Gurez Valley is located 123 km away from Srinagar in the high Himalayas. Perched 2400m above sea level, Gurez Valley is known for its rich flora and fauna. The tranquillity and cold mountain air beckon tourists to spend quality time with their loved ones. Now, tourists have another reason to visit Gurez Valley. After over 75 long years, polo is shall make a comeback in the picturesque valley.
Gurez Valley Welcomes Polo After 75 Years
North Kashmir’s Gurez Valley is one of India’s best offbeat destinations. It sits along the Line of Control in the Bandipora district. The hilly destination shall host a polo match after over seven decades. According to an Indiatimes report, the region last witnessed a horse polo match in 1947. The game reached the valley through Asia’s Silk Route. A local activist from Gurez, Suhail Shaheen Lone gave Indiatimes a glimpse of polo’s Indian history. He revealed that Mughal rulers played polo in Gurez.
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Horse Polo To Boost Tourism In Valley
He added that to date everyone is unaware of how horse polo got discontinued in the valley. It remained a game widely played in pre-Independence time. Nevertheless, the interest in the sport has never ceased to exist in Kashmir. After all, Gurez Valley houses many horse polo grounds. With horse polo making a comeback, this will boost tourism in the region. The Tourism Department announced the revival of polo during the Gurez Festival. Two local teams competed in a day-long polo match.