SRINAGAR, Aug 04 (KDC): After 137 years, the historic Nedou’s Hotel in Gulmarg—an iconic symbol of Kashmir’s colonial past and political legacy—has been officially taken over by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA).
On Monday, the Assistant Director of Tourism, acting as the designated Estate Officer, oversaw the eviction and transfer of the premises to the GDA, as per Srinagar-based news-gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com. The operation was carried out peacefully in the presence of a local magistrate and police personnel, in strict compliance with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and the Supreme Court of India.
The property, spread over nearly 98 kanals and 11 marlas of prime government land, had been under the possession of the Nedou family for more than a century. The family had obtained multiple leases from the government until 1985, but failed to renew the lease after its expiry. In February 2015, the J&K government officially rejected their lease extension plea. Subsequently, the High Court also dismissed the hotel’s challenge, declaring it an “unauthorized occupation” under the J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988.
The eviction notice, issued on Saturday (August 2), stated:
“In exercise of powers conferred under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988, and in compliance with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, it is hereby ordered that the persons presently in unauthorized occupation of the public premises known as Hotel Nedou’s, Gulmarg, are directed to vacate the premises forthwith and hand over possession.”
The District Magistrate Baramulla was also requested to provide logistical support to ensure smooth execution of the process.
Built in 1888 by Michael Adam Nedou, a European entrepreneur who discovered Gulmarg as a scenic retreat in the 1800s, the Nedou’s Hotel soon became a destination for royals, colonial officers, and political elites. The Lahore branch of Nedou’s was established earlier, in the 1870s.
The family’s connection to Kashmir’s political history runs deep. Harry Nedou, Michael’s eldest son, married Mir Jaan, a Rajput Gujjar woman from Gulmarg. Their daughter, Akbar Jahan, later became the wife of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, founder of the National Conference. This made the Nedous relatives of the current political leadership in J&K, including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Currently, Omar K. Nedou, a descendant of Harry Nedou, is the proprietor of the Nedou’s Group of Hotels.
With Monday’s formal takeover, the government has regained control of a historic site that stood at the crossroads of Kashmir’s colonial charm and its political evolution. (KDC)
