Amid the watchfulness, there are signs of return. Tourists ride through forest trails and pause in Betaab Valley, another picturesque valley, capturing fleeting moments of beauty. But many opt for shorter visits, wary of staying too long. One year on, Pahalgam exists in a delicate in-between, where grief lingers; livelihoods rebuild slowly, and hope returns, cautiously, with every visitor.
One Year After Pahalgam: The Long Road Back for Tourism
A year after the horrific Pahalgam attack, Pahalgam, one of the most popular tourist spots in South Kashmir, has lost its charm as tourists fear to visit it again, yet the picturesque valley continues to survive, waiting to welcome tourists. Following the April 2025 terror strike, tourism in the region collapsed almost overnight, bookings dropped by 90–95 percent, and the administration shut down 48 of 87 tourist spots, including routes to places like Baisaran meadow. The impact rippled across livelihoods, forcing layoffs and pushing many out of the tourism economy altogether. To restore confidence, authorities have reopened 39 locations with heightened security, QR-code vetting for pony wallas and guides, and an increased presence of patrols. Yet recovery remains uneven. Pony wallas wait for customers who arrive in trickles, while former hotel workers improvise to get by; their futures tied to uncertain footfall.
Mushtaq Ahmad, 26, from Pahalgam, earns a living by offering his rabbit to tourists for photographs. Previously employed in the hospitality industry, he was laid off last year following the closure of his hotel due to attacks in the region. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Security personnel conducting their routine check on the roadsides in Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
A pony walla sits and waits for customers to take for a ride in Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Waiting for tourists in Pahalgam, 46-year-old Farooq Ahmad stands with his pony. With the route to Baisaran restricted, Farooq finds himself with little work. "I hope it will reopen and things will get better," he says. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Pony wallas wait for tourists in Pahalgam. One year after the region was shaken by attacks, the revival of the tourism sector is slowly gaining ground. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Security personnel conducting their routine check on the roadsides in Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
A tourist captures a moment with goats in Betaab Valley. As tourism slowly returns to Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Security personnel conducting their routine check on the roadsides in Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
An overview of pahalgam valley. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
A memorial for the Pahalgam victims, built on the banks of the Lidder River in Pahalgam. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
Published At: