Nestled along the shimmering shores of Wular Lake, amid Kashmir’s mist-kissed hills and whispering willows, lies a village that invites wonder and quiet reflection. Zurimanz—affectionately dubbed “Kashmir’s Bangladesh”—is quietly emerging from obscurity into tourist limelight. What was once a forgotten hamlet is now weaving stories of resilience, natural beauty, and revival.
From Ashes To Hope: The Birth Of “Bangladesh”
Zurimanz’s unusual nickname traces back to a fateful moment. During the 1971 conflict between East and West Pakistan, a catastrophic fire swept through the village, effectively reducing many homes to charred timbers and ashes. Locals say that as East Pakistan transformed into Bangladesh, the villagers of Zurimanz also began rebuilding their lives from ruin. The parallel rebirth led people to call the place “Bangladesh” in the Kashmir valley.
Firdous Ahmad, a local boatman, recalls that “at a time when the war … a massive fire broke out in the Zurimanz village, turning the whole village into ashes … people in Zurimanz village also started rebuilding their houses … Due to the coincidence of events … Zurimanz also became Kashmir’s Bangladesh.”
The fire’s aftermath also created a geographic division: the village split into two clusters, with one side being known locally as “Bangladesh” and the other as Zurimanz. Roughly 350 households now inhabit these settlements.
A Lush Setting By The Lake
Zurimanz is tucked into the Bandipora district of north Kashmir, about 65–90 km from Srinagar depending on the route taken. Its waterfront location on Wular Lake—one of South Asia’s largest freshwater lakes—gives the village its most alluring vistas.
Across the lake you’ll glimpse the faint silhouettes of Mount Harmukh, which rise majestically in the distance, offering a dramatic backdrop that lifts the spirits of any visitor.
The serenity of Zurimanz is part of its appeal. Visitors come to drift silently in a shikara (traditional wooden boat) over the lake, to fish, to watch migratory birds, and to simply sit on a wooden boardwalk and let time slip by. Locals and visitors alike point to a specially built “selfie point” on that boardwalk, with sweeping lake views framed by the hills, as a favorite spot for capturing moments.
Local Vision: Turning A Dream Into A Destination
The transformation of Zurimanz hasn’t been accidental. Two brothers from the village—Firdous Ahmad Bhat and Ghulam Hassan—spearheaded its early tourism push. They built the village’s first shikara and launched it on Wular Lake, hoping that visitors from across India (and beyond) would be drawn to this watery haven.
As one tourist remarked, “The view here is totally amazing. We believe if this village is developed well … more people will start visiting.”
Village residents have embraced homestays, local guided walks, cultural festivals, and eco-oriented outreach. Officials are also discussing improving infrastructure and tourist facilities—always mindful of preserving the fragile lake ecosystem.
Importantly, locals amplify environmental protection. Wular Lake is both a livelihood (for fishermen) and an ecosystem. Pollution and siltation threaten its health. Firdous and others emphasize that tourism and ecological conservation must go hand in hand if Zurimanz is to flourish.
Challenges, Risk, And Fragile Gains
While the narrative of revival is inspiring, Zurimanz’s story unfolds amid a volatile backdrop. Kashmir’s tourism sector has felt tremors in recent years from security incidents and political tension. After a tragic attack in Pahalgam in April 2025 that claimed at least 26 lives (mostly tourists), many destinations in Kashmir were shuttered, and visitor numbers plunged.
Hoteliers and vendors report steep losses; some offer discounts of up to 70 percent to coax hesitant travelers. A Reuters video captures local vendors lamenting that “businesses are all incurring losses” as tourism comes to a near standstill.
Beyond immediate security fears, the popularity of Zurimanz could invite environmental stress. Increased footfall can strain infrastructure, sanitation, and lake health if growth is unmanaged. In Kashmir’s delicate climatic and political landscape, progress can be easily undone.
Still, the broader development momentum in Jammu & Kashmir continues. In June 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed renewed connectivity, new rail lines, and infrastructure projects in the region—insisting that development would not falter, despite security challenges. Even as many tourist spots shut for security review, the government says it will press forward with its plans.
Life In Zurimanz: Stories Of People
Walking through the narrow lanes of Zurimanz, you’ll hear a local fisherman recount how, seasons ago, his catch declined. Now, with a few tourists aboard his shikara, he has a new income stream. A mother in a homestay might tell you she welcomes guests not just to earn, but to share Kashmiri culinary traditions with strangers.
One traveler, scrolling through social media images of tranquil lake mornings and misty horizons, decided to detour here. In her words: “I came seeking calm and found stories etched in water and mountains.”
Despite the still-small visitor numbers, each guest becomes an ambassador. Their photos, social posts, and stories shine new light on Zurimanz. For villagers, that growing attention is a seed of hope—both fragile and precious.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Growth And Guardianship
Zurimanz’s potential is real. It offers a vision of small-scale, sustainable tourism rooted in community, nature, and narrative. But the road ahead must be navigated carefully.
- Managed growth: Authorities and community leaders should institute carrying-capacity thresholds for visitors, regulated homestays, sanitation plans, and waste management.
- Ecological safeguards: Routine monitoring of lake water quality, limiting motorized boats, buffer zones of vegetation, and awareness programs can prevent ecological degradation.
- Security confidence: For many travelers, safety is nonnegotiable. Transparent safety protocols, collaboration with security agencies, and consistent messaging can help reassure and gradually rebuild tourism demand.
- Cultural inclusion: The voices of local women, youth, and marginalized groups should be central in tourism planning—so that benefits are widely shared and the local identity preserved.
If these elements align, Zurimanz can become more than a scenic footnote—it can be a story of how a village rose from ashes to inspiration.
In telling Zurimanz’s tale, we see landscapes reborn, dreams rekindled, and people reaching outward from quiet shores to connect with travelers across the world. In its stillness, there is possibility. In its waters, reflection.
