Kashmir First

Traversing Kashmir Alps III - The Gangabal trek (The mountains surrounding the valley are the unspoilt and wild Alps of the good old days. Trekking and climbing in these is a unique and memorable experience!)

Traversing Kashmir Alps II - The Gangabal trek. (The mountains surrounding the valley are the unspoilt and wild Alps of the good old days. Trekking and climbing in these is a unique and memorable experience!)

Traversing Kashmir Alps I - The Gangabal trek. (The mountains surrounding the valley are the unspoilt and wild Alps of the good old days. Trekking and climbing in these is a unique and memorable experience!)

The Oracles of Ladakh-II (The institution of Oracle is very mystifying and still popular in some parts of Ladakh)

The Oracles of Ladakh-I (The institution of Oracle is very mystifying and still popular in some parts of Ladakh)

Preserving Alchi Frescoes-III (Wall paintings in Ladakh’s monasteries especially those in Alchi are the most valuable heritage which need preservation)

Preserving Alchi Frescoes-II (Wall paintings in Ladakh’s monasteries especially those in Alchi are the most valuable heritage which need preservation)

Preserving Alchi Frescoes-I (Wall paintings in Ladakh’s monasteries especially those in Alchi are the most valuable heritage which need preservation)

Hemis and Jesus-III (The Tibetan Scrolls hidden somewhere in the Hemis Monastery of Ladakh may hold the key to the myth of Jesus in Kashmir!)

Hemis and Jesus-II (The Tibetan Scrolls hidden somewhere in the Hemis Monastery of Ladakh may hold the key to the myth of Jesus in Kashmir!)

Hemis and Jesus-I (The Tibetan Scrolls hidden somewhere in the Hemis Monastery of Ladakh may hold the key to the myth of Jesus in Kashmir!)

Drokhpas and the ant’s Gold-II (Pure Aryans or the remnants of Alexander’s army or according to Michel Peissel, the residents of a Stone Age museum!)

Drokhpas and the ant’s Gold-I (Pure Aryans or the remnants of Alexander’s army or according to Michel Peissel, the residents of a Stone Age museum!)

Environment & Tourism-II (Sustainable Tourism is the only way to save our environment and at the same time promote Tourism)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-VIII (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Environment & Tourism-I (Sustainable Tourism is the only way to save our environment and at the same time promote Tourism)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-VII (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-VI (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-V (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-IV (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-III (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-II (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Gilgit-Hunza, Hilton’s Shangri-La!-I (The travel in Gilgit-Baltistan formerly called the Northern Areas is discovering Ladakh of a “different kind”!)

Suru Valley, a mountaineer’s dream! (From Panikhar to Rangdum, the valley of River Suru is the unmatched home to some of the most dramatic and challenging climbs in the world, easily accessible by road)

New Machines for Dal Lake (Any new initiative to save Dal Lake is welcome but one has to be extra-careful about the fragile bio-diversity of the Lake!)

Suru Valley, a mountaineer’s dream! (From Panikhar to Rangdum, the valley of River Suru is the unmatched home to some of the most dramatic and challenging climbs in the world, easily accessible by road)

Heli-Skiing at 72 plus (The Impossible Skier, Sylvain Saudan is back in Kashmir in spite of several obstacles and set backs. He deserves a pat on the back!)

Suru Valley, a mountaineer’s dream! (From Panikhar to Rangdum, the valley of River Suru is the unmatched home to some of the most dramatic and challenging climbs in the world, easily accessible by road)

Nubra, the Silk Route Gateway-3 (Nubra and Shyok Valleys were an important part of the famous trade route from Kashmir to Yarqand, which was a branch of the famous Silk Route)

Nubra, the Silk Route Gateway-2 (Nubra and Shyok Valleys were an important part of the famous trade route from Kashmir to Yarqand, which was a branch of the famous Silk Route)

Nubra, the Silk Route Gateway-1 (Nubra and Shyok Valleys were an important part of the famous trade route from Kashmir to Yarqand, which was a branch of the famous Silk Route)

The Gulmarg Avalanche

Pangong and Tsomoriri Lakes-3 (The two lakes are truly a high altitude wonder and appear to be something out of this world. Visiting these is a life time experience!)

Pangong and Tsomoriri Lakes-2 (The two lakes are truly a high altitude wonder and appear to be something out of this world. Visiting these is a life time experience!)

Pangong and Tsomoriri Lakes-1 (The two lakes are truly a high altitude wonder and appear to be something out of this world. Visiting these is a life time experience!)

Zanskar (The last place on Earth-3)

Zanskar (The last place on Earth-2)

Zanskar (The last place on Earth-1)

Cross Border Tourism-3 (Tourism can be an important tool for both restoring Peace and giving boost to Economy of Kashmir!)

Discovering Ladakh-3 (First trip to Ladakh was almost going to another planet and discovering a totally new land and its people!)

Cross Border Tourism-2 (Tourism can be an important tool for both restoring Peace and giving boost to Economy of Kashmir!)

Discovering Ladakh-II (First trip to Ladakh was almost going to another planet and discovering a totally new land and its people!)

Cross Border Tourism-1 (Tourism can be an important tool for both restoring Peace and giving boost to Economy of Kashmir)

Discovering Ladakh-I (First trip to Ladakh was almost going to another planet and discovering a totally new land and its people!)

The “Cattle Flight!” (If an entire flight consists of what Shashi Tharoor called the “Cattle Class”, then it is surely a “Cattle Flight”!)

International Flights (One swallow does not make a summer and similarly one weekly flight does not make it an International Airport. Kashmir is famous for starting things with fanfare and then forgetting these conveniently!)

The Half-Open Window! (With the take off by the first international flight from Srinagar one had expected that after ages Kashmir will get an opening to the outside world. However, the way things are moving, it seems the opening may remain as a half-open window!)

Taliban, Tourism, and Media (Media alone cannot be blamed for set back to Tourism. There is need to tackle the sources of negative stories!)

Media and Tourism (Media and Tourism have a strong relationship which can sometimes be symbiotic. Media can promote as well as destroy Tourism. For sustainable development of Tourism both need to interact with each other in a positive way)

Kashmir Tourism-Hospitality versus Security! (Most of the politicians claim Tourism to be the back-bone of Kashmir’s economy which in reality is a myth. Unfortunately even if we accept the claim, at present the back-bone is crumbling because it has suffered multiple slipped discs!)

Revamping Tourism in J & K (Changed scenario needs revamping of this important sector of state’s economy on scientific basis and not by ad hoc measures.)

Dubai Take Off! (Finally, almost after 4 years the Dubai Flight is now taking off! It marks the beginning of a new era for both Tourism and trade by giving two way international access to Kashmir)

Dubai “Chalo”! (The flight to Dubai from the newly upgraded Srinagar International Airport has so far remained illusive. We may have to give a call for Dubai “Chalo” to start the flight and open up Kashmir to the outside world)

Travel Advisories (Tourism in the sub-continent is being held hostage to western travel advisories. There is need to counter the advisories by tapping alternate markets)

Terror hits Tourism (Kashmir Travel Trade’s efforts to keep tourism flowing are a “Story in Persistence” but collaboration between the Media and the Travel Trade is a must to lessen the damage)

Winter Tourism in Ladakh (Ladakh in winter is virtually the limit of adventure tourism!)

Creating Events for Tourism Promotion (Destinations can be developed around events for attracting Global Tourism)

Reviving the “Aerial” Silk Route (Kashmir figures on the off shoots of the main Route and revival of these may be more viable for tourism and culture than for the trade!)

International Flights (Kashmir’s tragedy, a story of unfulfilled promises and unfinished tasks!)

Peace through Tourism (Tourism can flourish in peace but peace can also come through travel!)

Kashmir’s Golf Circuit

Kashmir Opens Up to Gulf

Synergising Ladakh-Kashmir Tourism

Ladakh Tourism (Need to Open New Areas)

Kashmir Tourism The Future Destinations

Kashmir’s Peripheral Circuit

Regulating Tourism Industry

Winter Tourism.

Re-orienting tourism product and marketing.

Promoting private sector.

Human resource development in tourism.

Kheerbhawani-the most revered shrine of Kashmiri pandits.

Decimation of tourism organisation.

Himachal blooms while Kashmiris fight.

Retrieving Kashmir tourism.

International Airport at Srinagar.

Kashmir tourism, killing the golden goose.

Tourism-destination rivalry.