Jordan tourist surprised to see Kashmir’s hospitality, receives gifts, attends weddings

Srinagar, Oct 03: Salsabeel, a young lady from Jordan, recently fulfilled her dream of visiting Kashmir, a destination she first learnt about, through a friend’s video of the region’s beautiful place.

“After seeing the videos, it became my goal to visit and experience those beautiful landscapes myself,” she said, adding that the visit far exceeded her expectations, with the natural beauty and the hospitality of the Kashmiri people, leaving her deeply moved.

In an exclusive interview with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Salsabeel shared that during her stay, she explored the valley, hiked the Sonmarg mountains, rode boats and experienced the cultural richness of Kashmir’s traditions.

“The warmth of the people particularly stood out, as locals welcomed me into their homes and showered me with gifts. The people here treated me like family,” Salsabeel recalled.

“Almost everything was new and different for me — from the climate to school schedules and vacations, and even the food. The wedding customs here are also very unique and special,” she added.

While acknowledging minor challenges, she said her experience was overwhelmingly positive, thanks to the guidance of her friend and travel guide, Adnan Dar.

“I had many invitations to local houses, attended weddings, and whenever people found out I was from Jordan, they wouldn’t let me pay for anything,” she recalled. “I even received gifts from people the very first time I met them. I truly felt lucky and as if I was in paradise — the way they treated me was extraordinary,” she said.

Meanwhile, Adnan, who has long worked to promote Kashmir to the Arab world, shared the increasing interest in the region from Middle Eastern travellers. “Kashmir has immense potential on the international stage,” Adnan said, sharing the rise in Arab tourism.