A tourist poses in a traditional Kashmiri dress at Srinagar's [Images] picturesque Dal Lake.

Before the advent of militancy 15 years ago, Kashmir was popular with filmmakers and tourists, but the violence that has now claimed more than 40,000 lives has damaged both industries.

Tourism began picking up again after India and Pakistan started a peace process 14 months ago to resolve all their disputes, including Kashmir.

Photograph: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images