Away from crowds, north Kashmir's villages become travellers' new favourite

The useful part

The travellers are breathing a new life into destinations that remained off the tourist radar for decades. Unlike traditional destinations, visitors now choose to stay with local families, trek through forests, explore waterfalls and immerse themselves in village life. "People are looking for peace rather than crowds," said Suhail Khan, a frequent traveller to these destinations.

How it works

• He said visitors like him stay with local families, eat home-cooked food and experience a side of Kashmir that cannot be found in luxury resorts.
• "These days visitors are not more into sightseeing but prefer connecting with nature and people," he told Greater Kashmir.
• Manglu, perched on the hills overlooking Sopore, has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trend.