Eighteen years on, Kargil is trying to script new history by becoming a top destination choice for tourists
From the biggest theatre of war to a cherished tourist destination, the cold desert of Kargil has come a long way.
From holding festivals, to mountain climbing to showcasing culture and food, the Mehbooba Mufti-led government is making all efforts to sell Kargil as a niche tourist destination in the country.
Situated at an altitude of 2,676 metres, Kargil witnessed a brief but high-casualty war between India and Pakistan in the summer of 1999. Around 527 Indians were killed and 1,360 others injured in the war that was fought in one of the most difficult and inhospitable terrains in the world. Indian Army's artillery fired over 2, 50,000 shells, bombs, and rockets to pulverise enemy positions.
The firepower used to drive out Pakistani army soldiers disguised as intruders, from the mountain peaks, was quite extensive.
Eighteen years on, Kargil is trying to script new history by becoming a top destination choice for tourists. In 2016, around 50,000 tourists visited Kargil while in 2015 the number shot to 60,000.
To tap into its adventure sports and mountaineering potential, Kargil is being pitched as the base camp for expeditions to Nun Kun Peak on Everest. The tourism department has already taken up the issue with the Indian Mountaineering Federation.
The department has also engaged Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTAC) to prepare a detailed project report for preservation and promotion of historic forts in Kargil. "To generate awareness about Kargil as a tourist destination, road shows are being planned in Mumbai and Ahmedabad," an official said.
The government is also showcasing Kargil's key cash crop — apricot — to attract tourists to the cold desert. For the first time, an apricot festival is being organised to woo tourists to Kargil. Plans for developing a ice-hockey rink and amusement park at Kargil are also being evaluated.
"There will be a host of events during the festival. Apart from showcasing our apricot and apple, we will be organising traditional games like horse race and archery. Cultural programmes and traditional food festival will be an added attraction," said Aga Syed Toha, Assistant Director, Tourism department, Kargil.
The war memorial at Drass is another attraction which the tourism department is banking on to lure tourists and develop a patriotic spirit among the visitors. The war memorial has been built in the memory of the fallen heroes of 1999 Kargil war.
"We are developing the infrastructure for tourists. Indian tourists can visit almost all areas. However, foreigners have to obtain an inner line permit," Toha said.
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