Keran (Kupwara), July 19 -- Once scarred by the mass migration of the 1990s, the frontier village of Keran-a settlement of just 112 houses tucked along the Kishanganga river-is undergoing an economic transformation. Since opening to the public in 2023, this former Line of Control (LoC) conflict zone has emerged as Kashmir's most unlikely travel frontier.

The shift is peaking now. Between May and July alone, more than 50,000 domestic tourists have visited the valley, establishing this high-altitude window (June to August) as the prime season before winter snow isolates the region. The numbers tell a story of an overnight boom: Daily footfalls average 1,000 to 1,500 visitors, growing to between 4,000 and 5,000 on weekends.

"It's 4pm and a...