Belgium couple reach J&K's Harmukh valley, ignoring fears, locals rue fall in number of tourists

Ignoring advisories from diplomatic missions, a Belgium couple has kept its date with the Valley, going on a trek they had been planning months before the Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

D Sam and his friend Nalia trekked all the way to 15000-feet high mount Harmukh lake valley, also called as Kailash of Kashmir, with nomads of Narannag in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal disitrict.

"We wanted to visit this high-altitude valley of mount Harmukh-Gangbal lake. We had planned the visit three months ago. And we are here despite changes in ground situation," said an effusive Sam, eying the beauty of the Harmukh hills, with alpine forests, green meadows and lakes with crystal clear waters.

"Watching sunrise and sunset beyond the Harmukh peaks is a unique experience," gushed Nalia.

Soon after nullification of the Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir government's Home Department had asked all tourists to leave the valley following fresh intelligence inputs on possible terror ...