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| Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg jam-packed; Locals outnumber tourists | | ID triggers celebrations in Kashmir | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 16: Even as the Valley witnessed a shutdown Saturday in response to a strike call given by separatist leaders, the hill resorts witnessed massive rush, with people of Kashmir finding the Independence Day opportune time for weekend celebrations.
Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, the three major health resorts in Kashmir have been exceptionally jam-packed for the past three days forcing most of the hotels to raise "No Rooms Vacant" notices at the reception.
People like Iqbal Ahmed, a businessman, had anticipated that August 14 and 15 would be tense and that "it was better be away from inconvenience of frisking, restrictions and hartal."
On Friday, the moment restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar when Pakistani flags started popping up, Iqbal drove his family straight to south Kashmir's Pahalgam valley, which is also the base camp for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
Given the rush en route, it took him four hours to cover one hour distance. The crowds, on the other hand, kept growing as the destination neared. The rush was so huge at Pahalgam that Iqbal couldn't get his "suite of choice but had to manage with deluxe room accommodation."
"I am very choosy about accommodation but this time there was no other option," the man flanked by his wife and son told Early Times.
President Pahalgam Hotels Association Javaid Burza said the rush had been overwhelming this weekend and that many hotels had made advance bookings. "Otherwise business hasn't been so good after the September 2014 floods," said another hotelier Ishfaq Ahmed.
In Pahalgam some 5000 tents could be seen erected on the meadows while roads in the hill resort witnessed massive traffic jams even on Sunday.
If Pahalgam was crowded, so were Sonamarg and Gulmarg. Infact Gulmarg was first to get flooded with local visitors. "There's a perception among people that during Yatra security restrictions would be more at Pahalgam and Sonamarg, the base camps of the pilgrimage. So the first choice of locals for holidaying is Gulmarg as a result of which this place is first to go house-full," said a hotelier at Gulmarg.
But not all who rushed for brief vacations wanted enjoyment alone. Some like this group of youth from volatile downtown were seen holidaying in Gulmarg meadows only to avoid "harassment at the hands of police back home." "On August 14 and 15 police often make our life a hell through undue raids and seeking our presence at Thana. So we thought it's better to enjoy some good air than feel chocked back home," said a student pursing graduation. Given the "high tariff" the group didn't stay at hotel but has erected tents.
Interestingly as soon as the Independence Day celebrations yesterday ended at Bakshi Stadium, the main venue from the celebrations where Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad was the chief guest, many bureaucrats too left for health resorts to join their families or friends most of whom had been already camping there. Many such officials are likely to return to Srinagar on Monday morning.
A senior police official said they had anticipated that this weekend locals would throng health resorts in big numbers. "Sonamarg and Pahalgam are sensitive during the Yatra period but given intelligence inputs on public mood for vacations, we had kept elaborate arrangements for frisking at check posts so that no one faces any inconvenience of getting trapped in long queues," the police official said adding the number of cops at check-posts was doubled this week only to cater to the expected rush.
"Basically people are fed up of dirty politics... They desperately want to look for some space for enjoyment," the police official said adding that the "credit goes to (Chief Minister) Mufti Sahib whose governance is making people enjoy." |
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