Umaisar Gull Ganie
Anantnag, Jul 03: The Anantnag district has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist footfall, with over 1.5 lakh visitors thronging four prominent destinations—Kokernag, Achabal, Daksum, and Verinag—between June 17 and July 1. This spike comes in the wake of the recent reopening of these sites, which were temporarily closed due to security concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack.
As per official records, a total of 150,994 tourists visited the four parks during this two-week period. Kokernag attracted the highest number of visitors, recording 45,523 footfalls. Achabal followed with 40,870, while Verinag drew 38,795 tourists. Daksum, known for its scenic landscapes, saw 25,806 visitors. Among the total visitors, 30 were foreign nationals.
While Verinag is managed by its own Development Authority, Kokernag, Achabal, and Daksum fall under the jurisdiction of the Kokernag Development Authority (KDA).
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mohammad Rouf Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of KDA, said: “These destinations were closed for a brief period due to security concerns. They were reopened on June 17, and since then, Kokarnag, Daksum, and Achabal have witnessed an overwhelming response. The ongoing summer vacations and the intense heatwave across the plains have also contributed to the rush.”
Rahman said that Kokarnag continues to bustle with activity, with full occupancy at guesthouses and peak crowd levels throughout the day. “Kokarnag is not just a garden—it spans across nearly 80 kilometres. To manage the growing number of tourists, we have extended the garden hours until 7 PM, implemented better traffic regulation on all approach roads, and deployed our entire staff to ensure a seamless experience,” he added.
The CEO said the development authority is actively working on new development proposals and infrastructure upgrades aimed at enhancing Kokarnag’s tourism appeal. “Our goal is to make Kokarnag the second-most visited destination in south Kashmir after Pahalgam. With the Amarnath Yatra currently underway and movement restrictions in place around Pahalgam, we see an opportunity to attract more tourists to Kokarnag,” he said.
Efforts are also being made to shift Kokernag’s perception from a daytime picnic spot to a destination suitable for overnight stays. “We are encouraging local residents to establish homestays and guesthouses. A few foreign tourists have already started arriving. With better accommodations, we expect those numbers to grow,” the CEO said.
He stressed the importance of boosting the local economy, saying, “Tourism supports hundreds of shopkeepers and vendors. When footfall is high, the entire population benefits.”—(KNO)
