The Hindu : National : A snowy Kashmir Christmas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

National

National

A snowy Kashmir Christmas

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, DEC. 21. Kashmir has this year received one of the highest number of tourists the region has had in recent times. The Jammu and Kashmir Government is now offering tourists an opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the snowy peaks of Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

For the first time since the armed insurgency began in the Valley in the early-1990s, the State Government is officially organising these celebrations over two days: bookings have already piled up. The message, officials said, is that this picturesque region is equally beautiful in winter, with its snow-peaked mountains and its meadows carpeted in snow. It is not any less refreshing in winter than in summer, when it has remained a favourite destination, says Mohammad Saleem Beg, the State's Director-General of Tourism. Some 3,62,000 tourists have visited Kashmir this year — the grenades and bombs notwithstanding. The Department is expecting good numbers this winter. Through last year, some 1,91,000 tourists visited Kashmir. "The number is very encouraging... despite travel warnings a good number of foreign tourists also visited the Valley," Mr. Beg said.

The century-old church at Gulmarg, which was thrown open to the public last year after renovation, will be the venue of the celebrations on December 25. During the preceding night tourists will enjoy music and other forms of recreation. The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, will be in Gulmarg that night.

Gulmarg is likely to have a ropeway soon — the highest and longest such facility in India. This will become a reality when the second phase of the existing cable car project is inaugurated next month. With this, tourists will be able to have a ride to the highest peak of Affarwat, overlooking Pakistan.

On December 31, the action will shift to Pahalgam in southern Kashmir: the town will for the first time see New Year celebrations. According to a senior government official, large numbers of tourists are expected. Pahalgam will sport a new look.

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