From Paradise to Palate: Kashmir's Food Scene Takes Center Stage

Local, non-local food vloggers use social media positively to showcase food varieties

Kashmir is fast gaining recognition as a burgeoning destination for food enthusiasts, thanks to the local and non-local food vloggers, who use social media to promote local cuisines of the valley.

Kashmir, which so far has been famous for its beautiful landscape and rich culture, is offering visitors a unique and delectable journey through the region's diverse culinary landscape.

Recently, there has been a noticeable surge in tourists seeking out the region's authentic flavors, prompting a boom in the local food tourism industry.

One of the driving forces behind this culinary renaissance is the increasing number of food festivals and events that showcase the diverse offerings of Kashmiri cuisine.

To promote the valley as a hotspot for foodies, the tourism department has also been holding food festivals, which attract people from different sections of the society.

Local specialties such as Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Dum Aloo,Kehwa, and the iconic Wazwan feast have become the talk of the town, leaving a lasting impression on the taste buds of those who venture into the region.

Travel agents claimed that the majority of the tourists visiting the valley prefer to relish the local delicacies of Kashmir.

“Almost 90 percent of the guests visiting the valley prefer to explore the local delicacies of Kashmir. From multicuisine Wazwan to street foods like Nader-Monj’e, tourists have been fascinated with the food culture of Kashmir,” said Javed Ahmad Khan, a travel agent.

He said the influx of food vloggers during recent years has promoted the valley as a diverse culinary landscape.

“We have seen that recently food vloggers including Dilse Foodie, Bukha Saand, Swaad Official and others visited Kashmir during winters to showcase the food pattern of Kashmir. Given their immense reach on social media, people followed their suggestions about food to have in Kashmir,” Khan said.

Hoteliers and restaurant owners said that many tourists prefer to relish local cuisines of Kashmir.

“I think Wazwan has a huge demand among tourists. Majority of the customers who relish Wazwan in my restaurant are tourists. During winter time, harissa equally has a good demand among tourists,” said Rayees Ahmad, a restaurant owner.

With Kashmir continuing to emerge as a food tourism hotspot, the local travel agents are optimistic about the positive impact this trend will have on both the economy and the preservation of their culinary heritage