Spellbound!!! That is what I was while I was looking down from my plane window a few minutes before the touchdown....literally jumping up and down in excitement that could beat a five year old. I had a reason...Srinagar calling!!!The place I had read so much about, heard about was actually in front of me. The beauty of the high snow laden mountains seemed so untouched and so refreshing that I forgot I had not slept for the last 20 hours. So there I was on my way to my houseboat in a beautifully decorated shikara(the boats floating around in the Dal Lake as a means of transport). The houseboat I stayed in was a masterpiece in itself, the intricate wood carvings and decors reminded me of our Mughal designs. This was just a beginning of Srinagar’s hospitality though..something that they really specialize in.
I spent the day doing the local sightseeing and saving some gas for the tour ahead
My next three days were going to be very busy... I took a trip to Sonamarg on Day 1....one of the few times I admit I fall short of words..lol...describing its beauty. the four hour journey to Sonamarg was through lush green fields and we were accompanied by the Sindh river-the beauty and the deafening sound of the river creates many a ripples in the hearts of the tourists. this drive presented to me yet another spectacular facet of the country side in Kashmir. I spent a few hours in Sonamarg clicking pictures of the snowy mountains and world famous glaciers. Ponies are available most of the times for a ride up to the glaciers.
Day 2 was Pahalgaon..If ever I missed a thing in Sonamarg, Pehalgaon more than made up for that. The green luscious golf course and the beautiful Lidder river got my day going and fell for the incomparable beauty of this place. There are a few viewpoints in Pahalgaon including the Martanda temple and the ponies are available to take you there. The weather (in May) was pleasant and really the fun was to enjoy the cool breeze and the beauty of the meadows and grasslands without batting an eyelid. You gotta see it to believe it!!!!
Day 3-I moved on to yet another picturesque place Gulmarg-home of Winter Sports in Kashmir-skiing being the prime attraction. The cable cars should take you to the highest possible view point but I preferred the pony ride as I had the luxury of spending a full day in Gulmarg. My pony ride ended with me being in the middle of a snowy view point and huge crowds enjoying their sleigh rides. I was not the one to be left out. I visited a famous skiing spot called Khilanmarg. Gulmarg offered me an amazing view of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan ranges and on your drive back I enjoyed the magnificence of large pine and deodar trees and the lavishness of apple orchards.
I don’t know how many more times I will be visiting the Valley again but one thing I am pretty sure of is that Kashmir will never stop to fascinate me. Hundreds of pictures I clicked is just a beginning of a long love affair with Kashmir-the place, the food and the people. I suggest the best time to visit the valley is between the months of March and June(I guess to avoid the Amarnath yatra rush). Do carry light woolens and of course your camera!!