The village used to be a hot favoured destination of Israeli backpackers, who would stay here in droves between May and October.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach to Israel has rekindled hope among 50 families, living in this remote picturesque South Kashmir village, 90 kilometers from Srinagar.
The village used to be a hot favoured destination of Israeli backpackers, who would stay here in droves between May and October. In fact, the Hebrew sign boards and the villagers uttering Hebrew words makes this village look like an Israeli settlement outside the Jewish state.
"We had a good season last year till militant commander Burhan Wani was killed in July. The village was full with some 100 Israeli tourists, mostly students, who come to this remote village to refresh and enjoy tracking," said Fayaz Ahmed Malik, owner of Fimi guest house.
The tiny village is located around 12 km from famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, upstream from the Lidder River is noted for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains. It is also a base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake.
Given the idylic nature of the village, Most locals here had turned their houses into guest houses. But now the drying up of tourist traffic has hit them hard. It's not difficult to understand why. Hain Cohen, who has just completed conscription after completing schooling says, he was first scared and instead had headed to Himachal Pradesh.
"Media coverage of disturbances in Kashmir forced me to stay away and the Israeli embassy also advised me not to visit Kashmir. But a friend who visited last month told me not to believe in media coverage. Aru is as peaceful as it had been. So at the first instance, I packed my baggage in Himachal and came here," he said.
Cohen and other Israelis who have come here have not regretted their decision. Unlike other places, this region offers multiple choices like tracking, mountaineering, adventure sports and enjoying beauty, there is something spiritual that attracts them to Kashmir.
Locals enjoy Israeli tourists too. Hotelier Fayaz Ahmed says that unlike other tourists, Israelis don't make a fuss. "They clean their rooms themselves, help us in the kitchen to prepare their choice of food and never complain about anything," he added.
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