Srinagar: Under a soft November sun, the vast saffron fields of Pampore are awash with a purple glow. Dozens of tourists, armed with cameras, wander through the rows of blooming crocus flowers. It’s harvest time — and for the first time in years, the scene is as much about visitors as it is about farmers.
Groups of tourists can be seen kneeling beside local women, carefully plucking the delicate saffron flowers that are ready to be harvested. “It feels surreal,” said Rohan Mehta, a tourist from Mumbai, gently holding a saffron flower between his fingers. “You see these purple carpets in photos, but walking through them and feeling. The aroma makes you realize how much patience and care go into every gram of saffron.”
The Pampore plateau, often called the “Saffron Town of Kashmir,” is witnessing a surge in visitors this season. The vibrant purple bloom of saffron flowers in Pampore’s fields has turned into a major draw for tourists visiting the Valley this autumn. Visitors can be seen strolling through the fields, capturing photos, and even joining farmers in the delicate saffron harvest — an experience that is giving a fresh dimension to Kashmir’s agritourism.
“Spain is also a saffron-growing country. But our saffron is much more attractive than that of Spain and Iran. Tourists are amazed by the color, aroma, and experience of being here during the bloom ,” said Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, a local saffron grower.
The growers said their sales are boosted as tourists directly visit the farms to get the fresh saffron from the growers. “Many among us don’t need to market their saffron now. Tourists pass through the area and visit the fields or homes from where they procure the authentic saffron,” Bhat said.
The charm isn’t limited to saffron alone. Across the Valley, apple orchards in Shopian and Sopore this summer have been bustling with visitors keen to pick fruit straight from the trees.
The harvesting season for saffron is nearing its end. This year, the growers claimed that saffron production has declined following erratic weather conditions and a lack of adequate irrigation facilities.