As border tourism thrives; Keran village in Jammu and Kashmir seeks to make infrastructure development a priority

As border tourism gains momentum in Keran, a village located along the Line of Control (LoC), residents are voicing their priorities to candidates in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections: development must take center stage. The town has a single polling station located directly on the control line and has more than 1,071 registered voters.

Separated from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by the Kishanganga River, Keran is home to more than 4,000 residents. The Keran Valley, once known for cross-border bombing and infiltration, opened to tourists in 2021 and quickly became a highly sought-after destination. Although the residents moved out in the early 1990s due to violence, they now welcome tourists, who need to obtain permission from the Kralpora police station in Kupwara to visit Keran village.

Located 170 kilometers from Srinagar, residents of Keran hope tourism will flourish, especially as they currently lack vital services such as good roads, mobile networks and health services. “The government has started border tourism in Keran and we are grateful for it,” a local leader told PTI, expressing satisfaction over the influx of tourists and stressed that “Keran should not be the last town but the heart of the country. “

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Despite the positive developments in tourism, Bhat noted that significant improvements are needed, especially when it comes to roads. “We don’t have internet access and BSNL towers have been installed recently. Our youth find it difficult to apply for jobs outside the valley due to communication barriers,” he explained.

Mumtaz Ahmad Khan, a former government employee, noted that she let her village be abandoned for a long time. “For more than 70 years no one paid attention to us. There were no roads,” he said.

Another local, Muneer Ahmad Bhat, said the townspeople were now enjoying the benefits of tourism, with new restaurants and hotels coming up, but highlighted the urgent need for better road infrastructure.

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Another resident of Safeena highlighted: “Road connectivity is a major problem for us. Sometimes we have to push our cars to pass,” highlighting the critical absence of specialists at the local hospital.

Keran has a unique location along the LoC, with parts in the Indian district of Kupwara and others in PoK, traversed by the Kishanganga River. The government is actively promoting cross-border tourism in the region, aiming to establish Keran as an offbeat tourist destination amidst the stunning Shamshabari mountains. Historically, Keran is believed to have been founded by Raja Bahadur Khan in the 10th century. Visitors heading to Keran pass through scenic spots like Milyal, Raja Ram Mountains, Firkin village and Kheerbhawani temple at Tikker in Kupwara.