Srinagar, July 17 -- Srinagar- By the time volunteers wrapped up a massive cleanliness drive in Budgam's Haijan Brenwar Valley on Friday, they had removed nearly 150 quintals of plastic waste and other garbage from one of Kashmir's emerging tourist destinations.

The staggering volume of litter was more than the outcome of a single day's neglect. It was a stark reminder of a growing challenge confronting many of the Valley's lesser-known tourist destinations, where a surge in visitor numbers is increasingly colliding with fragile ecosystems and inadequate waste management.

Driven by soaring temperatures across the plains, tourists are venturing beyond Kashmir's traditional hotspots, seeking quieter landscapes in places such as Gurez, Tul...