Away from the bustling tourist hubs of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, travellers are increasingly venturing into north Kashmir’s remote villages, drawn by pristine landscapes, hidden waterfalls, forest trails and authentic rural experiences.
The travellers are breathing a new life into destinations that remained off the tourist radar for decades.
With the shift in the footfall, the visitors are no longer finding best hotel or houseboat but discovering untouched landscapes, authentic village life and experiences far removed from the bustle of conventional tourist circuits.
From the Watlab area in Sopore to the upper reaches of Khadlu Manglu (Rampur Rajpora), Nigli, Bangladesh, Surender, Athwatoo, Wullar Lake, Wullar Vintage, Kiterduj, Munddej, Namlan Waterfall, Shrunzfall, Drung, Gowhas, Reshwari, Pujkabar, Naganari and Chandigam, a network of once-overlooked hamlets is witnessing a steady rise in local and domestic tourist arrivals.
Unlike traditional destinations, visitors now choose to stay with local families, trek through forests, explore waterfalls and immerse themselves in village life.
“People are looking for peace rather than crowds,” said Suhail Khan, a frequent traveller to these destinations.
He said visitors like him stay with local families, eat home-cooked food and experience a side of Kashmir that cannot be found in luxury resorts.
“These days visitors are not more into sightseeing but prefer connecting with nature and people,” he told Greater Kashmir.
Manglu, perched on the hills overlooking Sopore, has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trend.
Once known only to locals for its panoramic views, the village is now attracting tourists seeking solitude after authorities eased travel restrictions to several areas earlier this year.
“Earlier, people would stop here for a few photographs before leaving. But now they spend nights here, wake up to mist-covered mountains and leave with unforgettable memories,” said local guide Shabir Ahmad.
He said that the new trend in tourism has brought income and has also given them confidence to showcase their culture and hospitality.
Officials in the tourism department acknowledge that visitor preferences are changing rapidly.
“Earlier, almost every tourist would visit around Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg, but the trend has now changed as the visitors are deliberately searching for lesser-known villages and offbeat destinations,” a tourism official in north Kashmir said.
He said this decentralisation supports eco-tourism, distributes economic benefits to rural communities and offers travellers authentic cultural experiences.
As per the residents of these villages, the surrounding forests, trekking routes and waterfalls remain largely untouched by commercial tourism.
“These off beat destination has a big attraction that visitors can walk for hours without encountering crowds,” Fayaz Ahmad, a resident from Sopore outskirts said.
He said the sense of isolation has become a luxury.
“We are not trying to compete with Gulmarg but we are offering something different without being included on tourism map of J&K,” he said.
As already reported, the border villages of Keran in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district are witnessing a tourism boom, and nearly 3000 to 4000 travellers visit the areas each day.
