Jahangeer Ganaie
Tourists enjoying the fresh snowfall in picturesque Pahalgam Monday appealed to outsiders to visit Kashmir and not pay heed to media reports which are showcasing the Valley in a bad light.
Nand Kishore, a tourist from Jaipur said, that he is in Kashmir from the last 10 days and didn’t witness anything what they usually hear on national media at home.
“I haven’t seen such lovely and respecting people anywhere. I feel pleased here, and this is my second visit to Kashmir,” Kishore said. “I request people who are planning to visit Kashmir must come here without any fear.”
Another tourist from Mumbai, Rajendra said that Kashmir is really a paradise on earth and he was delighted after visiting Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
“The way people of Kashmir is treating us, we haven’t seen such hospitality anywhere in the world,” he said.
Meanwhile hoteliers and residents of Pahalgam said that the government must bring Pahalgam also on winter tourism map.
President of Hoteliers Association Pahalgam, Mushtaq Ahmad said that like in Gulmarg government must develop infrastructure in Pahalgam also to promote winter tourism.
“Generally tourists visit here only in summer and very few people visit in winter due to lack of infrastructure for winter tourism, Mushtaq said.
Mushtaq said that Baisaran hills can become the best spot for skiing provide it is connected through a ropeway.
“People herein winter generally sit idle as very little tourists visit Pahalgam. The government must provide infrastructure so that locals here can earn livelihood in winter too,” he said—(KNO)
