India, July 7 -- Just a little over two months after a catastrophic terror attack that sparked an unparalleled military escalation between India and Pakistan, the previously vibrant valleys of Kashmir are empty and silent now.

In spite of thousands of Hindu pilgrims arriving in Kashmir this week for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage - traveling in distinct convoys under beefed-up security to the revered Amarnath Cave Shrine located in the Himalayas - the overall tourism sector, which depends on visitors from all over India seeking scenic landscapes and varied climates, remains dim.

Kashmir's tourism industry faces significant challenges after the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that resulted in 26 fatalities. Twent...