Shut since Pahalgam, Gurez valley reopens

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has reopened Gurez Valley to both local and non-local tourists after it remained closed following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which significantly impacted Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector.

The security concerns after the attack had prompted authorities to shut several tourist destinations across the Union Territory.

Bandipora Deputy Commissioner Manzoor Ahmad Qadri confirmed the reopening, stating that non-local visitors are now allowed to enter Gurez. “We reopened it recently, and people have started visiting the tourist spot,” he said.

The picturesque, forested Gurez Valley—nestled near the Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district—has grown in popularity in recent years, becoming a key destination under the J&K administration’s border tourism initiative. Its main village, Dawar, was even honored with the Best Tourism Village Award by the Union Tourism Ministry in 2023.

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan and prompted the temporary closure of numerous tourist spots in the Valley. Among the hardest hit was Gurez, where the tourism sector came to a standstill. Qadri said following the Pahalgam incident, only Gurez had remained closed within Bandipora district.

Last month, in a phased reopening, authorities permitted public access to eight destinations each in the Kashmir and Jammu regions. Hotel owners and tourism stakeholders say they suffered major financial losses and are now hopeful that things will return to normal.

“Since last week, non-local tourists have started to arrive again after the administration allowed them to visit. The numbers are still low, but the decision is a welcome step,” said Mehmood Ahmad, who runs a hotel in Gurez.

Ghulam Nabi Lone, president of the Hotelier Association in Gurez, echoed the sentiment. “We are hopeful that after the Amarnath Yatra, we’ll see tourists returning in good numbers,” he said. “The reopening has brought relief to those dependent on tourism.”

A local resident said many people had taken loans and invested in setting up tourist facilities in Gurez, but the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack made things financially difficult.

“The tourism boom in recent years had given us hope. But after Pahalgam, Gurez was shut to visitors. Now, with tourists slowly coming back, we’re hopeful the valley will once again buzz with tourism activity,” he said.

The recent rise in tourist footfall before the closure had spurred the development of approximately 20 hotels and 50 homestays and guesthouses in the border town, which locals now hope will soon return to full occupancy.