Tourists Return to Pahalgam, Embracing Beauty Despite Recent Tragedy
Pahalgam Stands Strong After Attack
Just five days after a shocking terrorist attack shook the peaceful town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, a wave of resilience and hope is washing over the Valley. Though the number of tourists plummeted in the days following the tragedy, a heartwarming scene unfolded on Sunday as both foreign and domestic visitors started returning to the streets of Pahalgam, bringing a sense of normalcy back to the region.
Finding Beauty Amidst Sorrow
Croatian and Serbian tourists were seen exploring the streets, radiating comfort and admiration for Kashmir’s unmatched beauty and the warmth of its people. Ljiljana from Croatia, speaking to ANI, shared her experience: “We are coming from Croatia, and we’ve been here for about three or four days. We are feeling very safe, and your country is very beautiful. We don’t have any problem staying here. Kashmir is beautiful, very beautiful. It’s very nice, your country is different. We are very, very satisfied with your nature, and people are very kind. We are happy here.”
Unwavering Spirit
Despite learning about the attack just a day before arriving, Ljiljana and her group decided to come to Kashmir. ” We heard about the incident one day before. We had decided we must go to Kashmir,” she said. “We’re feeling very safe, we had no problem here, everything is okay. It’s terrible what happened. May those responsible hear this, I hope it will stop, in our country and the whole world.”
Vlatko, another tourist from Croatia, echoed these sentiments. This is his tenth time in Kashmir, and he feels safe and welcomed. “I feel totally safe, no problem here,” he shared. “Everywhere, people say hello – zero, zero scared.”
Facing Fear with Resilience
Admir Jahic from Croatia expressed his gratitude for the people of Kashmir, saying, “I feel wonderful here in Kashmir. I have made so many friends here, people are very welcoming. I’m very happy to meet such kind of people. It’s not easy to hear something like that, especially the way the media boosts it. I didn’t feel any fear. I know it’s not something that regularly happens here. It could happen anywhere. If you’re afraid, you can stay at home, but even there it can happen. It happens in Europe, it happens everywhere. There’s no safe place in the world anymore. But that kind of situation doesn’t prevent me from traveling and meeting people. I’m very sorry for what happened because these are wonderful people and a wonderful country. They deserve peace and prosperity, not fear. It hurts everyone.”
Ivana from Serbia also shared her positive experience. “We are now off to see a little bit more of your beautiful valley and your beautiful country and nature. Thank you very much for having us here. We heard about the incident before leaving our countries, but despite everything, we decided to come. This is a journey we have been planning for years. We knew the country was beautiful, and we expected only good things. Thank you, Kashmir.”
Local Support and Strength
Mohammad Anas from Surat, Gujarat, offered an Indian perspective. “We are enjoying our time here in Kashmir. Right now, we are in Pahalgam. We are deeply saddened by the death of our fellow tourist brothers. It’s a huge loss for us. However, the markets and everything else are still open here in Pahalgam. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The Indian Army is here, the government is with us, and even the local people are supporting us. Since the time I arrived, I haven’t felt any fear. When we were on our way and heard about the incident, we were quite scared and thought about going back. But the locals and the army supported us a lot and assured us that there’s no problem here. They encouraged us to come and see Pahalgam. What happened was terrible, and whoever did this did something very wrong. It should never have happened.
Unity in the Face of Terror
The spirit of unity and courage was evident in today’s local protest where the people of Pahalgam marched with the national flag, in defiance of terror. Despite recent events, the undying charm of Kashmir, the warmth of its people, and the resilience of its spirit are beginning to bring travelers back one step at a time.
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