of the shells and bombs fired by Indian and Pakistani armies at each other.
February 25, 2021, was no less than an Eid for villagers living along the LoC in J&K. On this day India and Pakistan agreed to strictly observe all ceasefire agreements along the LoC and other sectors. People living in villages near the Line of Control are now happily living a normal life and have hugely benefited from the ceasefire agreement.
Not only this, the government of India, particularly with the efforts of Indian Army, has promoted the concept of border tourism, which has changed things altogether.
Nowadays, tourists from across the country visit Gurez Valley. Peace on borders has given a sense of security to those who intend to visit these tourist destinations located close to LoC. The Government of India seems highly interested in developing these areas as tourist destinations.
During my visit to Gurez Valley I saw people enthusiastically welcoming tourists. Our group held interactions with the local people and tourists from different parts of country were enjoying the beauty and calm of nature. We were surprised to find an amazing coffee shop, The Log Hut Café, in the town of Dawer in Gurez. It has been established by Indian Army. All the staff running the cafe is local and has been trained by army personnel. Such types of cafes and food outlets need to be established at every border tourist spot, like in Bangus Valley, Tangdhar, Machil and Keran.
Gurez now seems a new Switzerland with immense beauty. Once part of ancient Dardistan, the valley of Gurez falls along the ancient Silk Route which connected the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit. People here speak the Sina language and are full of hospitality.
Gurez is located in the high Himalayas, about 86 kilometres from Bandipore town and 123 kilometres from Srinagar city, in northern Kashmir. At about 8,000 ft above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Razdan Pass divides this valley from Kashmir valley and it remains closed during the winter season due to heavy snowfall. The people of Gurez valley are ethnic Dards (Shins). They have the same styles of dress and culture as their kinsmen in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.
Dawar is the central township in Gurez . The population of the area is estimated to be about 35,000 in its all fifteen villages. Dawar is an important archaeological site. In village Kanzalwan, the last Council of Buddhism is believed to have been held. Just a few miles away in Neelum Valley (in the Pakistan-held part) is Sharda Peeth or the Seat of Sharda, named after the goddess of wisdom Saraswati. It was an ancient centre of learning established in 273 B, even before the Takshila and Nalanda universities. Such is the importance of this valley.
Gurez’s most formidable peak is Habba Khatoon. This pyramid-shaped peak was named after the Kashmiri poet Habba Khatoon. The emperor of Kashmir Yousuf Shah Chak was enthralled by Habba Khatoon’s beauty, intelligence and poetry. Shah is said to have arranged her divorce and married her. When Shah was imprisoned by his rival King Akbar, Habba Khatoon began to wander near this peak that now bears her name to look for her lover. Before the partition of Kashmir, Gurez was a destination for foreign tourists such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who is known to have visited the valley some time before he became the US president.
Sports and Tourism Potential:
Experts believe that if the valley is promoted in a proper way it can attract tourists from across the globe and can generate employment for thousands of unemployed youth of Kashmir. There is unparalleled potential of adventure tourism, sports tourism, trekking, water rafting, skiing, skating, rock climbing, snowboarding, paragliding, heli-skiing, golf, and polo. The media has a crucial role to play in promoting emerging destinations like Gurez Valley. However, the valley has been not given the coverage it deserves. Recently a Kashmir-based association of volunteers, Youth Peace Club (YPC), brought here a team of media persons who captured the beautiful scenery of Gurez, conducted interviews of tourists and locals. Thousands of social media users have showcased the beauty of the valley and have succeeded in creating some awareness.
What more needs to be done:
a) Establishment of separate Gurez Valley Development Authority
b) Setting up of tourist reception and information centres in Bandipora and Gurez
c) Construction of tunnel through Razdan Pass to avoid lengthy distance and to keep the valley open for vehicular movement throughout the year
d) Setting up of helpline numbers for tourists
e) Repair of all interior roads in the Gurez Valley
f) Regulation of all the trades involved in tourism
g) Complete ban on polyethylene bags
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Tahir Majeed