J&K to promote old city areas for tourism

Jammu and Kashmir government plans to bring old city areas, mostly in news over the past two decades for stone throwing protests, back into tourists’ maps by promoting them through a new project ‘Srinagar Walks’.

“Srinagar Walks is an effort to identify the rich and diverse architectural and cultural layers of this historic city,” a senior official of the Tourism Department said.

The department is hoping that the city’s old neighbourhoods, markets, mosques, shrines and temples dotting the banks of river Jhelum will attract tourists and give them an insight into history of Kashmir.

“The ‘Walks’ are designed to explore heritage, lifestyle like food, to give a comprehensive experience” he said.

Under the new concept, tourists will be taken to historical market streets and complexes which include Khanqah-i-Maula, a 14th Century wooden mosque, and a 15th century tomb complex of Kashmiri monarch Zain-ul-Abideen, popularly known as ‘Budshah’.

The project will include Pather Masjid, a Mughal-era stone mosque, which has never been used for prayers after a remark by Mughal Empress Nur Jehan, who had ordered the mosque’s construction.

Downtown Srinagar has been witness to frequent shutdowns and violent protests since the eruption of militancy in the state in 1990. 

It will aim to link Kashmir’s handicrafts and other crafts with the tourism industry.

To diversify the options of tourists, the department is planning ‘Market Walks’ which will include the circuit around Zaina Kadal, a historic commercial centre in the old city.

Another ‘Market Walk’ will be around the 19th century contemporary markets of Lal Chowk, Koker Bazaar, Amira Kadal and the Bund.

Monument Walks will also take place which will be routed on two circuits. One circuit will include Dastgir Sahab shrine, Rozabal shrine, Rangar Mohalla, Naqshband Sahab shrine and Nowhatta neighbourhood.

Books and pamphlets have been published for and against the myth that Rozabal shrine houses the grave of Jesus Christ, though the custodians of the shrine say a local ‘sage’ is buried there.

Kashmir attracted more than 13 lakh tourists last year to traditional tourist spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

The officials are estimating arrival of 20 lakh tourists this year.