On 14 Oct 2021, Machhal sector witnessed a new ray of hope for a brighter future by the onset of tourists into this remote valley for the first time since independence. Machhal is a remote village located at the Northern part of Kupwara district, J&K. The village remains covered in snow for major part of the year due to incessant winters and climatic conditions. The people of Machhal always wished for a better and alternate livelihood than being seasonal porters and development of this area to be the part of tourism roadmap of India was a long drawn aspiration.
The valley was enthralled by the arrival of Twenty six tourists from Maharashtra to enjoy the serene beauty this paradise offers. The people of the village were so very excited that they held placards all along the village welcoming the tourists. The tourists were mesmerised by their love and affection. The entire village assembled to welcome them. These twenty six tourists are the pioneers in opening the road for tourism in this beautiful valley of Machhal. Indian Army coordinated with the villagers to develop this village as a tourist destination. Both the villages of Machhal and Pushwari offered home stay to these tourists. Dinner and breakfast comprising of various Kashmiri cuisines were provided during their stay. The tourists reciprocated their affection towards the locals by distributing sweets. The arrival of tourists to this remote location will not only be able to mitigate the alienation of this area from the rest of India but also bring a sense of belongingness. The complete Machhal valley was rejuvenated with this new venture hoping for brighter future in times to come.