Gurez Valley set to host major festival from Aug 7

Srinagar, Aug 04: The Gurez Valley in North Kashmir’s Bandipora District is all set to host the Gurez festival which is commencing on August 07. The festival is expected to give a fillip to the tourism sector in the area.
An official told Rising Kashmir that the opening ceremony of the festival will be held on August 7.
The festival is aimed at promoting Gurez Valley as a prime tourist destination and showcase its heritage and culture.
He said that the festival will feature various adventure activities such as camping, trekking, angling, water sports, and other recreational events.
He further said that several high-profile officials and key representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, who will be on a familiarization tour of Gurez from August 5 to 8, are expected to attend the event.
Musavir, a local youth, told Rising Kashmir that the ceasefire agreement between the neighboring countries has reduced fear and unease over the past nearly three decades, allowing special events to return for people living near the border.
Another official informed Rising Kashmir that the increase in tourists visiting Gurez Valley has led the administration to set up tent colonies, with plans to establish more in the coming months.
He said that these tents are equipped with modern facilities and are located in scenic spots, complete with washrooms and kitchen amenities.
The official said that the administration is actively promoting Gurez Valley and developing its infrastructure to attract more tourists, which will help generate livelihood opportunities for the local population.
Gurez Valley is now poised to welcome a record number of tourists this year.
Tourism in Gurez and other border areas of Jammu and Kashmir has gained momentum since the ceasefire agreement between the two countries in February 2021.
With the ceasefire holding, residents along the border have called for the establishment of border tourism trade, which could bring good economic benefits.
A data reveals that around one lac tourists, both local and national, have visited Gurez Valley so far this year.
It revealed that in previous years, Gurez has attracted about 3,000 tourists in 2021-22, nearly 50,000 in 2023, and only 200 in 2020 due to border shelling.