From a holiday paradise to a place to stay

Pahalgam: A year after the terror attack that rocked Kashmir’s scenic hill town, tourist numbers to Pahalgam have dropped sharply, eclipsing the vibrancy of what was once one of the busiest resorts in the region.Before the attack, the town received 3,000 to 5,000 visitors a day. Today, the numbers tell a different story. Official data sourced by TOI from the local tourism center showed that Pahalgam recorded 4,30,495 domestic tourists from May 2025 to April 15, 2026, a sharp drop from previous years when the annual tourist arrivals were between 12 and 15 lakh and the average monthly tourist arrivals hovered between 1 and 110,000.The drop is particularly striking compared to April 2025, when the attack occurred. As of the time of the attack on April 22, some 137,000 tourists had visited the town in 22 days.The decline in the number of tourists in Pahalgam can also be gauged by comparing the tourist footfall data of this picturesque town from January to April 2025, with the total number of tourists in these four months reaching 463,390. In contrast, data from January to April 2026 show that the number of tourists in each month has dropped significantly, with only 254,930 visitors, nearly 45% less than the same period in 2025. The cumulative decline exceeded 200,000, showing an obvious negative trend.Amid the economic downturn, however, a new, grim milestone emerged. The J&K government has installed a martyrs’ memorial near the popular ‘selfie spot’ at Pahalgam on the banks of Lidder river, which has now become a focal point for tourists. The monument bears the names of all 26 tourists who died in the attack.For many, the visit is more about commemoration than recreation.On the river bank, tourists gathered together as always, some standing on rocks to take photos, some sitting in groups eating snacks, and some dipping their feet into the cold water.However, as they approached the memorial, their expressions showed changes over the past year. Their mood changes. Some stood quietly and read each name written on the monument. Others held up their phones to capture the sad moment.The 26-man roster starts with Atul Shrikant Mone. It ends with Yatish Bhai Sudhirbhai Pamar. Ranked 22nd is Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local pony who was killed while trying to save tourists during the attack.Ravi C, a tourist from Karnataka, said this was his first visit to Pahalgam and despite what happened last year, he came. He was taking photos of young children who were paying their respects to the monument.Ayaan, who is from Mumbai and is traveling with his family, said the violence has not kept him away. “Accidents happen,” he said.Kuldeep Singh, a driver from Punjab, brought tourists from Punjab. They are also reading names. Kantarajpa, a retired army officer from Bengaluru, said he wanted to see the place for himself. He said the attack did not deter him.At the tourist reception center across the road, tourism department officials said tourists had started returning to Pahalgam. They said the resort had few visitors in the four months after last year’s attack. “Hotel operators have closed their hotels. But with the government’s continued efforts, the situation is starting to improve,” an official said.The area’s tourism infrastructure remains rich, with some 107 hotels, 100 guesthouses and a similar number of homestays, according to tourism department records. However, officials noted that a large number of unregistered accommodation facilities continue to operate outside of official records.