Leh (Staff Correspondent): When the valleys of Ladakh are usually bustling with tourists in summer, this time there is a strange silence there. Usually June is the peak tourist season, but this time there is neither a crowd on the roads, nor a hustle and bustle in the markets. This silence is believed to be the effect of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which has badly affected not only Jammu and Kashmir but also areas considered safe like Ladakh.
Ratan Dhillon, a regular tourist of Ladakh, shared a video on social media, in which a strange silence is seen on the streets of Leh.
He wrote, “It is hard to believe that this is Ladakh in June, right in the middle of the peak season. I have been coming to Leh for the last 10 years and I have never seen the city so quiet and deserted.” He further said, “It seems that the Pahalgam incident has had a huge impact. Hopefully the situation will return to normal soon.”
Tourism industry suffers a big blow
After the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, an atmosphere of fear suddenly prevailed in the valley. This attack has affected tourism not only in Kashmir but also in entire North India. Soon after the attack, tourists started returning from the valley, bookings were cancelled and further trips were postponed.
Places like Leh and Ladakh, which are considered relatively peaceful, are also facing this decline. Hotels, homestays and houseboats are almost empty. Taxi drivers and local guides are also not getting any work.
Hard to believe this is Ladakh in June right in the middle of peak season.
I’ve been visiting Leh for the past 10 years and have never seen the town this quiet and deserted, with so few tourists around.
Looks like Pahalgam incident has had a huge impact!
Hoping things… pic.twitter.com/0uc3sPIS3q
— Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) June 11, 2025
People’s reactions on social media
People reacted fiercely to Dhillon’s post. One user wrote, “It is sad to see this… this city is dependent on income from tourists.”
Another said, “It is on the decline. I think there are many reasons for this – expensive taxis and flights, long distances, bad roads, altitude-related health problems and poor medical facilities.”
One person said he visited Ladakh in May, but there were hardly any crowds. “Hardly any tourists here. Local businesses are suffering huge losses,” he wrote.
“Tourists are now assuming the entire state is unsafe”
One user said he asked a Ladakhi hotelier what he was doing in Srinagar. The reply was, “Most tourists are now assuming that the old state of Jammu and Kashmir (which included Ladakh) is unsafe, so no one is coming here.”
When will the magic of Leh return?
While tourists usually head to the mountains in summer, Ladakh’s empty hotels, deserted roads and unemployed guides have revealed a bitter truth. It is not just the fear of terror attacks, but also the result of disorganisation, expensive travel options and weak health infrastructure.
People associated with the tourism sector hope that the situation improves soon with security and trust.
Because the question is not just about Ladakh – the question is about the trust that a tourist has in his destination.
