August 3, 2025

The iconic Nedous Hotel in Gulmarg, which has stood for 137 years, is facing immediate eviction due to the rulings of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court and the Supreme Court of India. The hotel, owned by the family of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, founder of the National Conference, was issued an eviction notice on August 2, 2025, due to unauthorized occupation of government land. The eviction notice, issued by the Estates Officer of Gulmarg, states that immediate vacating of the premises is necessary as per the Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988. The order mandates the current occupants, who have been categorized as unauthorized, to vacate the property swiftly. In a bid to ensure a peaceful eviction process, the District Magistrate of Baramulla has been instructed to provide the necessary support, including the deployment of police personnel and a Magistrate on-site. The Nedous Hotel occupies about 98 kanals and 11 marlas of land, which was initially leased from the government. However, the family failed to renew this lease after its expiration in 1985. The government had previously rejected their lease renewal request in February 2015. Both the hotel management and the court have been involved in disputes regarding the legality of the hotel's occupancy since then, with the J&K High Court declaring it an unauthorized occupant under the aforementioned eviction act. Historically, the Nedous Hotel was established in the 1880s by Michael Adam Nedou, a European who recognized Gulmarg's potential as a holiday resort for Europeans and royals. The hotel’s early construction in Lahore in the 1870s laid the foundation for its expansion into Gulmarg, further elevating the region’s status as a winter resort. Nedou's legacy continued through his family, especially after his eldest son, Harry Nedou, married Mir Jaan, a local woman from Gulmarg. Their daughter’s marriage to Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah connects the hotel to significant political lineage. Omar K. Nedou, the current proprietor and owner of the Nedous Group of Hotels, is a direct descendant of this family legacy, which has strong ties to contemporary political figures, including current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. As a historical and cultural landmark, the eviction of the Nedous Hotel raises questions about heritage conservation and the future of traditional hospitality in the region. The eviction situation underlines the tensions that can arise in managing historical sites in today’s legal and political climate, as property issues intersect with heritage, ownership, and local governance. Stakeholders in the hospitality sector, local communities, and heritage conservationists will be keenly observing the developments around this iconic establishment. As the eviction process unfolds, it remains to be seen how the local population and visitors will react to losing an integral part of Gulmarg's historical landscape. The impact of this decision resonates beyond just legal implications; it touches on the cultural and social fabric of the region. The imminent changes at Nedous Hotel could potentially alter not only the hospitality dynamics in Gulmarg but also the historical narrative surrounding this esteemed location.

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Tags: Nedous hotel, Gulmarg, Eviction notice, J&k supreme court, Heritage,