Log hut cafe with a view of Habba Khatoon peak

The Log Hut Cafe in Gurez was started to create a space for locals to socialize with each other, as the youth of the area had no such place. All the cafe's staff are local and trained by army personnel.

It is the first cafeteria to open in the area for tourists and locals. Gurez was packed with thousands of tourists and people this year.

The Log Hut Cafe, overlooking the Habba Khatoon mountain range, is a perfect place for bikers, hikers, and locals to stop for a cup of coffee. The main purpose of opening the cafe was to create a space for the locals to socialize with each other, as the youth of the area did not have such a place.

"The response is very good. Not only tourists but also locals are flocking to the Cafe. We have people coming from breakfast to dinner. We are serving them good food that was not available here before. From sandwiches to pizza to pasta", Ishtiyaq Ahmad, Manager, Log Hut Cafe told Ground Report.

He said they have been creating a lot of awareness among locals to promote border tourism. “A lot has changed here now. More than fourteen hotels, homestays and rented accommodations have sprung up in Gurez and tourists are visiting here in large numbers".

Log hut, a coffee shop with a view of Habba Khatoon Peak is the first coffee shop opened by the army in Gurez on 24 Aug 2021 in Dawar of Gurez Valley for tourists where they can have a cup of coffee in addition to their favourite food.

The Indian Army dedicated the cafe to the locals of Gurez as a "model cafe" to introduce the coffee culture and for the locals to emulate the running of small business models as a consequence of the tourism boom in the valley.

The Army official said that the cafe was also opened to serve more than Wazwan (a multi-course meal in Kashmiri cuisine prepared from mutton with some vegetarian dishes) to visitors. “They get it very often anywhere. But the idea was to serve food like maggi, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and others that are being prepared by local chefs,” he said.

The Log Hut Cafe is a perfect place for bikers, hikers, and locals to grab a cup of coffee with roasted beans.

The cafe has been hosting special events and musical evenings every weekend for locals and tourists. Many local artists have performed at the cafe, which also helps preserve Gurez's declining Dard-Shin culture.

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