Railway as a harbinger of tourism development in Kashmir

Railway as a mean of transport and communication played an important role in the developmental process of the society whether it is social or economic. It alters the travel habit of people, increase connectivity and accessibility; generate employment, tourism development and so on. Railway as an agency of development played an important role in the development of the tourism. Tourism is a largest growing industry in the world and had important connection with transport. As the State of Jammu and Kashmir is famous for touristic destination. Kashmir is known as paradise on earth as there is lot of tourist spot. The coming of railway made the travel easy, comfortable and affordable. Railway not only helps in increasing tourism in Kashmir, it had also leaded to the social, economic and cultural development of the society. It not only provide all weather connectivity to the state but it can help the breakdown of the land locked position, promote integration, and increases interaction among the people of diverse background and location and the Railway dawn has touched the marginalized areas and section of the society in J&K and is set to have long term impact. The present paper study the role of railway in the tourism development in Kashmir valley and how it lead to the social, economic and cultural development of the Kashmiri society. The sources of data collection are both primary and secondary.