NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday announced the reopening of parks and tourist destinations, in phases, that had been closed following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Speaking to reporters after reviewing preparations at the Nunwan Base Camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag district, Sinha said that tourist access is being gradually restored as security assessments have been conducted across districts.“Some places were closed after April 22 in view of security considerations. The divisional commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district, and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner,” Sinha said.First phase of reopenings includes popular valley spots
- As part of the first phase, eight destinations in the Kashmir Valley will be reopened to tourists. These include:
- Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in Anantnag district
- Verinag, Kokernag, and Achabal gardens, also in Anantnag
In Srinagar, the reopening includes Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal“These eight places are being reopened and tourists can now visit them,” the Sinha confirmed.Jammu region to follow suitSinha also said that a similar reopening process is underway in the Jammu region, where eight tourist spots will be reopened in the first phase. However, specific locations in Jammu were not immediately disclosed.“In the next phase, some other destinations will be reopened,” he added, indicating a cautious but forward-moving approach to restoring normalcy in J&K.