PTI image PAHALGAM: A year after the terrorist attack that shook Kashmir’s scenic hill town, tourist arrivals to Pahalgam, have fallen sharply, dimming the vibrancy of what was once among the region’s busiest holiday destinations.Before the attack, the town routinely hosted between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors a day. Today, the numbers tell a different story. Official figures, procured by TOI from the local tourist centre, revealed that from May 2025 to April 15, 2026, Pahalgam recorded 4,30,495 domestic tourists, a steep drop compared to earlier years, when annual footfall ranged between 12 and 15 lakh, with monthly averages hovering around 1 to 1.1 lakh visitors.The decline is particularly striking when contrasted with April 2025, the month of the attack. By April 22, when the attack happened, around 1.37 lakh tourists had already visited the town in 22 days.The drop of tourists in Pahalgam could also be gauged from comparison of data of tourist footfall in the picturesque town from Jan to April 2025, when the total number of visitors for these four months reached 463,390. In contrast, data from Jan to April 2026 shows a sharp decline across all months with just 254,930 tourists, which is almost 45% lower than the same period in 2025. The cumulative drop of over 200,000 tourists suggests a significant negative trend.Yet, amid the downturn, a new and sombre landmark has emerged. A martyrdom memorial, set up by J&K govt near Pahalgam’s popular “Selfie Point” along Lidder river, has become a focal stop for visitors. The memorial bears the names of all the 26 tourists who lost their lives in the attack.For many, the visit is less about leisure and more about remembrance.Along the riverbanks, tourists gather as they always do, some standing on stones to take pictures, some sitting in small groups having snacks, others dipping their feet into the cold water.However, as they approach the memorial, their expression shows what has changed in a year. Their mood shifts. Some stand in silence, reading each name written on the memorial. Others raise their phones to capture the sad moment.The list of 26 begins with Atul Shrikant Mone. It ends with Yatish Bhai Sudhirbhai Pamar. At number 22, is Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local ponywallah killed while trying to save tourists during the attack.Ravi C, a tourist from Karnataka, said it was his first visit to Pahalgam and he came despite what had happened last year. He was taking pictures of his young child, who was saluting the memorial.Ayaan from Mumbai, travelling with his family, said the violence had not kept him away. “Incidents happen,” he said.Kuldeep Singh, a driver from Punjab, had brought visitors from Punjab. They, too, were reading the names. Kantarajpa, a retired Army officer from Bengaluru, said he wanted to see the place for himself. The attack, he said, has not deterred him.Across the road at the tourist reception centre, officials from the tourism department said visitors have started returning to Pahalgam. They said in the four months after last year’s attack, the resort saw almost no tourists. “Hoteliers had shut their hotels. But with sustained efforts of govt, things are beginning to improve,” said an official.Tourism infrastructure in the area remains substantial, with around 107 hotels, 100 guest houses, and a similar number of homestays recorded by the tourism department. However, officials note that a significant number of unregistered accommodations continue to operate outside formal records.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event
PAHALGAM: A year after the terrorist attack that shook Kashmir’s scenic hill town, tourist arrivals to Pahalgam, have fallen sharply, dimming the vibrancy of what was once among the region’s busiest holiday destinations.Before the attack, the town routinely hosted between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors a day. Today, the numbers tell a different story. Official figures, procured by TOI from the local tourist centre, revealed that from May 2025 to April 15, 2026, Pahalgam recorded 4,30,495 domestic tourists, a steep drop compared to earlier years, when annual footfall ranged between 12 and 15 lakh, with monthly averages hovering around 1 to 1.1 lakh visitors.The decline is particularly striking when contrasted with April 2025, the month of the attack. By April 22, when the attack happened, around 1.37 lakh tourists had already visited the town in 22 days.The drop of tourists in Pahalgam could also be gauged from comparison of data of tourist footfall in the picturesque town from Jan to April 2025, when the total number of visitors for these four months reached 463,390. In contrast, data from Jan to April 2026 shows a sharp decline across all months with just 254,930 tourists, which is almost 45% lower than the same period in 2025. The cumulative drop of over 200,000 tourists suggests a significant negative trend.Yet, amid the downturn, a new and sombre landmark has emerged. A martyrdom memorial, set up by J&K govt near Pahalgam’s popular “Selfie Point” along Lidder river, has become a focal stop for visitors. The memorial bears the names of all the 26 tourists who lost their lives in the attack.For many, the visit is less about leisure and more about remembrance.Along the riverbanks, tourists gather as they always do, some standing on stones to take pictures, some sitting in small groups having snacks, others dipping their feet into the cold water.However, as they approach the memorial, their expression shows what has changed in a year. Their mood shifts. Some stand in silence, reading each name written on the memorial. Others raise their phones to capture the sad moment.The list of 26 begins with Atul Shrikant Mone. It ends with Yatish Bhai Sudhirbhai Pamar. At number 22, is Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local ponywallah killed while trying to save tourists during the attack.Ravi C, a tourist from Karnataka, said it was his first visit to Pahalgam and he came despite what had happened last year. He was taking pictures of his young child, who was saluting the memorial.Ayaan from Mumbai, travelling with his family, said the violence had not kept him away. “Incidents happen,” he said.Kuldeep Singh, a driver from Punjab, had brought visitors from Punjab. They, too, were reading the names. Kantarajpa, a retired Army officer from Bengaluru, said he wanted to see the place for himself. The attack, he said, has not deterred him.Across the road at the tourist reception centre, officials from the tourism department said visitors have started returning to Pahalgam. They said in the four months after last year’s attack, the resort saw almost no tourists. “Hoteliers had shut their hotels. But with sustained efforts of govt, things are beginning to improve,” said an official.Tourism infrastructure in the area remains substantial, with around 107 hotels, 100 guest houses, and a similar number of homestays recorded by the tourism department. However, officials note that a significant number of unregistered accommodations continue to operate outside formal records.
