Wild Frontiers

Kashmir Report

Famed for centuries for its infinite natural beauty - the spectacular mountains, fertile valleys and tranquil lakes - Kashmir has long been regarded as an earthly paradise.

It was to Srinagar that the Moghuls and British rulers travelled to escape the summer heat; in the sixties it was the turn of the hippies, and in the seventies and eighties so followed tourist and travellers for just the same reason. Shangri La - a place to relax, unwind and enjoy a veritable heaven on earth. But at the end of 1989, after a series of rigged elections, the region exploded in a violent struggle for independence that continued with various levels of hostility for the next 15 years, claiming 60,000 lives.

Then, in early 2004, after what were generally regarded as free and fair regional elections, the governments of India and Pakistan began to ease the tension with a series of talks that are continuing to this day. As nominal, yet crucial, changes began to take place - from international cricket matches to the opening of friendship bus routes across the line of control - so the peace process gathered momentum. Finding themselves isolated, with dwindling support in the Vale and diminishing assistance from Islamabad, the militants agreed to a ceasefire and though this has been breached on occasions, the general mood has now swung towards peace. Though all sides are still a long way from a lasting solution, just as in Northern Ireland it seems the stomach for an impossible war has evaporated in all the crucial quarters. The last time a western tourist was attacked was well over a decade ago. In fact, realising the importance of the tourist dollar to the region, Hebz-i-Mujahadeen, who represents the main militant groups in the Vale, even came out with a statement pronouncing that under no circumstances were tourists to be harmed. As such both domestic and international tourism have started to return - and for good reason.

With the lakes, waterways and gardens of Srinagar, the excellent trekking routes around Phalgam and Sonomarg, the summer walking and winter skiing in Gulmarg and the excellent adventure route from here to Leh, Kashmir really does have it all.

Having spent a great deal of time checking things out, we at Wild Frontiers believe that travellers face no greater risk here than they do in number of other places where tourism is encouraged and we are confident therefore that the time has come to return to Kashmir. In 2005 we ran our first group tour, in 2006 where the first foreign copmpany to run treks to the region, and have been taking tourist for both the summer and winter season ever since.

In 2011 we have taken 6 Group Tours to Kashmir and a number of Kashmir Tailor Made Holiday clients, all of whom have a wonderful and hassle-free, time. Now is the time to return!