tourism in kashmir essay

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Kashmir Tourism

A Land of Unimaginable Beauty Perfect for Nature & Adventure Lovers 

• Shikara Ride

Sail on the Traditional Kashmiri Boat in Srinagar.

Gandola Ride

Enjoy Riding on Asia’s Highest Ropeway in Gulmarg

Savour the Unique Experience of Houseboat Stay in Srinagar

Enjoy the Surreal Beauty of Lakes in J&K

Get the Best of J&K Adventure on the Unmatched Trekking Trails

Hill Stations

Enjoy the beauty of Kashmir's top hill stations

• Best Time to Visit
• How to Reach
• Places to Visit
• Things to do

March - Oct

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About Kashmir Tourism

With apple orchards, saffron fields, glittering lakes & breathtaking meadows, Kashmir, in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, draws the attention of tourists from across the globe. With tranquil settings, magnificent views, and pristine nature, Kashmir is a perfect holiday destination that should be visited once in a lifetime.

Kashmir is an ideal destination to plan a family tour and honeymoon holiday in India. The picturesque Gulmarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam or Sonmarg, make a holiday with family, or honeymoon in Kashmir a wonderful experience. Kashmir is even home to the popular Amarnath Cave which calls the ardent devotees Lord Shiva from across the world.

While the beautiful Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar offer an opportunity to relish a stay at the houseboat and enjoy a Shikara Ride; the alpine lakes like Tarsar Marsar, Vishnasar, Gadsar Lakes call out the adventure lovers for the best trekking experience. For more adrenaline-pumping adventure, nothing can beat the experience of skiing in Gulmarg during the winter season.

In our Kashmir Travel Guide, we render the best information on the must-visit places, things to do, where to stay, the best time to visit, affordable Kashmir tour packages, and other aspects of Kashmir Tourism. With us, your days in Kashmir will be a memorable one.

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Best time to visit kashmir.

Summer Season in Kashmir (March till June, Temperature 15°C to 30°C)

Summer Season in Kashmir is the most popular season, the climate is ideal for tourist, morning and evening are pleasant. You can enjoy shikara ride at Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake. Hotel and resorts of Kashmir are usually packed during this period thus it is advisable to book your tour well in advance

Monsoon Season in Kashmir (July to September, Temperature 13°C to 17°C)

Monsoon in Kashmir begins from July to August when the region receives rainfall. During monsoon everything in Kashmir becomes beautiful and lush green. August is the perfect time to witness apple picking in Kashmir. People usually prefer this time as you usually tends to get good flight and hotel deals during this time. Amarnath yatra also happens during this period of time.

Winter Season in Kashmir (October to February, Temperature -2°C to 12°C)

Winter season from November to February is the best time to witness snowfall in Kashmir, during this period honeymooners usually prefer to come and you can also enjoy skiing in Gulmrg.

Best Places to Visit in Kashmir Valley

Home to the popular Dal and Nigeen Lake where one can enjoy Shikara ride or stay at a houseboat.

A dreamlike winter wonderland where adventure enthusiasts can get the best skiing experience in India.

Boasting scenic beauty, Pahalgam is the base for the religious trek to Amarnath- the abode of Lord Shiva.

Sonmarg is an ideal holiday destination for nature & adventure lovers.

A perfect holiday destination in Kashmir valley for all those looking for a solace and piece of mind.

The unexplored, charming & historical town of Achabal in Kashmir Valley is a great delight for photographers which gives a chance to...

Top Things to Do in Kashmir Valley

Gondola Ride

One of the world’s highest operating cable cars in Gulmarg that offers awe-inspiring views of nature.

Horse Riding

The best adventure activity to explore the breathtaking beauty of the countryside.

Shikara Riding

One of the best rides which take place on Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake in Srinagar

Skiing in Gulmarg

Gulmarg, which is home to some of the best slopes in the world, is the best place for skiing adventure lovers during the...

Mountain Biking in Kashmir

Explore the gorgeous view of exotic landscapes & breathtaking mountains of Kashmir valley with the most thrilling & adventours...

• Trekking in Kashmir

Enjoy spectacular and enchanting views of mountains, pristine lakes, lush-green meadows & get unlimited adventure with....

Golf in Kashmir

The land which has undoubtedly its own way of life; the land that showcases the scintillating part of natural beauty, majestic culture

How to Reach Kashmir?

Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar offers regular flights that connect Kashmir to other major cities of India. It is also the most preferred way to reach Kashmir by travellers.

At this moment there is no railway station in Srinagar, the railway station from Srinagar is Jammu Tawi, which is around 300 kms away from Srinagar. Work on Kashmir railways is under progress and soon we will have direct railway connectivity to Kashmir also.

NH 1 and NH 44 connect Kashmir to the major cities of India.

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Kashmir Travel Guide by Category

Accomodation, top things to do.

• Tourist Attractions

Encompassing serenity, Kashmir has outstanding accommodation options offering commendable hospitality to the tourists. The hotels and resorts in Kashmir, ranging from budget to luxury, offer top-notch services and promise to make your stay a pleasant and memorable one. Whether you are looking for a heritage experience, mountain retreat, or rendezvous with nature, the hotels and resorts in every tourist destinations of Kashmir Valley promise to offer you complete relaxation.

There are hotels and resorts in Kashmir providing a relaxing spa service for a rejuvenating holiday in Kashmir. No matter which tourist destination one chooses to visit for vacation in Kashmir, every accommodation offers an excellent stay experience to cherish for a lifetime.

Tour My India is associated with largest chains of hotels & resorts in Kashmir and offers best deals and discounts on hotel bookings. Book hotels through us and save huge on your Kashmir holiday tourism packages.

Top Things to Do in Kashmir

The unparalleled beauty of Kashmir offers the travellers a number of things to do. From a Shikara ride in Srinagar to trekking to the alpine lakes; from skiing in Gulmarg during the winter season to river rafting in Pahalgam; Kashmir has numerous activities for tourists that makes Kashmir tour an exciting one.

The wildlife lovers can visit Dachigam National Park to catch the sight of the Himalayan animals and birds. Being home to the popular Amarnath Cave and the gleaming Hazratbal Shrine, Kashmir offers pilgrimage opportunities to the devotees.

A trip to Kashmir is incomplete without savouring the delectable food and shopping from a wide variety of handicrafts. Apart from this, there are many activities for kids too to enjoy when holidaying in Kashmir.

Cuisine of Kashmir

Kashmir is not only pleasing to the eyes but does wonders to the taste buds with lip-smacking delicacies. Although rice has been the staple food of Kashmir since ancient times, the region has a wide array of food items that are mild in taste, rich in flavour and are particularly seasoned with saffron. The cuisine of Kashmir is strongly influenced by the Mughals and so the food here is predominantly non-vegetarian, with chicken, mutton and fish, being the prime ingredients.

Tourists on a holiday to Kashmir cannot return back without trying the popular food including Yakhni Pulao, Tabakhmaaz, Matschgand, Goshtaba, Riste Meatballs, Shab Deg, Lyader Tschaman, Aab Gosht, Rogan Josh, Harissa, Wazwan (a multi-course meal in Kashmiri Tradition). Apart from these, one should also try the unique beverages of Kashmir including Kashmiri Kahwa, Noon Chai also called Shir Chai or Gulabi Chai.

Tourist Attractions in Kashmir

Dolled up with pristine nature, Kashmir has many popular tourist attractions that are perfect for those planning a family vacation, holiday with friends, pilgrimage tour, adventure, and a honeymoon. In the most popular attractions of Kashmir Tourism, Dal and Nigeen Lake in Srinagar, one can enjoy a unique stay at the houseboat or enjoy a Shikara ride. The beautiful alpine lakes like Tarsar Marsar, Gadsar, Vishnasar lakes, offer adventure lovers the best trekking experience.

Then there are other points of interest including Dachigam National Park near Srinagar; apple orchards and Lidder river in Pahalgam; skiing slopes and cable car in Gulmarg; and Thajiwas Glacier in Sonmarg.

The religious sites in Kashmir like Amarnath Cave, Shankaracharya Temple, Charar-e-Sharief, Hazratbal Shrine, and Baba Reshi Shrine, set amidst a picturesque setting, offer pilgrimage opportunities to devotees from near and far.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. what is the best time to explore kashmir valley.

The winter season, from October to February, is the best time to explore Kashmir. During this time, you can enjoy the snowfall, skiing, Gondola riding and other adventure activities. For family and honeymoon vacationers, this is the best time to plan a visit to Kashmir Valley. However, summer and monsoon seasons are also great for visiting the Kashmir Valley.

Q. What is the best way to reach Kashmir?

The best way to reach Kashmir is by air, with the major airport of Kashmir Valley being Srinagar Airport, or Sheikh-Ul-Alam International Airport. It operates flights to the major cities of India like Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Jammu and Bangalore. Some of the flights which operate from this airport are Air India, IndiGo, GoAir and Jet Airways.

Q. What are the best places in Kashmir for tourists?

The best places for sightseeing and exploration for tourists in Kashmir Valley are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Yusmarg, Pahalgam and Gurez Valley.

Q. What kind of activities one can do in Kashmir?

The various kinds of activities that can do in Kashmir Valley are Shikara ride on Dal Lake, Skiing in Gulmarg, Horse Riding in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, Mountain Biking in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg, Trekking and Golfing in Gulmarg.

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Popular pages on tour my india, jammu & kashmir travel information at a glance, about j & k.

• Jammu & Kashmir Tourism
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Kashmir Destinations

• Srinagar Tourism
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• Pahalgam Tourism
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• Yusmarg Tourism

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Hotels in Jammu & Kashmir

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Essay on Trip to Kashmir

Students are often asked to write an essay on Trip to Kashmir in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Trip to Kashmir

Introduction.

Kashmir, often referred to as ‘Paradise on Earth’, is a place of breathtaking beauty. My trip to Kashmir was an unforgettable experience.

The Journey

The journey was exciting. We travelled by train to Jammu and then by road to Srinagar. The scenic beauty was mesmerizing.

In Srinagar, we stayed in a houseboat on Dal Lake. The floating markets were a unique sight.

Next, we visited Gulmarg. The cable car ride to the snow-covered peaks was thrilling.

The trip to Kashmir was a delightful experience. It was like stepping into a different world.

250 Words Essay on Trip to Kashmir

The enthralling journey.

The trip to Kashmir, often referred to as ‘Paradise on Earth’, was an unforgettable experience. The pristine beauty of the place is not just a visual treat but a soulful retreat. As the plane descended, the panorama of snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and sparkling rivers was a sight to behold.

The Exquisite Srinagar

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, was our first stop. The city is a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. The iconic Dal Lake, with its vibrant Shikaras and floating markets, offered a unique cultural experience. The Mughal Gardens, with their terraced lawns, cascading fountains, and bright flower beds, spoke volumes about the Mughal love for aesthetics and nature.

Gulmarg – The Meadow of Flowers

Next, we visited Gulmarg, a hill station famed for its breathtaking landscapes and adventure sports. The Gondola ride, one of the highest operating cable cars in the world, provided a bird’s eye view of the valley. The adrenaline rush of skiing down the snow-covered slopes was exhilarating.

Pahalgam – The Shepherd’s Village

Our last stop was Pahalgam, a quaint village offering picturesque views and serene trails. A horseback ride to the Betaab Valley was a thrilling experience, while the peaceful environment of the Lidder River was calming.

Reflections

The trip to Kashmir was more than just a visual delight. It was a journey into the heart of nature, a symphony of experiences that resonated with the essence of life and beauty. The memories of this trip are not just imprinted on our minds, but have found a permanent place in our hearts.

500 Words Essay on Trip to Kashmir

Kashmir, often referred to as “Paradise on Earth,” is a mesmerizing blend of picturesque landscapes, invigorating climate, and rich culture. This essay will take you on a virtual journey through this enchanting valley, highlighting its captivating beauty and unique experiences.

The journey to Kashmir is an experience in itself. Whether you choose the aerial route, offering a bird’s eye view of the snow-capped mountains, or the road, winding through the verdant landscapes, each provides a unique perspective. The welcoming cool breeze and the sight of lush green fields and orchards set the tone for the trip ahead.

Srinagar: The Summer Capital

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is an epitome of tranquility. The city’s charm lies in the serene Dal Lake, where the vibrant Shikaras (boats) and floating markets offer a unique experience. The sight of beautifully carved wooden houseboats reflecting in the calm waters of the lake is truly captivating. The historic Mughal Gardens, with their terraced lawns, cascading fountains, and bright flower beds, add to the city’s allure.

Gulmarg: The Meadow of Flowers

Next on the itinerary is Gulmarg, a hill station that turns into a snowy wonderland during winter. Famous for its ski slopes and the world’s highest gondola ride, Gulmarg offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks. The lush green meadows, dotted with vibrant flowers, transform into a blanket of white during winters, offering a different kind of beauty.

Pahalgam: The Valley of Shepherds

Pahalgam, another jewel in Kashmir’s crown, is a delight for nature lovers. The Lidder River, flowing through the town, offers opportunities for river rafting. Pahalgam also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, attracting thousands of pilgrims.

Local Cuisine and Culture

No trip to Kashmir is complete without indulging in the local cuisine. Wazwan, the traditional multi-course meal, is a gastronomic delight. The use of local spices and flavors in dishes like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and the famed Kahwa (Kashmiri tea) offers a unique culinary experience. The rich culture of Kashmir is reflected in its traditional music, dance, and handicrafts. The exquisite Pashmina shawls, hand-knotted carpets, and intricate Papier-mâché items make for perfect souvenirs.

A trip to Kashmir is an immersion into a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality. It leaves one with unforgettable memories and a longing to return. Despite the challenges that this region has faced, its enchanting beauty remains untouched, making it a paradise worth visiting.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Jammu And Kashmir

Jammu and kashmir is the largest producer of apples, walnuts, and cherries in india. it is also the largest producer of saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world..

Jammu And Kashmir State Report

Introduction.

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a Union Territory (UT) of India, located in the country’s northern part and a global tourist destination. In addition to traditional recreational tourism, vast scope exists for adventure, pilgrimage, spiritual, and health tourism. The natural beauty and picturesque locations have made it a favoured destination for tourists across the world. Jammu is famous for its temples, while Kashmir Valley is known for its lakes and gardens.

J&K has agro-climatic conditions best suited for horticulture and floriculture. Horticulture is the mainstay of the rural economy, providing employment to large number of local inhabitants.

At current prices, the GSDP of J&K has been estimated at Rs. 2.31 trillion (US$ 27.95 billion) in 2023-24. The UT’s GSDP increased at a CAGR of 8.84% between 2018-19 and 2023-24.

The J&K government has an industrial policy that offers attractive incentives along with a single-window clearance mechanism. In April 2021, the government of Jammu & Kashmir signed 456 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with various firms for a potential investment worth Rs. 23,152 crore (US$ 3.17 billion). In March 2022, the UAE pledged to invest Rs. 3,000 crore (US$ 391.8 million) in J&K.

According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), cumulative FDI inflow in J&K was valued at US$ 1.07 million between October 2019-March 2023.

Total exports from J&K stood at US$ 89.77 million in 2022-23 (until August 2022).

Recent Developments in Key Sectors

• As of April 30, 2023, J&K had a total installed power-generation capacity of 3,516.07 MW, comprising 1,866.08 MW under central utilities, 1,543.17 MW (state utilities) and 106.82 MW (private utilities)
• According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, J&K had 11.58 million wireless and 9.13 million internet subscribers with a tele-density of 85.23%, as of December 2022.
• Under the State Budget 2023-24, Rs. 2,928.04 crore (US$ 357.4 million) has been allocated for housing and urban development.
• Raw silk production stood at 98 MT in 2021-22 in Jammu & Kashmir
• Total tourist arrivals to the UT reached 113.16 million in 2021
• In 2021-22, total production of horticulture crops in the UT is expected to be 3,580.82 thousand metric tonnes. In 2021-22, the total production of vegetables and fruits in the state was estimated at 1,338.27 thousand metric tonnes and 2,237.87 thousand metric tonnes, respectively.
• In October 2020, the J&K government signed an MoU with Flipkart to provide an online platform to showcase and encourage local artisans/craftsmen/weavers to meet clients worldwide.
• This is a significant step towards fostering the rural economy and boosting sale of authentic exotic handicraft and handloom products and seeking new destinations for niche handmade Jammu and Kashmir products.
• The Government of India's newly constituted Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has announced a fresh plan to revitalise the region's crafts sector in August 2021. The project, known as Karkhandar, aims to improve trainee learning techniques and help artisans better their living standards.
• J&K is famous for its small-scale and cottage industries such as carp
• et weaving, silks, shawls, basketry, pottery, copper and silverware, papier-mâché and walnut wood.
• J&K SIDCO is the nodal agency for promotion and development of medium- and large-scale industries in the UT.
• In July 2021, the Jammu and Kashmir administration planned to launch helicopter services to numerous tourist locations in an effort to enhance tourism.
• On October 27, 2020, the Indian government approved Jammu and Kashmir of new land laws to allow land to be transferred for the benefit of an individual or institution for promotion of healthcare or senior secondary or higher or specialised education. In January 2021, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a new scheme for the industrial development for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir with a total outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore (US$ 3,918 million) up to 2037.

Note: P - Provisional, ** - As per 3 rd Advance Estimates, * - Includes Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Honey, Plantation, Aromatic and Flowers, # - Including Ladakh Union Territory

Geographical Area (sq km)

Union territory language, literacy rate, key industries:, horticulture, floriculture, handlooms and handicrafts, mineral-based industry, gems and jewellery, sericulture, pharmaceuticals, related sites, related news.

Retail brands are expanding into religious cities to cater to growing tourism, offering tailored experiences for pilgrims' needs.

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi opened and spoke with people benefiting from projects valued at over US$ 3.9 billion (Rs. 32,000 crore) in Jammu, focusing on inclusive development and the projects' positive effects on individuals.

Jammu and Kashmir emerge as Agri start-up hubs with lavender success, fostering youth employment and economic growth.

The Union Cabinet gave an approval for a proposal to invest Rs. 4,526.12 crore (US$ 591 million) in the Kwar hydropower project in Jammu & Kashmir.

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with leaders of various political parties of Jammu and Kashmir.

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TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KASHMIR: THE POLICY PERSPECTIVE

1. Abstract Kashmir is one of the most famous tourist destinations of India in the Himalayas. The Valley is filled with assorted rich tourism resources. For the sustainable use of these tourism resources, a proper tourism policy is requisite. Subsequently, the present study aims to examine government policy for the growth and development of tourism in Kashmir region; besides, the assessment of tourism potentials and tourist flow in Kashmir is added endeavor of the study. Desk research approach has been employed to accomplish to study objectives. According to the findings, ministry of tourism government of Jammu and Kashmir has framed a draft of tourism policy so far. The draft tourism policy constitutes developmental and promotional tactics forexisting and new forms of tourism, abiding the sustainable tourism approach, development of tourism infrastructure and human resource, ensuring safety and security, and encouraging tourism education within the state. Moreover, the state government is working hard to promote eco-tourism and offbeat tourist destinations in collaboration with several other concerned bodies. It has been observed that Kashmir valley is dotted with a number of tourist attractions and enables tour operators to rend diverse forms of tour packages to tourists. For the proper use of tourism resources, there is need of an apt, resilient andimplementable tourism policy in Kashmir. The policy should constitute the contribution of all tourism stakeholders in the region with positive outcome. Service providers must be monitored for rendering better tourist services. Assuranceof safety and security, development of infrastructure and superstructure are some primary issues to be taken in consideration in the Valley. 2.

Related Papers

qazi ruban , S. Nissar

Tourism is the rising sector all over the world. Kashmir is known for its rich potential for tourism and the region has huge number of natural, religious, cultural, scenic attractions etc. The valley is globally recognised tourism destination famous for its potential of carrying out different forms of like adventure tourism, religious tourism, cultural and heritage tourism etc but the internal issues with the state is creating a barrier in tourism activities. The research paper will discuss various recommendations of committees at National and Regional level. This paper will highlight various issues and challenges faced by tourism sector of Kashmir region. Paper will also discuss various initiatives taken by GOI in promoting tourism by including it in five years plans.

TJPRC Publication

The paper is an attempt to link the seven essential key factors propounded in the national tourism policy in 2002 for tourism development with the response from tourists visiting Kashmir. Essentially, a number of statements were constructed on each key factor and responses to each statement was analyzed. The aim was to get fuel from tourists (local & international) about their ratings on each key factor and its availability for the valley of Kashmir. Their perception of facilities like infrastructure, welcome & cooperation, cleanliness, safety, information and facilities available in Kashmir was considered. An effort was put to get inputs from tourists visiting Kashmir about how far national tourism policy 2002 key components are being followed in letter and spirit. The aim of the study was to identify the factors which are more important concerning tourism development of a region.

Hafizullah Dar

As for as the tourism in Kashmir is concern, everything was going well till late nineteen eighties; when tourism in Kashmir was at its climax, but unfortunately, the dark days came in the history of Kashmir when the peace in Kashmir was dismantled by the terror groups during the early 90s. The tourism in the whole state was affected badly due the militancy in Kashmir, tourists stopped to visit Kashmir. All the tourism stakeholders were in loss and the unemployment increased swiftly in the state as a whole due to that turmoil in the Kashmir and created negative image of valley in the minds of tourists. The darks days of Kashmir ended after the 90s and the tremendous flows of tourists have been recorded since 2003. The Govt, NGOs, locals and private parties have contributed a lot in this positive move of tourism in Kashmir. The tourism industry of Kashmir is looking now bright as it was during the 80s or pre militancy era. The present paper is an attempt to analyse the key factors responsible for the development of tourism in Kashmir, again, since 2000. Furthermore, the paper also puts forth the suggestions and recommendations aimed at optimally exploiting the potentials of Kashmir tourism in the fast improving socio-political scenario.

Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad

This paper attempts to make an in-depth study of tourism, which would help in developing the course of tourism industry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Tourism is considered as one sector that can propel growth, contribute foreign exchange, and provide employment that too to low skilled persons. One of the important dimensions of tourism is the cultural exchange among various nationalities and among the people of different states. As on one hand, tourism is seen as an economic option and on the other side the greater social and human effect. Jammu and Kashmir offers different types of tourism, which are highlighted in this paper, which type of tourism is most liked and is popular among tourists, is also presented in this paper for proper development of tourism industry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

International Journal of Research in Commerce, IT and Management

Mudasir Ahmad War

Sumerianz Journal of Economics and Finance

Arshad Bhat

Tourism product is associated with livelihood of both rural and urban population. Tourism is one of the leading sectors in the valley followed by horticulture, providing employment to a huge chunk of population whether skilled or unskilled. Tourism industry is the only sector which is working throughout the year be it summer or winter. The present paper is an attempt to analyse the potential and growth of tourism in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and examine the issues associated with the concretisation at tourist spots/destinations. During 2015-16, the total number of foreign tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir was recorded to be 58568. Tourism industry is playing a pivotal role in the U.T. economy which is evident from the fact that tourism sector accounts for 5.92 per cent of India’s GDP and 8 per cent to Jammu & Kashmir economy. But, during turmoil period (1990-2000), the U.T. of Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir valley in particular was worst hit, there was unrest in ev...

Rameez Ahmad

Tourism is considered as the major tool of economic development throughout the globe, and economic impacts of tourism have become more and more reiterated and more noticeable in society. On the other hand, little attention is paid relatively to non-economic or socio-cultural impacts of tourism. However, it is now being accepted that tourism and its related activities need to be properly planned and managed if they are to make an ongoing contribution to sustainable socio-economic prosperity. So need of the hour is to examine the whole array of impacts and not just stop at economic aspects of tourism development. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine the socio-cultural impacts of tourism on the Kashmir valley. The perception of the residents regarding the socio-cultural impact of tourism-positive & negative will be also taken into account. Additionally, this paper will also throw light on the problems and prospectus of tourism in Kashmir which otherwise has the great potential to boost its economy. This paper is primarily based on secondary data. The main objective of the paper is to highlight the socio-cultural impacts of tourism in Kashmir valley and to highlight the problems and future prospects for sustainable tourism development in Kashmir valley.

accounts ziraf

The tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir generates more than Rs.300crore revenue and provides employment to about 5 lakh people. Tourism industry has positive externalities and has desirable impact on economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir due to its spillover effects. The tourism industry in Jammu & Kashmir has been the prominent sector of economy of the state and has rendered maximum contribution towards State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). After agriculture / horticulture, it is tourism industry which share maximum contribution in terms of generation of employment and promotion of handicraft industry. Importance of tourism in Jammu & Kashmir economy is known for decades now and its role in economic development has been an area of great interest from policy perspective. Jammu & Kashmir possesses many valuable tourist resources and attractions, which could be important vehicle for reducing poverty and helping in the socio-economic development of various people associated with tourism. The state government has launched various projects for the development of tourism sector in the state. The opportunities in pilgrimage tourism, adventure tourism and medical tourism can be decisive to the generation of new options of employment generation and economic engagement. This study will focus on the sustainable economic growth and management of J&K tourism by examining the parameters such as employment generation, development of infrastructure, transformation of peace and State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). The outcomes of present study will be using assessment tools and performing analysis along with development of policy framework for promotion of tourism related activities in the state. Similarly performing gap analysis of existing infrastructure and required for catering larger inflow of loving tourists in the state. This study will also undertake identification of bottlenecks in implementation of tourism policy in the state and policy intervention required to mitigate same and on the same lines developing platform for creating unique brand equity for tourism in Jammu & Kashmir State

Dr Hafizullah Dar

Tourism Management Perspectives

Dr. M. Sultan Bhat

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A Trip to Kashmir Essay

Read this article to know about an interesting trip to Kashmir which is paradise on earth not only because of its natural beauty but because of the beauty of Kashmiris’ hearts.

As it was planned to return back to home we started our journey early in the morning. It was my first ever trip in which I was the only one to drive the car. We had planned to return back from Peer Ki Gali. However, on the way, we decided to take tea in Shopian.

When we were about to reach our destination, the car stopped suddenly and was totally jammed. We were stunned to find the car in such a situation. The joy of such a pleasant journey vanished away. The only thing that relieved us was the hospitality of the passers-by. A number of people stopped near us to inquire about the matter.

One of them told us about the location of the mechanic. I and Sajid went to the workshop. On the way I found slogans like “Burhan is Alive”, “Pakistan Zindabad”, “We want freedom”, “Hizbul Mujahideen Area”  inscribed on the walls. I had never seen this in my life.

We reached the workshop. The mechanic was busy with someone else’s car so the owner came and started talking to us. He told us that he is there since last two years but was never scolded by army living beside his workshop. He also said that a normal Kashmiri neither desires Pakistan nor chaos.

The mechanic went with us and tried for about two hours but could not even move the car. He then called another mechanic who came shortly and after inspecting the car told that the gearbox has sealed and jammed the car. Then he freed the tires and took the car to his garage.

Seeing our depressed faces, all the 3-4 mechanics left their work and started operating upon the gearbox. We were still worried as we had neither money nor enough time to return back. The owner of this workshop was even more friendly. To divert our worry, he took all of us on a drive. The gearbox was finally repaired. The work was of about 8000/- but the owner charged only 3500/-

It was getting evening and we came to know that curfew had been imposed in Shopian. A person offered us to stay at his lodge. We thanked him and thought of going to Srinagar instead. We also came to know that the person was SSP of Shopian. We never saw such a friendly behaviour of any Police Officer.

We left for Srinagar. On the way, we saw stone pelters and requested them to let us go. To our surprise, they were quite friendly only our car was allowed to go. We reached Srinagar and after visiting Hazrat Gal Shrine, booked a hotel.

The owner neither asked for any identity proof nor any such information. Neither of us had eaten anything since morning and our lunch became dinner.

Having driven the car for a full day, I exhausted and fell asleep at once. The next day we began our journey early. We took breakfast at Shopian. The shopkeeper told us something which was quite new for us and for every Indian who thinks that a Kashmiri is a born terrorist.

He said that a few years back some soldiers who were probably in search of terrorists peeped into a house, beat the old man to death and assaulted his daughter as well. His son who was not at home returned back and after knowing the truth was enraged and became thirsty for the revenge.

Later on, a friend of his influenced him to take the weapon in his hands and take revenge. Thus he became a terrorist and was killed later on. The story taught us something which our media never dared to tell.

He also told another story that made us love our soldiers as well.

He told us that once some militants who had some enmity with an Imam, went into the mosque to kill him. They went into the Mosque with guns and without taking off their shoes. Without waiting for the imam to finish his prayer, they shorted him to death and went away.

Soon after, the army came to Mosque. They took off their shoes and went into the Mosque with due respect to inquire about the murder. They assured people to kill the accused and the very next day all of the militants were killed by them with the help of Kashmiris. This story was equally surprising.

Having taken our breakfast we resumed our journey.

One may ask why Indians hate Kashmiris?

Recently about 7 seven Amarnath Yatris were killed and every person who had a human heart condemned this act. But it was not terrorists who were responsible for their death but the mistake (intentional or unintentional) of the driver, police, army and Yatris as well contributed to their death.

The news channels without knowing the whole truth started using all types of abuses for Kashmiris. One journalist went to the extent in his speech that it is wrong to say that terrorism has no religion, instead a terrorist is always a Muslim. No media channel showed how Kashmiris helped all the injured Yatris in hospitalising them.

Problem with we people is that we believe in Indian media which has left the path of truth for the sake of money and which condemns Kashmiris and tries to defame them. We never dare to appreciate their hospitality, their respect for every religion, their hearts filled with love, fraternity and respect. We never try to kill the reasons that force people to choose bloody life.

The politics of subcontinental countries over Kashmir has ruined the prosperity of Kashmir. However, I think that no one can ever understand the love as well as sorrows of Kashmiris.

Whether a Kashmiri wants freedom or not, I don’t know, but I can say with full confidence that he wants peace, love, sympathy and equal rights.

We returned back with a heavy heart with something which we won’t be able to forget.

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Spring 2024

Blood and Tourism in Kashmir

Until 1989, before the start of the armed rebellion against Indian rule, foreign and Indian visitors flocked to the valley. In 1987, according to a government survey, Kashmir welcomed 700,000 tourists. Three years later, as violence gripped Kashmir, the number fell to just 6,000. Those who survived on tourism ate their savings and scraped together different work.

Last summer, during an overnight bus trip from New Delhi to Srinagar—the summer capital of the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir—I met a young man, with non-branded aviator sunglasses perched on his head, accompanied by two Canadian male backpackers about his age. He responded to the questions of his traveling companions in English with a mix of British and American accents. “You’ll love this journey,” he assured them. “You are going to heaven.”

He gave them two bottles of mineral water and some biscuits before retiring on a seat beside me. The bus was crammed with people from across North India: Punjabis, Biharis, and a handful of Kashmiris. As we drove out of Delhi, the man with the aviators tapped me on my shoulder. He asked me in Hindi if I was interested in trading my window seat for his aisle seat. I declined curtly.

In return he offered a handshake. He switched to Kashmiri. “Are you Kashmiri?” he asked me.“ Your accent sounds Kashmiri.”

This man was Amir Bashir, a twenty-year-old tour operator from Srinagar who’d worked in Delhi for three years. When I meet Kashmiris outside of Kashmir, the resulting conversations follow a familiar path: we briefly discuss our professional life before quickly identifying the Srinagar neighborhood where we grew up and figuring out who we know in common. These conversations almost always reveal a mutual connection, some distant cousin. In our case, there was no one.

But we quickly found common ground as Kashmiris in Delhi. We discussed how the city is faster-paced and more developed than Kashmir; the ease of commuting on the subway; how expensive clothes and restaurants have become. The conversation soon veered back to familiar ground among displaced Kashmiris: we agreed that if the valley had jobs and economic opportunities, neither of us would have left.

In Kashmir it’s inappropriate for men to talk about their girlfriends or even to speak to them in someone else’s presence, but Bashir immediately opened up to me, discussing how a difficult situation he’d encountered in Delhi had made his Japanese girlfriend very concerned for his safety. “She is very paranoid these days,” he said, slowly edging away to make a phone call. I only caught bits and pieces: “Hello sweetheart. Oh my god. Fuck me. I am sorry.”

After the call Bashir apologized and explained why he needed to speak to her so urgently. A few weeks earlier, he’d come to blows with a friend from Delhi who was hosting a dinner, after Bashir had unconscionably expressed his hatred toward the Indian cricket team. He was asked to leave the table but instead launched into a scathing anti-India rant, criticizing the Indian army and questioning its presence in Kashmir. “He hit me with a large spoon,” Bashir told me. “I pushed him away and ran off. Then he called my girlfriend and told her I will be hunted down soon. Now she is concerned about my safety.” For the rest of the journey, Bashir explained his fears about living both inside and outside Kashmir.

In tourism, guides play a crucial role. Apart from leading tours, the guides also prospect for tourists and sell them packages. Then they ferry them in a pattern where the cash flows from travel agents to transport companies to hotels—a loose confederation of natives from various Indian tourist destinations. Travel agents from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, two of India’s most visited states, dominate North India’s tourism industry.

Kashmiri tourism is still haunted by the two-decade-old conflict. In 1990 the United Kingdom issued a travel advisory that warned British citizens about Kashmir’s insurgency—a guerilla war waged by separatists and those who wanted to join Pakistan. Though Kashmir is relatively calm compared to the 1990s—the number of militants has plummeted and fighting is mostly confined to remote areas near the Indo-Pak border—the advisory remained in effect until 2012.

If tourists pour into Kashmir, other states anticipate a decline in their share. So guides from other states often exploit this fear to discourage tourism to Kashmir. Last winter, when foreign skiers thronged Gulmarg, a world-class ski resort in Kashmir famous for its powder, the government of Himachal Pradesh began an aggressive television campaign. “They even resorted to rumormongering,” Bashir complained in Kashmiri. “They scare expats by saying that Kashmiris are terrorists and are in the business of kidnapping foreigners. They will never let us live happily.”

After a twenty-two-hour-long journey, I exited the bus in Srinagar. Bashir climbed on the roof of the bus and released two travel bags into the laps of his clients. After that, he bummed a cigarette from one of them. He wasn’t carrying his own backpack, he said, because he is always on the move.

“I am going back now, back to that hell,” he said, blowing smoke rings from his cigarette in the air.

Until 1989, before the start of the armed rebellion against Indian rule, foreign and Indian visitors flocked to the valley. In 1987, according to a government survey, Kashmir welcomed 700,000 tourists. Three years later, as violence gripped Kashmir, the number fell to just 6,000. The gun-toting militants became a common sight near butcher shops and corner stores. Almost every other day, grenades were lobbed on army convoys and gunfire was exchanged in dark hours. The Indian security establishment came down heavily on the citizenry, turning a land often called “heaven on earth” into the world’s most militarized zone, with a ratio of one Indian soldier to every ten civilians. Those who survived on tourism ate their savings and scraped together different work; some became shawl vendors, while many left the valley to look for jobs in Delhi or Bombay.

In response to the insurgency, India has refused to budge from the position that Kashmir is an integral part of its territory. On the other side, Pakistan, also party to the dispute as per a 1949 United Nations resolution that calls for a referendum on Kashmir’s status, continues to send fighters backed by Pakistani intelligence services into the valley. Though the armed insurgency has decreased in the last few years, perpetual police atrocities—juvenile detentions, denial of court trials, imposition of draconian laws—have inflamed Kashmiris, turning them hostile toward India. Youths often throw stones at police and security forces.

The Indian security establishment came down heavily on the citizenry, turning a land often called “heaven on earth” into the world’s most militarized zone, with a ratio of one Indian soldier to every ten civilians. Those who survived on tourism ate their savings and scraped together different work.

With people stuck between hope and hopelessness, it’s hard to imagine Kashmir’s tourism industry flourishing. Among the region’s 4 million Muslims, most of the younger generation is jobless and uncertain about the future. The middle-aged and elderly remain psychologically wounded from the 1990s, when their society seemed to fall apart. They still hold painful memories of army sieges when men were asked to evacuate their homes while soldiers searched for weapons. They can’t forget moments when even children were interrogated for hours on end about the possible locations of militants.

Having grown up in this atmosphere of fear and suppression, Kashmiris have trouble identifying as members of India’s mainstream middle class, which has watched its fortunes rise since liberalization in 1991. Bashir, even though he works and lives in Delhi, still feels like an outsider.

On June 8 I thought of Bashir after reading a news report that Kashmir was again India’s “most visited” tourist destination. A few months earlier, in February, anger over the secret hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri man convicted of masterminding a 2001 attack on India’s parliament, made a return to massive pro-independence demonstrations a possibility. Most Kashmiris regard the Afzal trial as unfair. After the hanging, the valley observed a strict shutdown for several days and stone-throwing protests were reported in various districts. Kashmir’s state government has campaigned for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power Act, which allows Indian soldiers to effectively kill anyone on mere suspicion, but Indian police still employed heavy-handed tactics against “potential stone throwers” and separatist leaders, who were either detained in prisons or in their own houses. To tackle stone throwers, the police adopted a carrot-and-stick policy. The protesters are lured to join the police force or detained without trial; teenage stone throwers are asked to spy on one another. But much to the surprise of people inside and outside of Kashmir, tourists continued to flock to the valley. With hotels and resorts overwhelmed by visitors, room rates and the price of plane tickets skyrocketed.

Later in June I drove to New Delhi’s Connaught Place, a tourist hub comparable to New York’s Times Square, to see how Kashmiri travel agents were reacting to their long-awaited season of prosperity.

Yasir Iqbal, a twenty-seven-year-old tour guide from Srinagar, was bantering with two small-time hustlers selling “original” wristwatches clasped in fancy velvet boxes. A stout man with flushed red cheeks, Iqbal spoke impeccable Hindi, even employing the snarky street-smart vocabulary of a Delhi native.

“Tourism is in my blood,” he told me, “We are boat people.”

Iqbal was four years old when the militancy began. His father had supported the family with modest earnings from rowing a boat on Dal Lake, Kashmir’s most famous tourist destination, but when tourists began abandoning the valley he struggled to make a living. His family moved to Khajuraho, a medieval temple town in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh famous for its erotic sculptures. His father sold Kashmiri shawls on the streets frequented by tourists.

Iqbal’s parents enrolled him in a local school. For the next sixteen years, he lived a relatively normal Indian life: he played cricket with his neighborhood friends and watched Bollywood movies. He idolized Sanjay Dutt, the Al Pacino of the Indian film industry.

In 1999, when Iqbal had just turned fourteen, India and Pakistan went to war over Pakistani incursions into Kashmir’s Kargil district. In every corner of Khajuraho, Iqbal heard people talking about the war. When one of his best friends asked him what he thought of Kashmiris killing Indian soldiers in Kashmir, Iqbal said he regretted any loss of lives. His answer wasn’t convincing enough. “Traitors,” his classmates roared. “Kashmiris are traitors.”

Iqbal began to feel vulnerable. He separated himself from his Hindu friends and tried to befriend Muslim classmates. He still couldn’t fit in. “Indian Muslims are too religious,” Iqbal explained. “They can’t take jokes well.” Iqbal was confused: he felt neither Indian nor Kashmiri.

After finishing high school, Iqbal lost interest in his studies. In 2003 he joined his father’s business, moving to a remote district in Madhya Pradesh to sell shawls door-to-door. After some time, he sensed communal tensions brewing between Hindus and Muslims. A few months later, they culminated in a low-intensity two-day riot. His parents asked him to return to Khajuraho.

Like many Kashmiris, Iqbal entered the tourism industry. In Khajuraho, he worked as a daily wager for a local tour company. For the next six years, he traveled across the country, navigating routes for foreign tourists. “I have memorized the entire map of India, state by state,” he told me. “I can walk through the Taj Mahal blindfolded,” he added, laughing.

In the winter of 2010, he moved to Delhi to earn a better living. Like other Kashmiris, he found renting an apartment difficult in upper-middle-class neighborhoods. Even his permanent residency in Madhya Pradesh made no difference. “I thought the landlords would take me as a proper Indian citizen,” he said. “I was ready to pay the rent in advance, but everywhere I was asked to disclose my ancestry because they somehow figured out that I was a Kashmiri.”

Iqbal gave up on the idea of living in a fancy neighborhood. He tried not to hold any grudges, preferring to view the discrimination as a larger Muslim problem. He simply moved to Okhla, one of Delhi’s Muslim ghettoes.

In the early summer of 2010, a teenage student was shot dead by police in Kashmir. The boy was returning home from a private tutor. The next day Kashmir exploded in anger. Thousands of young men took to the streets, shouting slogans of independence. In response, Indian troops and police opened fire on them. Over the next three months, the police and paramilitary shot dead 112 young Kashmiri protesters.

Iqbal watched this bloodshed on YouTube: an unarmed cleric shot in the leg while walking to a mosque; the body of a nine-year-old boy with a bullet hole in his head; the body of another nine-year-old who was beaten to death.

The macabre images severed his allegiance to mainstream India. His suspicion of the Indian state grew steadily with the killing of each civilian. Every night, as he tried to sleep, he felt filled with a rage that he couldn’t articulate to anyone else. Protests were followed by killings and killings followed by protests. A few days later, he ran into an acquaintance named Imran Jeelani in a bustling alleyway in Connaught Place. He felt comfort in being able to talk about Kashmir. “It’s painful to be far away and watch our brothers getting killed mercilessly,” Iqbal said.

Jeelani, a thirty-eight-year-old tour operator, and Iqbal became friends. They looked out for each other and openly discussed their insecurities as Kashmiris in India.

Jeelani’s shop, tucked away from the crowds of Connaught Place, was furnished with teakwood chairs and tables demarcated by glass fences. Paintings of Hindu gods hung on the whitewashed walls and a poster map of India was spread on a large desk where Jeelani worked. He seemed uninterested in talking about the return of tourists to Kashmir. “Kashmir is very uncertain,” he explained. “Anything can happen and everything will come to a halt. So let’s not get carried away.”

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Jeelani has lived in Delhi for about eight years. He spoke slowly with measured sentences that seemed to match his serious face. He has read many historical accounts depicting Kashmir’s recent and ancient history. When I asked him what brought him close to books, he said, “Tragedy.”

In April 2004, during the Indian parliamentary elections, his cousin Aasiya Jeelani, a reporter at a local English newspaper, drove out of Srinagar with two of her colleagues to verify reports of bogus voting being carried out in north Kashmir. The Indian government was making desperate attempts to engineer a new victory rather than suffer another humiliating defeat to separatists. The country’s leading newspapers and television channels repeatedly showed long queues of voters at polling booths to validate the claim that Kashmiris had joined the Indian mainstream and were transitioning from militancy to democracy. Apart from a few hundred workers of pro-India political parties, however, the people of Srinagar avoided the polls and obeyed the separatists’ calls to boycott the elections. But in far-off districts away from the media glare, the army forced villagers to vote for their candidates.

Before Aasiya could reach any of those voting locations, a landmine explosion ripped apart her car, killing her and injuring several colleagues.

“I was in Dubai at that time,” Jeelani said. “My mother called me and said Aasiya is dead. I couldn’t believe it. All I could do was cry.”

Jeelani’s personal response to Kashmir’s unresolved conflict is now mostly confined to social networking sites. One of his Twitter feeds reflects his growing frustration toward both India and Pakistan. On January 16 two Indians discussed the beheading of an Indian soldier on the Kashmir border, allegedly by the Pakistani army. A conversation ensued in which one commenter belittled the Pakistani army; the other wanted to “try to speak peace” between the two countries. Jeelani felt he had to respond: “What do you mean by speaking peace?”

A few minutes after telling me the story, Iqbal shepherded a tall white turbaned Sikh man to his desk. The man enquired about the cost of a three-day visit to Kashmir. Iqbal showed him the prices and the man asked for a discount. The negotiations started. In the end, Jeelani agreed to a 20 percent discount.

“You must see Kashmir,” he told the man. “It’s beautiful.”

Mehboob Jeelani is a staff writer at the Caravan , a monthly magazine published in New Delhi.

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Essay on tourism in jammu and kashmir.

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Essay on Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir!

The practice of holiday-making away from one’s normal place of residence is known as tourism. Tourists are defined as people visiting a place other than that in which they normally reside, for a period including an overnight stay, for any reason other than following an occupation remunerated in the place visited.

This operational definition, therefore, includes certain people travel­ling for reasons other than holiday-making, (e.g., conference participants, pilgrims) but it is normally impracticable to exclude them when data are col­lected. The distinction between Recreation and Tourism is that recreation involves leisure activities of less than 24 hours’ duration away from home, whereas tourism involves a longer time scale and therefore, requires more in­frastructure in the form of accommodation provision.

The International Association of Scientific Experts on Tourism (AIEST) has defined tourism as the sum of phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity. The essence of the tourist economy is that the tourist spends, in the cho­sen holiday area, money that has been earned elsewhere.

Charistaller (1964) has pointed out that tourism is a very important free-market agent of the spatial redistribution of wealth. In any economy, tourism acts as an export sector, bringing money into the area, setting up both income multipliers cre­ating jobs.

The history of tourism is as old as the human society itself. The early tourism can be traced from the period when man set sail and attempted to know the immediate world around. His inherent zeal for enchanted un­known lands and curiosity for new world culminated into early travels.

At the start of the present century, travel and tourism were confined only to af­fluent few, i.e., rich, religious zealots, conquerors, the well educated and the elites who were fascinated by the enchanting beauty and mysteries of un­known land. Tourism has, however, grown from the pursuits of a privileged few to a mass movement of people; with the urge to discover the unknown places and to seek change in environment and to undergo new experiences.

The dramatic transformation of rudimentary tourism into a giant phe­nomenon has resulted from a set of physico, socio-economic, political, psychological and aesthetic factors. Modern tourism upsurged after the Sec­ond World War commencing with a spurt in human mobility and intensive application of mechanization. In the ending part of the 18th century, indus­trialization resulted into commercialism and urbanization.

Consequently, the standard of living of the people went up and there was a concomitant rise in leisure hours compelling people to adopt travel and recreation as an inevitable lifestyle. Also, within a short span, human members increased tre­mendously particularly in the urban centres. All these factors culminated into ushering a new wave of migration, typically termed as ‘Mass Tourism’.

At present, touring and outdoor recreation have become a genuine social, economic and psychological need, not for individuals alone but also for our entire society and economy. Tourism development holds immense appeal because of anticipated economic benefits of income and employment. In terms of employment, it is the largest industry that provides jobs to about one in every 16 workers worldwide. It helps in removing the regional dis­parities, particularly in underdeveloped and backward areas.

Kashmir is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of the world. It used to attract enormous number of domestic and international tourists be­fore 1989. The period between 1989 and 1998 is a lean period from the tourists point of view.

The unstable political situation of the state, the mili­tancy and slogan of Azadi (independence) discouraged the tourists and recreation-seekers. Tourism, however, is a dominant economic activity in the state. Moreover, about 20 per cent of the workforce of the state is di­rectly or indirectly dependent on tourism.

After agriculture, tourism is the main economic activity in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir state is quite rich in renewable resources (water, forest and fresh air) and scenic beauty. Its lush green forests, rich wildlife, snow-clad peaks, mountainous gorges, giant glaciers, rich fishing grounds, lofty skiing grounds, carpet green turfs, perennial rivers, gushing fountains, floating gardens in Dal Lake, hissing springs, cool breeze, shimmering lakes, invigorating climate, apple-almond orchards, saffron fields and benevolent and kind hearted folk are well known all over the word. In the absence of basic mineral (iron-ore, copper, coal, petroleum, etc.), its productive fields, valuable forests, water and invigorating climate are the great bounties of na­ture.

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