Tourists return to Pahalgam, seen taking selfies near attack site less than a week after terror attack

Despite the killing of 26 tourists by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22, visitors were seen returning to the hill town on Saturday. The town, which had remained shut from April 22 until Thursday, welcomed tourists again. Many were seen taking photos and selfies at the popular "selfie point" on the banks of the Lidder river. Tourists said they continued with their holiday plans as there was no ban or restriction on visiting Pahalgam, a TOI report stated.

Hotels Offer Discounts To Encourage Visitors

Several hotels and restaurants have started offering special discounts to attract tourists. Some eating joints are offering a free meal with every meal ordered. Local businesses are making efforts to restore confidence among visitors after the incident.

Tourists Share Experiences Of Visiting Pahalgam

Joydeep Ghosh Dastidar from Kolkata said, "We came on Friday and found that everything was normal. Although most of the markets and shops were closed, local people and security personnel were very supportive. Except Baisaran meadow, which is out of bounds for visitors, we visited other places."


Mrityunjay Pande, a tourist from Bihar, shared that they had initially cancelled their trip but later decided to visit. "However, when we were told that there are no restrictions on tourists visiting Pahalgam, we could not resist and came Saturday morning. We will return by evening," he said.

One family from Kolkata who had visited Pahalgam on April 21, before the attack, returned to the town after visiting Sonmarg and Gulmarg. Mohammad Safiq, a businessman from Kolkata, said, "People here are helpful after that incident; we have not felt any fear. That was an unfortunate tragedy, but we cannot stop coming to such a place just because of that."

Security Presence High As Businesses Remain Closed

While tourists have started returning, one major tourist spot that usually sees around 3,000-5,000 visitors daily was mostly empty. Streets were occupied mainly by security personnel and local residents. Most shops, apart from those selling essential items, remained closed on the fifth day after the terror attack.