Gurez Valley

Gurez Valley is a remote, high-altitude valley near the Line of Control in northern Kashmir, its Dard-Shina speaking communities, wooden watchtowers and dramatic Habba Khatoon peak giving it a distinctly different cultural and physical character from the rest of the Kashmir valley. Opened to tourism only in relatively recent years after decades of restricted access, Gurez remains one of the least-visited yet most striking corners of Jammu and Kashmir.

The valley takes its most photographed feature from the pyramid-shaped Habba Khatoon peak, named after a 16th-century Kashmiri poetess, which dominates the skyline above the village of Dawar. Traditional wooden houses, terraced fields along the Kishanganga river and a slower pace of life largely untouched by mainstream tourism give Gurez a genuinely off-the-beaten-path character, appealing to travellers specifically seeking a less-visited alternative to Kashmir's more established destinations.

Gurez remained largely closed to outside visitors for decades due to its sensitive location near the Line of Control, with tourism access opening up more meaningfully only in recent years, keeping the valley's traditional way of life comparatively undisturbed.

About 125km from Srinagar via Bandipora, roughly 4-5 hours by road, requiring a permit for some sections.