State opens Himalayan alpine valley to tourists

July 16: Often ignored in the popular literature of tourism, Gurez valley got the attention of state tourism department and was opened to tourists including foreign nationals with the inauguration of festival in Gurez valley.

Gurez festival inaugurated by state minister for tourism Dilawar Mir introduces the new tourist destination. The festival demonstrates the unique and unstudied culture, cuisine and traditional handicraft of Gurez valley.

This beautiful alpine valley, including the awesome Habba Khatoon mountain and mostly addressed as a fairyland is the last sanctuary and homeland to Dard Shin tribe. Near to Line of Control, this valley of Kishenganga river is connected to the world only by a jeep track a single road which is navigable only for two months when snow melts away.

Valley, historically lying on the silk route is also a perfect destination to adventure tourists for the sports such as rock climbing, water rafting and trekking, adds tourism director Farooq Ahmad Shah as this is a base camp for trekking expeditions to the high-altitude lakes.

The Gurez valley, home to 25000 Dard Shina tribe rears a unique culture, language and lifestyle.

Government has approved Rs. 28 crore to enhance its infrastructure according to the tourism minister of the state. This site is the most unexplored part of Jammu-Kashmir says the joint director of J&K tourism department.

To attract the tourists food festival is being organized, tented accommodation is being arranged for the tourists.

Area is one of the most sensitive ones at the same time and the valley was closed even to the local residents and they needed a permit from district administration to go there.

Other especiality of the snow capped mountain valley is that it harbours the most exotic and unstudied species of diverse flora and fauna. It is also home to such endangered species as Snow leopard and hangul deer.

At the same time there is controversy going on the dam to be constructed on the Kishenganga river in Gurez valley which will deprive the Dard Shina tribe of their homeland and distinct culture.

This opening of the valley is a faction of the whole strategy of the department to make Kashmir a safe tourist destination.