Tauseef Ahmad
SRINAGAR, July 07: Barely a year after cross-border shelling forced hundreds of families to flee their homes and raised fears about the future of border villages, the frontier regions of Gurez, Keran, Uri and Karnah are witnessing an extraordinary transformation. Once associated with conflict and uncertainty, these remote areas are now drawing thousands of tourists every day, creating new livelihoods and reshaping local economies.
The change is perhaps most visible in Gurez Valley, where officials and tourism stakeholders estimate that more than 5,000 tourists are visiting daily during the peak summer season. Hotels, homestays and campsites are operating at near full capacity as travellers from across India arrive to experience the valley’s alpine meadows, wooden villages, crystal-clear rivers, trekking routes and newly introduced adventure activities.
For residents, the revival is deeply symbolic.
“Last year, after the shelling, many of us wondered whether tourists would ever return to Gurez,” said Shabir Ahmad, who runs a camping site in the valley. “People were scared. Businesses had almost stopped. Today, every tent is occupied, visitors keep arriving, and tourism has become a source of hope for local families.”
The valley has further strengthened its adventure tourism profile with the launch of a 482-metre zipline, among the longest in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Earlier people only knew Gurez because it is close to the Line of Control,” said Shoaib Ahmad, who operates the zipline. “Now they come here for adventure, photography and unforgettable experiences. Young people who once searched for jobs outside the valley are now finding employment at home.”
The tourism boom has also created opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The District Administration Bandipora recently established Gurazi Bazaar under the UMEED-NRLM initiative, providing local women and artisans with a dedicated marketplace to sell traditional handicrafts, handwoven products, organic foods and indigenous crafts directly to tourists.
“We finally have a place where tourists come to us,” said Shabnam Begum, a local artisan at Gurazi Bazaar. “Earlier we had to spend our own money transporting our products to markets outside Gurez. Now we can sell everything here at home, earn better and support our families.”
The success of Gurez is mirrored across other frontier destinations.
In Keran, nestled along the banks of the Kishanganga River in Kupwara district, officials estimate that around 3,000 tourists are arriving every day, making it one of Jammu and Kashmir’s fastest-growing border tourism destinations. The village, where Pakistani settlements are visible across the river, has transformed from a remote border outpost into a thriving tourism hub.
For decades, Keran remained synonymous with cross-border firing and military deployment. Today, its identity is being rewritten by bustling homestays, riverside camps, cafés, local restaurants and guided village walks. Officials attribute the revival to improved road connectivity, enhanced security arrangements and close coordination between the Civil Administration and the Indian Army, making the destination safe and accessible for visitors.
However, the surge in tourism has also highlighted the need for improved infrastructure. Authorities are planning additional public toilets, drinking water stations, parking facilities, tourist information centres, better mobile connectivity, scientific waste management systems and eco-friendly civic amenities to ensure that the rapid growth remains sustainable while protecting Keran’s fragile ecosystem.
A similar transformation is unfolding in Uri, where the frontier town is gradually emerging as another promising destination on Kashmir’s growing border tourism circuit. The biggest attraction is Kaman Post, the last Indian Army post along the Line of Control on the historic Srinagar–Muzaffarabad road, where visitors gather to witness the iconic “Bridge of Peace,” the Jhelum River and the mountains overlooking the border.
Officials say visitor numbers have steadily increased, with thousands of tourists travelling to Uri every month. Besides Kaman Post, destinations such as Nambla Waterfall, Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, Salamabad Dam, Bosiyan and nearby mountain trails are attracting travellers looking beyond Kashmir’s conventional tourist destinations.
Residents say the tourism boom has created fresh business opportunities for taxi operators, cafés, restaurants, local guides and homestay owners. At the same time, they have urged the government to invest in hotels, tourist huts, sanitation facilities and the revival of the Tourist Reception Centre at Salamabad so that visitors spend more time in the region instead of returning the same day.
Tourism is also expanding across Karnah, where improved connectivity has brought increasing numbers of visitors to its picturesque valleys, forests and villages. Local youth are opening cafés, homestays and transport services, while traditional handicrafts and local cuisine are finding new markets through tourism.
Officials believe that the revival of border tourism is creating an economic transformation across Jammu and Kashmir’s frontier districts. Young people who once depended on seasonal migration for employment are increasingly finding opportunities in hospitality, transport, adventure tourism, handicrafts and local entrepreneurship.
For communities that not long ago feared displacement because of shelling, the sight of thousands of visitors exploring their villages has become a powerful symbol of resilience. Residents believe that with continued investment in roads, sanitation, digital connectivity and sustainable tourism infrastructure, Kashmir’s border villages can emerge as some of India’s most successful examples of community-led tourism—where stories once dominated by conflict are now being replaced by opportunity, enterprise and hope.
