Cultural Heritage Resources of the Neelum Valley: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The aim of this study is to document the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Neelum Valley. Furthermore, it intends to examine the impending threats to these cultural resources and also explores the potential means to utilize them for social development of this conflictridden area of Neelum Valley. The study confirms the antiquity of the area and determines chronological order through archaeological discoveries, which is noted to have begun from Pre- historic period 4th Millennium BCE, up to 18th CE. Archaeological sites, epigraphic records, ethno archaeology and cultural material reveal that the valley was inhabited by a civilization which had rich forms of cultural wealth. The intangible cultural heritage has been examined as reflected in crafts, cuisines, dresses, languages, traditional skills, wooden architectures, cultural spaces and continuity of traditions. The study further underscores that these heritage resources are fading out due to the human vandalism in the form of unregulated tourism, cross border firing, war and excessive commercialization in the Neelum Valley. In addition to this, the natural causes of threats range from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, typhoons to effects of climatic changes. Ignorance about the heritage value and inappropriate protection measures can have a devastating impact on theses cultural heritage resources. Effective protection and preservation of the cultural heritage resources will help promoting heritage tourism which will in turn, generate economic activities in the region. The practical implication of the study is the proposed options of heritage tourism across divide, to bring social development in the area.