Is Kashmir safe to travel for tourists?
People after coming back from the beautiful valley say it is the safest place to travel ever
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A lot of travelers ask this before planning a trip to Kashmir. The reason is obvious the ongoing conflict and other politics. However, people after coming back from the beautiful valley say it is the safest place to travel ever. In this article, we have pointed few such reasons which will make you plan for the place shortly.
Is Kashmir Safe for tourists after the scrapping of Article 370?
The answer is yes. Undoubtedly there was a lot of uprising after Article 370 was discarded. Kashmir was nudged into strict curfew and internet services were shut down since August 5, 2019. Meanwhile, from mid-July 2020, the Government has opened up Kashmir again for tourists. Since then, things are coming back to normal. The Internet has been restored and tourists have also started visiting the valley.
How safe is Kashmir for Tourists?
No doubt, Kashmir experiences violence in one form or the other, but tourists rarely get caught up in such a situation. If one assumes they will experience Stone-pelting, gun fights, and any other violence, then no it is not going to happen. It rarely occurs in main tourist areas like Srinagar Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, or Sonmarg.
Further, Jammu and Kashmir are states where there is zero crime record against tourists. Again, the locals are supportive and helpful toward tourists. According to visitors, it has been reported that Kashmiris have a problem with the administration, but not with the rest of the country. Thus, crimes against women are rarely heard in Kashmir making it a safe place for female travelers.
Why is Kashmir then considered bad?
The obvious reason is the media. There is no doubt media houses sensationalized stories and have overdone the problem. The news channels have made us believe that there is something wrong with Kashmir. This is not true.
Few also blame the Bollywood industry. Before militancy, Kashmir was known as the shooting place for many Bollywood blockbusters. The ethereal beauty of the Valley attracted many filmmakers to shoot there. But post-1990, the movies about Kashmir are mainly about wars and the Kashmiri conflict. No more romances are made in or about Kashmir.
