Ashish Chouhan
ashu.padr15@gmail.com
After a hiatus of ten long years, the much-awaited assembly elections finally returned to Jammu and Kashmir in 2024. In the spirited run-up to the polls, all mainstream political parties threw their weight behind intense campaigns, leaving no stone unturned. On September 16, 2024, at the height of the first phase of electioneering, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the enchanting land of sapphires and the sacred Machail Mata, Paddar. Addressing a sea of enthusiastic supporters at Chattargarh Stadium, he spoke passionately on a range of issues, but two announcements stole the spotlight: the strategically vital Atholi-Machail-Zanskar Road and the proposed Adventure Tourism Training Institute in Paddar. These declarations struck a deep chord with the people. The prospect of improved connectivity and a world-class tourism institute ignited hope and excitement, not only among the residents of Paddar but also among adventure and pilgrimage enthusiasts across the region. With the famed Machail Yatra already drawing nearly three lakh pilgrims annually, and other revered pilgrimages such as Mindhal Yatra and ChittoYatra swelling the count further, Paddar stands on the cusp of a tourism revolution. Beyond its sacred trails, the region’s majestic Himalayan ranges beckon trekkers and mountaineers from across India and abroad. With these visionary projects on the horizon, Paddar is poised to transform from a hidden gem into one of the most coveted adventure and spiritual tourism destinations in the Himalayas.
About four years ago, when commercial water rafting was introduced in Paddar for the very first time, it marked a turning point in the region’s journey toward adventure tourism. Hundreds of people from the length and the breadth of the District thronged to the region. Supported by the District Administration Kishtwar and the Indian Army, the initiative not only showcased Paddar’s natural potential but also sparked inspiration among the local youth. Motivated by the success of that maiden rafting event, several young enthusiasts took it upon themselves to promote adventure-based activities in their homeland. From the following year onward, they began taking remarkable steps to expand and professionalize ventures such as rafting, ziplining, and trekking. Their dedication soon bore fruit. The stretch of the river extending from Shiv Mandir Gulabgarh to Kundal was officially recognized by the Tourism Department of J&K as a designated rafting zone, a milestone achievement for the region. Encouraged by this growing momentum and guided by the visionary leadership of District Development Commissioner Kishtwar, Dr. Devansh Yadav, a group of enterprising youth went a step further in 2024 – availing loans under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) to construct a full-fledged zipline structure in Paddar. Within just one year of its operation, this zipline emerged as a major attraction, further catapulting Paddar’s tourism profile and drawing visitors from across the country to experience adventure amidst the grandeur of the Himalayas.Given this surge in adventure and eco-tourism, and with the annual Machail Yatra already being the largest religious event of the region, expectations for the 2025 season were sky-high. Each year, the sacred pilgrimage witnesses the arrival of nearly two to three lakh devotees, and this year, owing to the new tourism initiatives blending religious devotion with adventure, it was widely anticipated that the footfall would surpass five lakh visitors this year.
But fate had a different plan. On the black day of August 14, 2025, when the Machail Yatra was at its very peak, a devastating cloudburst struck the village of Chishoti, unleashing unimaginable tragedy. In a matter of moments, over a hundred precious lives were lost, and the valley that once echoed with chants of “Jai Mata Di” and laughter fell silent in grief. The people of Paddar are still coming to terms with the immense loss, even as efforts continue to rebuild what nature so cruelly took away. Thanks to LoP Sh. Sunil Sharma, who is standing like a rock in all our woes. Paddar is recovering now like never before under his visionary leadership.
The true cost of that fateful day cannot be captured in mere numbers. When over a hundred lives were lost in the devastating Chishoti cloudburst, it was not just a local tragedy – it was a national heartbreak. Families were torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and the spirit of an entire region was shattered. Thousands of small businesses suffered unimaginable losses, and for the first time, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a calamity of such unprecedented scale. The Machail Yatra, which had reached its spiritual crescendo, had to be abruptly halted midway. Among those most affected were the young entrepreneurs who had recently launched new ventures, many with loans and borrowed faith in a brighter tomorrow. Adventure tourism, which had been Paddar’s rising hope, too felt the shockwaves – though in a different, more disheartening way.
For the young pioneers behind Paddar’sfirst zipline project, the blow came not from nature, but from the system itself. The sandy plain along the banks of the Chenab River, once barren and forgotten, had been ingeniously transformed into an adventure hub – a place where rafting and zipline-cum-river-crossing became symbols of Paddar’s revival. On a modest 6-by-6-foot patch of land, these determined youths had built a temporary zipline structure – a bold expression of faith in their homeland’s potential. But destiny had other plans.
After the cloudburst, as the community grappled with grief, bureaucracy delivered its own storm. The Sheep and Wool Department, Paddar laid claim to the very land where this structure stood – land it had technically “owned” since 1978-79, though not a single blade of grass had ever grown there, nor a single sheep ever grazed. What the youth had turned into a beacon of enterprise was now branded “encroachment.” Repeated notices demanding demolition arrived, and with loans worth lakhs hanging over their heads, the young entrepreneurs finally had no choice but to dismantle their dream. No one came to their aid. No department intervened. Their trust in the system was shaken, and their vision – one born of hope, courage, and love for their land – was quietly buried under red tape.
This was not merely their loss. It was a loss for Paddar, for District Kishtwar, and for the idea of local entrepreneurship itself. Yet, perhaps this is the fate of true visionaries – to fight, to fall, to rise again. These young dreamers have not given up. They still nurture the hope of rebuilding the zipline, of reviving what they started.
What makes this more poignant is the unfulfilled promise that still hangs in the air. On September 16, 2024, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah stood in Chattargarh Stadium and announced plans for an Adventure Tourism Training Institute in Paddar, it ignited boundless optimism. But the institute did not materialise. Instead, those very youth-driven initiatives that once inspired the announcement have been left struggling for survival. Today, the same young voices are pleading for land – not for profit, but to rebuild the Rafting Centre and Zipline that once put Paddar on the tourism map.
For now, Paddar’s tourism lies in a fragile state – its spirit flickering, its progress stalled. When compared to the polished tourism circuits of Kashmir, the Jammu region’s adventure potential remains untapped, its promise trapped between ambition and apathy. Yet, in the quiet determination of its youth lies a hope – that one day soon, Jammu will rise again, stronger and prouder, to reclaim its place as the shining jewel in the UT.
Today, tourism contributes nearly 9% to Jammu and Kashmir’s State’s Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), and ambitious efforts are underway to raise this figure to 15% in the coming years. Across the Union Territory, new tourist circuits are being mapped, infrastructure is being modernised, and a post-Article 370 era of renewed optimism has clearly taken root. In 2023-24 alone, J&K welcomed over 2 crore tourists, the highest in its history. The region also witnessed a surge of nearly 250% in foreign tourist arrivals, signalling growing global confidence in the valley’s serenity and safety. From the snow-draped meadows of Gulmarg to the tulip fields of Srinagar, from the lakes of Gurez to the monasteries of Ladakh – tourism is flourishing.
And yet, amid this boom, one cannot overlook the other half of the Union Territory – the Jammu province, whose mountains, rivers, and culture hold immense but under-realised potential. Regions like Paddar, blessed with both natural grandeur and spiritual heritage, deserve to be an integral part of this growth story. It is here, in the folds of the erstwhile Doda District, that adventure, devotion, and raw beauty converge – and it is here that development must now find its balance.
At a time when outdated traditions such as the Durbar Move are occasionally revisited under the notion of fostering unity between the two provinces, the real integration of Jammu and Kashmir will not come from symbolic gestures – it will come from balanced development. If the people of both regions are truly to come closer, the opportunities, infrastructure, and investments must flow equally to both. Tourism in Jammu must rise to the level of Kashmir’s, not in competition, but in complement – for when every district thrives, the entire Union Territory prospers.
Moreover, it is time we reimagine what “development” means. True progress is not only about government projects, but about empowering local entrepreneurs – the dreamers and doers who build from the ground up. In an era where “Startup India” has become a national movement and where India takes pride in its Ease of Doing Business rankings, such ideals must not remain confined to metropolitan boardrooms. They must find meaning in valleys like Paddar, in the hands of the youth who dare to dream against all odds.
To nurture their spirit is to nurture the very soul of progress. Because every time a young person in Paddar builds a zipline, sets up a rafting camp, or opens a homestay, it’s not just a business – it’s a statement of faith. Faith that even the most remote corners of Jammu & Kashmir can stand shoulder to shoulder with their country, Bharat. Faith that growth can be inclusive, and that hope, once sown, will find its way through even the roughest terrain.
Paddar’s story is not merely about tourism – it is about resilience, vision, and belonging. It is a reminder that while policies and promises matter, it is people who shape destinies. And as long as some people continue to build, dream, and believe – no system, no setback, and no storm can truly wash their spirit away.For their iron towers can be demolished, but not the steel towers of their dreams. Hope Paddar will become a top-notch adventure tourism destination one day.
The post Paddar’s struggle for recognition as a Tourist Destination appeared first on Daily Excelsior.