My recent escapade was to Jammu and Kashmir. In spite of repeated warnings from friends and family, in the middle of stark winter I and my folks set out on our voyage. We started from Bombay early morning and by noon we were in Srinagar. It was quite strange to experience two extreme climates on the same day. Thirty degrees in Bombay and almost six degrees in Srinagar. Even the stop over at Delhi was quite pleasant, considering the fact that I loathe the city and especially its people and now the airport too. The center seriously needs to look in. I better get back to writing the travelogue than criticizing the government, something I usually do, of course for the right reasons.
Our driver and our house keeper at the houseboat came to pick us up at the airport. People in Jammu Kashmir are very warm and I could actually feel it in the way they greeted us and spoke to us. Or maybe it is a necessity to polite, considering tourism is their only livelihood. Whatever the reasons are, I enjoyed all the attention I received. We comfortably reached our houseboat which was amidst the beautiful and the vast Dal Lake. It was one of the most striking and serene places I have ever stayed. And we ended our day with a long ride in the Shikara (boats used inside the lake) and just soaking in as much as we could.
The next day we decided to explore beyond the lake and thought of taking the road. It had snowed just a week ago and the chillness made it more evident. So we headed straight to Sonmarg, a quiet and quintessential valley two hours away from Srinagar. We experienced snow covered peaks and the deadly cold for the first time in the journey. The warm clothing we were carrying weren’t enough and we had to hire a couple of coats for each one of us. I seriously wonder how people survive such an extreme climate. Even the soldiers who stand incessantly along the roads, on mountains and valleys to guard the beautiful land are to be pitied about. Yet somehow we forget our duties towards our nation. It just makes me all the more sad. And yes, the security reminds me of how careful one has to be in such a sensitive area. We had to get ourselves checked at every check point on every corner of the town, near every monument. But despite so many efforts these innocent people are not spared by the culprits and die at the hands of terror. Every little town I passed reminded me of something I had read or seen about the place being torn apart with hand grenades and bombs. Areas like Baramullah, Kupwara are often the soft targets for such activities.
The following day was one of the best days. It was filled with a plethora of activities, vivid beautiful spots and lots more. Gulmarg is one of the most visited places in Jammu and Kashmir. Its truly heaven on earth. Serene mountains, tall standing pine and deodar trees welcoming us, it was the most unique and unforgettable experiences we ever had. From skiing to sledging to horse riding we did everything, aah not to forget the Cable car ride. The best part was actually making my first snow man. Something I always wanted to do. It wasn’t a very perfect one though I managed to do a good job. We returned in the evening tired but filled with great awe for God’s creation. Like everyday our cook at the houseboat had made an amazing meal for us, Kashmiri pulao, Dum aalo and maaki dal! In the mornings we often had Kulchas, Paranthaas and ‘Kahwa’ ( tea made with Kesar, Ginger, sugar and water). The following day was spent sight seeing around Srinagar. We saw places like Hazratbul Durgah, Mughal Gardens, Shankaracharya temple, a 14th century structure.
After four days of sojourn in Srinagar, we checked out and left for Pehelgam, ( shephards village). It’s a beautiful valley where temperatures can go down as low as -14 degrees. We had a nice quite time at Liddar valley ( unofficial name). most of the movies shot in the 60s were made in this area. It is nothing less to Switzerland or any land. We just need to break our myths and beliefs about the place and explore it.
Jammu was our next stop and we visited the Vaishnodevi shrine, quite an adventurous trek. And the next day I was back in the hustle and bustle of my not so dear city life. Trust me, there’s so much more I can write and talk about Jammu and Kashmir but everytime I make an effort I fail miserably. You just cannot condense the experience in words. Visit this beautiful dreamland to believe me.
Cheers!
P.S visit the following site for more pictures by me..:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loving_the_camera/
