Tourists pay tribute to martyrs, say Valley completely safe

Younus Rashid
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23 Apr 2026

‘Kashmir is heaven on earth; people are very kind’

Pahalgam, Apr 22: A year after a deadly terror attack at Baisaran Meadow shattered the peace of this scenic hill station, tourists are finally returning to Pahalgam, bringing relief to ponywalas, hotel owners, and shopkeepers who had faced months of uncertainty and economic distress.

After the attack, tourism in the Valley was affected, and ponywalas, shopkeepers and hotel owners felt isolated, with little hope of revival. Now, with visitors arriving again, the recovery is slowly taking shape as tourists move across destinations and interact with locals.

“Kashmir is very beautiful right now, and we are really enjoying it. Every movement here becomes a memory. It is unforgettable. The mesmerising beauty… everything looks very beautiful,” said Khadijah, a tourist from Bhopal.

She said the people here are very good. "I feel the best people are from Kashmir itself. They are very kind and understanding. It feels so good here. Everything is perfect. I feel like I should keep coming back again and again. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I think everyone should come here to see its beauty," she added.

Dr Badri Dogne, another tourist, said, "Coming here gives us happiness that we are back to normalcy, but at the same time, we feel sad remembering those who lost their lives here. Today, we pay tribute and offer our respects to all those martyrs and to all those who lost their lives."

He said tourism in the Valley had slowed after the attack, and people associated with the sector were affected. "After the attack, we saw that tourism in the valley was somewhat affected, and people here, including ponywalas, shopkeepers, hotel owners all felt isolated. But now, with tourism reviving again and people like us coming here, we feel that the dignity and spirit of Kashmir is returning."

Dr Dogne added that during the last four to five days of travelling in Srinagar and Kashmir, while interacting with people, they learned that most of them are dependent on tourism for their livelihood. "Due to the slowdown in tourism earlier, they were facing difficulties. Now they are happy again, and we are also able to enjoy these beautiful valleys," he said. "For those who will see us from outside, my message is that if there is heaven on earth, it is here in Kashmir. People should come here and enjoy nature. It is completely safe; we did not face any problem."

The tourist thanked the Government of India (GoI), the Indian Army, and especially the people of Kashmir who did not lose hope and continued to support the return of tourists and provide all sorts of facilities.