The house boats on the Jhelum River—with inscriptions “The Marguerittee,” “Sheesh Mahal” and “Happy day house boat”—have no takers. The colourful “Shikaras” lined up in Dal Lake are standing still. In a month, when tourism is supposed to be in its peak, “curfew tourism” might be unrolling on the roads of Srinagar.
If a tourist is adventurous enough to explore the deserted places in Srinagar, he or she may get official curfew-passes and let himself freak out unhindered by crowd, vehicular traffic and any other obstructions. The only onlookers and observers may be men in uniform. But it is easier said than done, as official curfew passes may be easy to get but not the permission of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the leader of the hardline Hurriyat faction. People would not venture out on the road or the market unless Geelani lifts his call for shutdown.
Last Saturday, Geelani had relaxed the bundh call until 2 pm, and suddenly Srinagar burst out in full force on the roads, markets, banks and on social visits. The city has now again gone back in the old groove with a new programme of serial shutdown been drawn by the separatists.
The hotel occupancy has touched a new low. One hotel on the Residency Road had just three to four occupants. The number of cancellations has increased manifold with 80 per cent of the bookings reportedly cancelled.
The redeeming feature is the continuous flow of “Amarnath pilgrims” by road or by air. On their way back from the holy cave, they are seen flocking to Dal lake and the famous Nishat Garden overlooking Pir Panjal mountains. The tenuous link of pilgrim tourism is being kept alive as much by the visitors as by the local people.