J&K sees heavy rush of tourists, pilgrims amid heatwave
As a blistering heat wave sweeps across large parts of India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a significant surge in tourist and pilgrim arrivals this summer season.
The visitors continue to give thumbs up to the Union Territory despite two major terror incidents targeting tourists in the past two years. The common link attracting visitors to different parts of Jammu and Kashmir this year is the newly launched Vande Bharat Express, which is running at full capacity.
The cool climes of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Gurez valley, and the spiritual pull of the region are also drawing visitors in large numbers, with estimates indicating over 2 lakh tourists and pilgrims arriving in recent weeks. In the immediate aftermath of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, that claimed 26 innocent lives, the tourist footfall witnessed a steep fall, and the entire township wore a deserted look for several weeks.
Several other tourist ‘hot spots’ suffered badly as the UT administration had decided to shut down the parks and other destinations to prevent any collateral damage amid heightened tensions with the neighbouring country.
Earlier, on June 9, 2024, a similar attempt was made by the terrorist handlers sitting across the border to hijack the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive term in office. A pilgrim bus was ambushed by terrorists, leading to the death of nine pilgrims, returning to Katra base camp from the famous Shiv Khori Shrine, in the Reasi district. The UT administration’s robust security measures also earned praise, as they successfully organised the Amarnath yatra despite grave security concerns in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor last year. This year too, the Union Home Ministry has decided to deploy 670 companies of the central paramilitary forces to conduct the yatra beginning from July 3.
Over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves across different bank branches. Official sources claimed the groundwork by the UT administration to create a conducive atmosphere has resulted in a surge in tourist arrivals this year.
The resilience shown by visitors has once again underscored the undiminished charm of Jammu and Kashmir as a preferred summer destination. The frequent travellers are taking the aerial route to land in the valley. Over three dozen flights land at Srinagar Airport daily.
The majority of pilgrims take the train route to visit the Katra base camp from different parts of the country. In Katra, the Shrine Board authorities are strictly regulating the yatra in view of heavy footfall. On Sunday, the yatra was suspended temporarily after the pilgrim registration crossed the 48000 mark in a single day.