Horse riders in Yusmarg seek revival of livelihood

Budgam, Aug 29: Abdul Hamid Khan, a horse rider in Yusmarg, a scenic tourist destination in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, says he has no work since most tourist sites in the region were shut following the Aprill 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 25 tourists and a local pony operator dead.

“I have no income. During the tourist season, I could support my family. Now, with the site closed, there is nothing ,” Khan said, sitting beside his horse.

Authorities closed 48 locations across Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack. While on June 14, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reopened 16 sites, others remain off-limits. The closures have left locals who depend on tourism including horse riders and small vendors struggling to make ends meet.

Khan said the shutdown has also made it difficult to care for the horses, which need daily feeding and maintenance. “It’s not only me. Many families in Yusmarg and adjoining villages face the same problem. Tourism is our main source of income,” he said. For decades, families in Yusmarg and its adjoining villages have relied on giving horse rides to visitors exploring the valley’s meadows and trails. Horses, often passed down from generation to generation, are central to the local tourism economy, helping visitors move through areas that are hard to reach on foot. According to Khan , residents over half a dozen villages including Gogji Pathri, Kitabal, Laden and Naid Nar depend on tourism for their livelihood.

Tourism is one of the few reliable sources of income for rural families in Kashmir. The sector generates over 20 lakh jobs annually in Kashmir. Many locals fear that prolonged closures could force them to sell their horses or abandon the trade altogether, putting centuries-old traditions at risk. Khan said he hopes that the destination is reopened soon for the tourists. “Tourists are our lifeline. Once they come back, we can start earning again,” he said.