Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday (February 16, 2026) has made a big announcement regarding the tourism sector of the Union Territory. The Lieutenant Governor has announced the reopening of 14 closed tourist destinations in the Union Territory. With this announcement, all the tourist destinations which were closed in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, have now been opened for the common people and tourists after the serious demands of the people of the tourism industry and the elected government of Omar Abdullah.
Lieutenant Governor’s office posted on
The office of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the reopening of tourist destinations in a post on social media platform X on Monday (February 16, 2026). In the post, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, ‘After a comprehensive security review and a high-level meeting, I have ordered the reopening of many tourist places in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. These places were temporarily closed for some time as a precaution due to security reasons.
3 tourist spots in Jammu Division- Devi Pindi in Reasi, Mahu Mangat in Ramban and Mughal Maidan in Kishtwar to be reopened immediately. 3 sites in Kashmir Division- Gurez, Athwatoo, Bangus and 1 site in Jammu Division- Ramkund in Ramban will be reopened once snow gets cleared.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) February 16, 2026
These places will open in Kashmir and Jammu division
The order said that 11 tourist spots of Kashmir division have been opened with immediate effect. These include Yusmarg and Dudhpathri of Budgam, Dandipora Park of Kokernag, Peer Ki Gali, Dubhjan and Padpawan of Shopian, Astanapora and Tulip Garden of Srinagar, Thajwas Glacier and Hung Park of Ganderbal and Wular/Watlab in Baramulla.
The post further said, ‘Three tourist spots in Jammu division – Devi Pindi in Reasi, Mhow Mangat in Ramban and Mughal Maidan in Kishtwar – will be reopened immediately. However, due to heavy snowfall in some high altitude areas, it is not possible to open for tourists right now. Ramkund located in Ramban of Jammu division along with Gurez, Athwatu and Bangas of Kashmir division will be opened only after the snow is removed and the roads are cleared.
49 tourist spots were closed after Pahalgam terrorist attack
After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the security forces had audited about 87 places in the valley, after which it was decided to close 49 tourist spots and impose an extra layer of security and investigation at the remaining places.
However, in November 2025, the government led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had announced the gradual reopening of tourist spots. Before this announcement, 28 special places in Kashmir including Aru Valley, Yanar Rafting Point, Akkad Park, Padshahi Park and Command Post along with Dagan Top (Ramban), Dhaggar (Kathua) and Shiv Cave (Reasi) in Jammu division were reopened.
