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Ghostly Kashmiri Homes
Kashmir Observer
|JANUARY 14, 2026 ISSUE
Kashmir highways and hilltop towns display an unusual sight.
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Large, carefully built houses and bungalows rise proudly, but most of them seem lifeless.These homes reflect prosperity and ambition, but they tell a story of absence and social change.
Many senior citizens live in these houses while their children pursue education or work far from the valley. Seasonal migration during winter adds to the emptiness, leaving these grand structures hollow for months at a time.
The trend began in the late 1990s when old towns inspired a wave of big houses. Families aimed to showcase progress, imitating the new style of construction.
This story is from the JANUARY 14, 2026 ISSUE edition of Kashmir Observer.
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