Ten vacationers from Europe in J&Okay, a few of whom had visited the area earlier throughout its years blighted by terrorism, have confessed to being struck by the “peace and serenity” now, extra so when elections are underway.
Octogenarian Glenys Gem of UK first got here to Kashmir Valley when she was 43. “We first got here in 1980 and have been captivated by Kashmir’s magnificence.This time we’ve arrived with our group of ten, some from Switzerland, some from Luxembourg and the remainder from Germany. We’ve all been struck by the peaceable environment though native meeting elections are on right here. It’s been of added curiosity to witness campaigning with processions and no signal of any hassle in any respect,” Glenys, now 87, stated.
For Mario and his spouse Suzanne from Switzerland, there appears “a brand new settled really feel right here now, with native Kashmiris having fun with life with a brand new hope”.
Thiele and spouse Werner from Germany had related emotions about their journey this time. Between their many sightseeing rounds, they packed in a visit to observe the second section of elections in Srinagar on Sept 25. “We’ve got not seen such peaceable elections in Kashmir earlier. This land was at all times in unhealthy information. However this time round, the state of affairs has modified,” Thiele stated.
Luxembourg’s Danielle and spouse Nadine couldn’t cease raving in regards to the “serenity” of their Shikara (houseboat) rides on Srinagar’s Dal Lake.
For UK’s Glenys, the present go to offered a distinction with a few of her earlier journeys. “I’ve visited Kashmir a number of occasions, generally when it was enduring critical turmoil,” she recalled. This time, it was nice to relive the nice reminiscences. “We had the great fortune to stick with the Wangnoo household on their superbly comfy Wangnoo Sheraton houseboats (on Dal Lake), then headed up by Sultan Wangnoo and now by his son Habib,” Glenys stated.
All this was music to the ears of these related to tourism, as soon as J&Okay’s mainstay and an space on which the Centre has renewed its focus for the reason that 2019 abrogation of J&Okay’s particular standing. The refrain reached a crescendo final week when the Union ministry of tourism declared Aru village in J&Okay’s Pahalgam one of many winners of Finest Tourism Villages Competitors, 2024. The honour was introduced on World Tourism Day on September 27.
This yr, the competitors featured 991 villages from 30 states and Union territories; 36 villages received in varied classes. Aru top-scored in journey tourism, which features a vary of actions like trekking, snowboarding, and tenting. Hoteliers from different elements of India have began investing in star accommodations in Aru, many with native businessmen as companions, setting the stage for era of jobs for J&Okay youths, stated a senior tourism division official.
