Yea you guessed it right – the post is about my visit to Kashmir. Ameer khusaro rightly said
“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast,
Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast”
(If there is paradise on face of the earth,
It is this, it is this, it is this – Kashmir)
Entering Northern India...It was morning when our train crossed Punjab. The scene of huge farm fields covered with the morning fog reminded me that we have entered the northern region. The exciting part was that as soon as we crossed Jalandhar, we got a glimpse of the first snow covered mountain. The door passage of our compartment was crowded with the first time visitors to J&K (including us) to get the glimpse of the first snow. All of us having one common thing in mind “Wish I could touch the snow during this trip :)”
The moment we entered J&K state, the feel of terror that the state has lived with encircled us. There was at least one army man for every eight to ten person. Well not letting the shades of terror to cover this story, let me move ahead with our approach to visit the Jammu city.
Jammu Darshan...
Trip through Jammu Srinagar Highway NH1A...
Next day’s journey started with us moving for Srinagar – the capital of Kashmir. Just to mention Srinagar as a city comes in three colors viz. White (in the winter season), Red (during spring season) and Green (during rainy season). This post includes only the white Srinagar, since to describe all the three colors of the city I will have to visit this place at least two more times during the corresponding seasons.
I heard from some of my friends who are related to the Kashmir in some or the other manner that the education here in the state is really difficult. For quite a long time the schools were closed not only accounting for the terrific weather conditions but also the terrorism at its peak. It was good to see some girls in school uniform walking through the nature’s beauty. Also on our highway we got the second glimpse of the mountain covered with snow. Still every one in our group wishing the same “to be able to touch the snow :)”
We reached quite late as the highway was just opened for the traffic after being closed for almost 15 days. Once I got into the hotel I just peaked through the gallery to realize that our room was in front of the famous Dal lake as I could also see the house boats in front of our room.
Srinagar - Capital of Kashmir...
After having breakfast the next morning, we went to visit the Shankaracharya temple (The mission in Mission Kashmir). As cameras were not allowed, could not get any snap of the temple though there is a snap of the Shankaracharya hill on whose top the temple is located.
After temple we moved ahead for shikaara ride at Dal lake. WOW! This expression for my experience of the lake ride sums it all. Lake with excellent backdrop of mountains along with the fleet of Shikaaras was making it look like a heavenly place. We proceeded to an island in the lake called Char Chinar (where the first scene of Mission Kashmir was filmed where Sanjay Dutt saves his subordinate who trips a bomb). The name comes from the four chinar trees present on the island. Though one of the four trees at present is planted recently just to keep the name of the island intact after the original one got destroyed.
Enjoyed the famous kashmiri kava drink (with added kesar) that was served to us on the island. From char chinar one can have the distant view of Hazrat bal dargah (recently of famous for all the wrong reasons). After rounds of photo session at char chinar, we proceeded our shikaara ride to the floating garden and floating market. The floating garden / farm were formed by the dead stem and leaves of lotus plant that floats over the water creating a tight mesh. People used this mesh as the base and poured soil over them to form the floating field. (a problem that the farmers face is that at times the whole farm gets shifted to another persons area leaving only water at the original owners area). As it was Autumn we could not enjoy the beautiful lotus over the Nagin lake. After the floating farms we moved ahead to the floating market. Like the houseboats these shops are also built on boats.
One thing that I noticed is that along with the farms and shops, there were residential houses as well. And guess how the kids in these houses go to school? Like school children in our cities have bicycles and two wheelers, kids out there have their own Shikaras. And yea they also have the habit of making Shikara pool (just like car pool :))
Mention of Dal lake would be incomplete without the mention of beautiful houseboats floating across the lake. All with different colors, shapes and of course interesting names as well.
Garden hi Garden...After the memorable Shikara ride we had our lunch and moved ahead for Nishat bag and Shalimar bag. Built by the Mughal emperors, these gardens are quite beautiful. Though we could not enjoy the true beauty due to Autumn but still it was wonderful. The small flowers with asymmetrical petals were just wonderful. If these flowers were present in autumn, imagine how the garden would look like post spring!
GulMarg...Next day we started our journey towards Gulmarg – 57 kms from Srinagar. At an altitude of 6,700 fees this place is covered with snows most of the times. On your way, at 44 Kms from srinagar, you reach a place called tangmarg from where the hilly ride towards Gulmarg starts. At tangmarg you get all the accessories on rent that you may require to walk in snow. Approximately at 110 bucks you get a pair of gum boots & socks, overcoat /jackets and hand gloves.
We were fortunate enough to get to enjoy the snowfall as well along with the ice at gulmarg. From Gulmarg you can reach a place at an altitude of 10000 feets called Kongdoor. For that you have an option of cable car that you can get from a place called Gandola at Gulmarg. Well its very hard for me to describe Gulmarg (fell short of words). Just see the following pics and judge it for urself :).
Pahalgaum - Ghodo ka gaun...
Next day our trip was to Pahalgam – city of horses (as pahal in pharasi means horse). I liked the place quite a lot as it was very soothing environment. There was no snow but it was good to just walk around. Places like Maal road (good for shoping), Gauri Shankar temple, Mamal Temple, Pahalgam club house and the beautiful Lidder river can be covered on self legs in approx 2 hours. And due to the environment you don’t feel tired even a bit after walking for so long. Of course you can also hire horse for the same. The bobby house is where the famous song of Bobby was filmed and the Pahalgaum club is the hospital in movie Karma. But now there is only ground that is remaining at the place of pahalgaum club after it was blasted out by terrorists.
You can also visit a place called mini Switzerland. As per what we heard, this place has a beautiful view and is higher in altitude, hence covered with snow. Horse takes 45 mins to get you there. Due to limitation of time we did not visit that place as we had to leave for katra the same afternoon. As it was Sunday the kids were out in the field enjoying their time at Pahalgam. After having lunch at Pahalgam, we headed to Katra. Place at the foot of the hill where Mata Vaishnowdevi temple is located.
Nature Stikes...Unfortunately as soon as we crossed Jawahar tunnel (2.5 kilometer long tunnel on Jammu Srinagar highway), we discovered that there had been a fresh landslide a few kms ahead. Our tour leader took decision to head back to Srinagar. It was an intelligent decision as about a couple of hours after we crossed the jawahar tunnel while returning, the tunnel also got closed due to heavy snowfall.
Next three days were spent in the hotel at Srinagar as there was heave snow fall at Srinagar as well for almost 2 days contineously. Unfortunately we had to cancel our plans for mata Vaishnowdevi.
Trapped in Paradise...Three days we were into the hotel not knowing how we r going to get out of Srinagar. Fortunately we had a large group and hence our day passed by playing various group games in a medium sized hall at the hotel. Also some of our groupmates created a beautiful snowman. And after two days of contineous rainfall we finally saw the sunshine.
To our releif the airport also got opened within 6 hours and we boarded flight out to delhi, and this brought us back to earth, from the heaven!
This post dedicated to the men standing irrespective of the season / weather to ensure that kashmir remains the heaven on earth. Throughout our journey in the state, we saw men from Indian Army and CRPF doing their duty to protect the place from any kind of possible threat. Whether it was snowfall or it was raining heavily, these men were standing alert with all sorts of weapon. 
