A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to walk through the narrow lanes of Pahalgam. While walking, I saw a group of schoolgirls trying to cross the road. A long line of tourist vehicles had jammed the area, and even a small medical emergency would have struggled to pass. One of the girls smiled and said to me in Kashmiri, “Sahab, Yem visitor cha yor aemet saaney khatre keine beere kareni?" (Sir, are these tourists here for us or just to crowd us?)

That question stayed with me.

Kashmir is healing. The scars of conflict still exist. Peace has begun to return to the Valley—not just in security reports. One finds it in the way people smile again, open their doors, and return to life.

But even healing requires balance.

Today, the Valley is facing a silent threat—the weight of over-tourism.

More than 2 crore tourists visited Jammu & Kashmir in 2023. In peak season, some areas in the Valley receive over 30,000 visitors a day. On the surface, this sounds like economic revival—and in many ways, it is. Families in tourism, transport, handicrafts, and hospitality have seen incomes rise. Young people in remote villages are now running homestays and travel apps. This is real—a welcome progress.

But I have also seen the other side.

In Sonamarg, I saw a woman carrying firewood forced to wait 20 minutes while an SUV convoy moved through.

In Gulmarg, the meadows that once echoed with birds now echo with honking. The chinar trees are still, but the air feels restless. The Valley is breathing faster than........

© News18