Umaisar Gull Ganie
Anantnag, Jun 27: Once a well-kept secret known only to a few adventurous souls, Sinthan Top is now witnessing a major tourist influx due to rising temperatures across the country and Jammu & Kashmir. The place offers tourists a cool and blissful escape with its pristine and snow-covered slopes.
Situated at 3,800 metres above sea level, Sinthan Top is a snow-clad mountain peak that connects Anantnag in south Kashmir to Kishtwar in the Jammu region via Kokernag.
According to official figures, Sinthan Top has welcomed a total of 2,05,433 visitors this year from March to June 25, 2024.
Monthly breakdowns reveal that 2,561 visitors in March visited the place, 8,677 in April, and 32,115 in May, with a notable surge of 1,62,080 tourists in June alone. Among over two lakh visitors, 367 are foreign nationals, as per the figures.
Locals of the area are happy with the good footfall of tourists this year as they are earning good money by running stalls, snow boats, and selling products like shawls at the destination.
Ghulam Mohammad, a local, said, “We are happy with people from far-off places visiting here. I did not have an opportunity to earn, but now I am running a tea shop here. I am earning well for my family.”
Coming from Bangladesh for the first time, a couple said that Kashmir has proven to be an absolute blessing. “Even in summer, witnessing snow here makes Kashmir truly exceptional. This unique aspect makes Kashmir a must-visit destination for all tourists. The warmth of the people and the delicious food add to its charm,” they said.
Rakesh Sharma from Punjab said, “We are at Sinthan Top, and it’s clear: there’s nothing more beautiful than Kashmir. Even though we have visited foreign countries, the love and hospitality of Kashmiri people we have never seen before, so people should explore Kashmir on a large scale.”
He added, “This is a very nice place. I am here with my family, and we became very happy when we arrived. We are enjoying it very much.”
Tourists from Mumbai and Bangalore expressed disappointment over the lack of basic facilities on the spot. “The destination lacks public conveniences, mobile connectivity and proper garbage management. A person cannot use digital payment here even in the digital era because of no connectivity. The government should look into it,” they said.
Syed Muiz Qadri, Tehsildar Larnoo, said the increase in tourist footfall has steadily created more livelihood opportunities and brought more people into the tourism fold.
“Kokernag has significant tourism potential that needs to be tapped without causing environmental harm.” the Tehsildar said, adding that Daksum and the area up to Sinthan Top have beautiful spots where tourists greatly enjoy their visits.
“Within our capacity at the administration level, we are doing everything possible. Visitors should also know that the place should not be littered and deserves to be explored for the growth of the overall tourism sector in Kokernag,” he said.
The Tehsildar expressed happiness that a large number of tourists are visiting Kokernag and Sinthan Top, many of whom might not have visited before. “We are hopeful of seeing sustainable tourism that will create more livelihood opportunities and revenue for the local people,” he said.
