Punjab Governor Kataria hails Kashmir’s tourism revival

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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25 Nov 2025

Srinagar, Nov 25: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who is currently on a visit to Kashmir, on Tuesday said that Kashmir remains one of India’s greatest treasures and continues to draw tourists despite occasional setbacks. While speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Kataria said he had long wished to experience boating on Dal Lake. “For a long time, I had been thinking of going to Dal Lake in Srinagar for boating. I also come from Udaipur, which has lakes and boats too, but Kashmir’s boating is unique,” he said, adding that the cold weather in the valley offered “its own pleasure and comfort” for tourists. The Governor said Kashmir had witnessed a steady rise in tourist arrivals over the past several years. “People had made up their minds to visit Kashmir,” he said. However, incidents like the Pahalgam attack had impacted the tourism sector. “Earlier, it felt like Kashmir was witnessing a tourism boom that created employment for everyone and allowed people from across India to see this beautiful place. Kashmir is always our crown, and its culture and traditions are amazing,” he added. He urged people not to assume that attacks like Pahalgam would recur. “I would say that people from across India must come here and see Kashmir’s beauty,” he said. Referring to border states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Kataria said they continued to face challenges originating from the 1947 partition. “But with time, we have taken control, ensured peace, and made movement easier for people,” he noted. Kataria, who also visited the clock tower (Ghanta Ghar), recalled his long-pending wish to visit Lal Chowk. “Many times, I planned to visit Lal Chowk, but it couldn’t happen,” he said. He remembered being part of the rally led by BJP leader and former MP Murli Manohar Joshi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to hoist the national flag. “But we couldn’t come then, as we were stopped on the way. Since then, I have had the wish to visit Lal Chowk,” he said. Describing the transformation in the region, the Punjab Governor added, “This was a place where one had to struggle a lot to hoist the flag, and now it has become an important part of the country. It no longer feels like we are separate. Things have changed a lot in Kashmir. Earlier, one couldn’t come here easily, but now I think Srinagar is one of the top tourist destinations in India.” He said local hospitality and improved relations between visitors and residents were further helping boost tourism. The Governor expressed hope that Kashmir would continue strengthening its position as a premier tourism destination. “I also came to Kashmir so that others would be encouraged to visit here,” he said. Speaking about the pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi, he said, “It is always a person’s wish to visit there in their lifetime. People were going earlier and are still going.” On the recent Red Fort security incident, Kataria said it demonstrated that “there are still elements who want to destabilise the situation in India. But our preparations have made them weak,” he remarked. On the grievances of Kashmiri mutton dealers facing transportation issues in Punjab, the Governor said, “We are there to address and help them. They should reach out to us.”