Surrounded by the snow-clad mountains and lakes, Kashmir is considered heaven on earth. Jammu and Kashmir received over 1.62 crore tourists between January and October 2022 - the highest since Independence, directorate of information & public relations (DIPR) of the J&K government told ANI.
In May 2022, Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said that Kashmir is witnessing a “golden period” on the tourism front. According to the government, J&K is today the sixth largest tourist destination in India in terms of tourist inflow, and the industry has created both jobs and revenue.
The J&K government is now promoting 75 off-the-beaten-track locations, which will provide adventure seekers, trekkers, and international visitors with an experience of nature’s wilderness through homestays.
Rural homestays in the Valley can offer a piece of the culture, cuisine, traditions, and warm hospitality to domestic and international travellers. Here are eight homestays where tourists can enjoy the local and tribal flavour of Kashmir:
Pahalgam
Pahalgam has become the first destination in J&K for the launch of 10 homestays under the "Crown of Incredible India" project. Tourists while enjoying homestays in Pahalgam can experience the life of pony riders, relish local cuisine and also go camping with Gujjars. The pure water coming from Tulian lake, surrounded on three sides by mountains, has chunks of ice floating - locals say you can drink the water as is.
Anantnag District Magistrate Dr Piyush Singla says that while Pahalgam is known globally for its scenic beauty, gushing waters of the Lidder and lush green meadows, what tourists were missing out on was the ethos of Pahalgam. Homestays provide the opportunity to a tourist to experience the local cuisine, understand the life of people, the hardships they brave during the harsh weather, how they throw open not their houses but their homes in the service of tourists.
While in Pahalgam, tourists can also visit Betaab Valley—a picturesque area encircled by tall deodar trees and pine forests, with the Lidder river flowing right through it. Betaab Valley got its name from the Bollywood movie Betaab - the film with Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh in the lead roles was shot here.
Besides Betaab Valley, tourists can also check out Baisaran, 6 kilometers from Pahalgam. With tranquil meadows, pristine lakes and a picturesque setting, it also has many options of fun games, pony rides, zorbing, etc.
To book, call
Angels INN: 9419045249
Horizon View: 9622145804
Nishat
Nishat is famous for a garden, the largest one of the Mughal gardens in Kashmir. It is situated on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Tourists can walk in the gardens, enjoy scenes of Dal Lake here and also join the fishing community of the area. While in Nishat, try the Lotus stem, locally known as “Nadur”, grown in Dal Lake. The people in Nishat mostly eat floating vegetables and fish.
To book, call
Ronak Homestay Brein: 9810833662
Grace Villa (Showkat Ahmad Bhat) Vakil Colony Brein: 9906712275
Harwan
Situated 15 km away from Srinagar, this small village is incredibly beautiful. Tourists here can stay with locals and enjoy the pure honey produced from traditional bee hives. Set against the backdrop of majestic mountains, the hamlet offers tourists a site of unadulterated beauty. Its lush greenery and tall chinar trees make it a beautiful homestay in the Kashmir Valley.
To book, call
Amaan Lodge (Mohammad Younis Khazir): 9906695532
Ghulam Nabi Teli: Mobile: 9419474492
Kokernag
Situated in south Kashmir, Kokernag offers gardens (the flower variety is something to behold), freshwater springs and rainbow trout farming. Kokernag has no hotels, making homestays the only option for tourists.
Kokernag is part of the Breng Valley (The Golden Crown of Kashmir). Tourists can enjoy the local bread—Kripa, Girda and Kulcha—along with salted tea locally known as Nun Chai.
Kokernag is known for its trout streams and the largest freshwater spring in Kashmir. Here, tourists can also visit the trout hatchery. Kokernag also has the state's first rural mart, promoting and marketing the handicraft products manufactured by the local women here.
Verinag
Around 78 kilometres south-east of Srinagar, Verinag is a place of incredible natural beauty along with a famous garden and spring water which tourists can enjoy.
While staying here, tourists can see the hill covered by pine trees and evergreen plants. In the absence of hotels a lot of homestays have opened up in Verinag.
Verinag Spring and the Mughal Arcade surrounding is officially recognized by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.
Gurez
Gurez has everything a tourist in J&K could ask for: mesmerising beauty, vast forests, pastures, and green meadows, serenity, and history. It was once the gateway to the famous Silk Road from Europe to Kashgar in China.
The homestay experience here includes the local cuisine, more than a peek into life inside the tribal huts, medicinal plants, herbs which tribal people use and vegetables grown in forests.
People here grow potatoes, kidney beans, apples and corn but everything is organic.
For six months, from November to May, Gurez remains completely cut off from the world, buried under 6 meters of snow. This is what makes it a tranquil and striking place to visit.
To book, call or email
Gurez Retreat: 889917320; email: gurezretreat@gmail.com
Neelum Valley PG: 9419944445
Aharbal
Located on the River Veshav, Aharbal has a spectacular 25 metre waterfall.
The Aharbal waterfall is known as the Niagara Falls of Kashmir, owing to the volume of water that falls.
Homestay owners here are primarily engaged in agricultural activities. Tourists here can also enjoy adventure activities like horse riding, photography, and skiing during winter.
Lolab
Known as the Land of Love and Beauty, Lolab falls in the northern belt of Kashmir. Being a far-flung area, Lolab is home to many ancient springs, and is covered with dense forests of pine and fir. Also known as the fruit bowl of Jammu and Kashmir, tourists while staying with locals can see how people here grow apples, cherries, peaches, apricots and walnuts. Lolab also has many natural landmarks like the caves of Kalaroos and Green Meadows.
To book, call
Zabarwan: 8494068343
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