Sonamarg is witnessing a heavy footfall of tourists with 1,62,281 visitors flocking to the popular destination in the last three months.
Sonamarg, with a literal meaning ‘the meadow of gold’ and with snowclad mountains sharing a spectacular blue sky, situated at an altitude of 2730 m, is a mesmerising hill station in central Kashmmir’s Ganderbal district.
According to data obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the influx of tourists began on January 1st and continued until March 31st, with a notable increase in both domestic and foreign visitors. Of the total visitors, 155,851 were domestic tourists, while 4,108 were foreigners. Additionally, 2,322 local residents explored the beauty of their own region.
The place has become a premier attraction for travellers, both local and non-local, in Kashmir.
Local shopkeepers are elated with the upsurge in tourist activity, expressing gratitude to the tourism department for its promotional efforts. “The current influx of tourists has surpassed previous records, indicating the growing appeal of the region among travellers,” they said.
Members of the tourism sector warmly welcome the tourists, seeing it as a revival of their businesses after nearly three years of dormancy. They urge the tourism department to maintain its efforts in promoting Sonamarg to attract even more visitors.
The current tourists are visibly content, contributing to a lively and hospitable atmosphere in the region—(KNO)
Among the protesters was the mother of Showkat Ahmad, who continues to wait for his son’s and grandson Hasik Showkat’s missing bodies—(KNO)
