Srinagar, June 22 -- By Mudasser Wani

The late afternoon sun cast a silver glow over Wular Lake as families gathered along the waterfront. Children ran toward the edge of the water, young men paused for photographs, and visitors watched fishing boats drift through one of Kashmir's grandest landscapes.

Then scene felt familiar and surprising at the same time.

Familiar because Kashmir has long drawn visitors with its scenery. Surprising because this setting lay in Bandipora, a district that rarely features in discussions about the valley's tourism plans.

Tourism narratives in Kashmir usually gravitate toward destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Bandipora occupies a different place on the map and in the public imagination...