A journey to Paradise on earth , Kashmir

It's 5 AM , my alarm shouted and it was the day we were waiting for , as its the day to start our Journey toward Heaven on the earth. My family along with friend family broaded the flight to Srinagar @ 10:20 from Bengalore with change of fligh in Delhi. In Delhi we need go through security check again as arrival and departure gate are in different location. You will get free airport bus free to travel to gates. Reached Srinagar at 4:20PM , one will start enjoying the beauty from the flight itself as you witness amazing Great Himalayan mountains. Our driver Muzamil was waiting at the airport and dropped us at Dal Lake as our night stay was @ Houseboat. After refreshing , we had Kahwa, Kashmiri tea and loved it in the chilled weather. After having dinner slept as it was long journey day with lot of experiences.

After breakfast @ Houseboat started towards Pahalgam,Valley of shepherds. It's 98Km , on the way did some Saffron shopping at Pampore (Saffron town) and saw mustard field , pulwama attack place , apple field. As it was not the season for Apple just was Apple flower and enjoyed the apple juice. Finally reached Pahalgam @ 1 PM. As soon you get down people will come offering Ponny for sightseeing. You should be a good bargainer else you will end up paying more. I was not bargainer, so ended up with paying 3K instead of 6K . U can bargain upto 2.5K per ponny. I opted for all the places which includes Pahalgam Valley, Water fall , Dabyan ,Denow Valley,Kunimullah valley, Kashmir Valley and Baisaran which is know as Mini Switzerland. Ponny ride experience was amazing and full of adventures, just loved it. I recommend to experience the ride with amazing valley views. Baisaran is just awesome. Overall it took nearly 3.5 hours to cover all this places. Once reached the parking lot started to Hotel. On the way stopped at Selfi point and spent some time on the bank of Lidder River. River is so chilled unable stand in water for 10 seconds.Then reached Himalayan Hill Resort, which had good view of mountains and can listen to roaring of lidder river. Having a good hot tea in the freezing weather is different experience. Dinner was good , post that went for sleep.Ponny ride details: Gulzar(9858378932) is the guy who came with us along Ponny. He is Ponny caretaker cum guide. you can call him before a day and book the ponny for good amount. Start from 1500 , don't pay more than 2.5K. Not allow you drives to talk to them , as they will include there commission as well.

Apart from valleys and mountains , Pahalgam is good for birding. Early morning went to Lidder river and spent an hour on bank of river where I spotted ,Plumbeous water redstart ,Brown dipper,Cinereous tit,Spotted forktail,White capped redstart,Himalayan Bulbul,Russet Sparrow,Blue whistling thrush. Birding on the bank of Lidder river in the morning @ 5°C is an amazing experience. Post breakfast we booked a local taxi for ABC(Aru , Betaab, Chandanwadi). One need to book taxi from the Pahalagam to visit this place as they wont allow other city taxi's. Chandanwadi is the place where we saw the snow for the first time and spend time on snow playing. If needed on can get shoe for rent there , its 200. From there went to Betaab valley ,originally called as Hajan Valley or Hagan Valley. Nice place to spend some time. Before going to Aru valley had lunch at Pahalgam , you have good veg restaurants. All of sudden rain started and we waited in Aru valley parking lot for 30 mins and at last rain stopped. Its very beautiful and a large open park in the center surrounded by beautiful hills. In the evening start towards Srinagar on the way back went to bat factory and purchased a bat. Reached Srinagar at 9PM , and checked in to our hotel Lime Wood Inn.

Birds pic: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrTTTdLSr8_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Gulmarg is 70mins drive from the Srinagar, one can witness the scenic beauty of the Himalayan Mountains in the back drop.It's famous for Skiing and Snow bikes, I would say one must try both of them. I loved both. You can skip Sledge as its not worth the amount.Tangmarg is the last town before you start climbing the Gulmarg ghat , and there only we took Shoes and Jacket for rent which cost 400 per head. As soon as you reach Gulmarg people will offer you for Ponny or Cab ride till the Gondola. From car parking to Gondola its just 10 mins walk so you can ignore them and also they will keep following you and try to convince you to have a guide which is not required. I had booked Gondola ride tickets for the both the phases early , Cable car ride till phase 1 was amazing with mesmerizing view. Since weather condition was not good and rain started Phase 2 ride was stopped and were unable to go in it. In phase 2 you dont have any activities its just for photoshoot and for enjoying the high Himalayan mountains. Phase 1 has Sledge ride , skiing and snow bike. Snow bike is fixed prize which is 2K for long ride which was worth. Skiing I loved a lot which cost me 800 per head for 20-30 mins and Sledge was not worth the money. After 4PM it start getting cold so we started back after enjoying a lot in snow and reached Srinagar hotel at 8 PM.

We started our journey towards Meadows of Gold, Sonmarg which is 2.5 hours of Journey. Last few KM stretch is filled surrounded with mountains and Sindh river. Thajiwas Glacier which main attraction here is natural beauty and Large expanse of snow dotted with snow covered trees.

We took a Ponny ride to Glacier which cost 1200rs per ponny inculding shoes. Sledge and Skiing activities are available for much lesser cost than Gulmarg. Sledge is something can be tried here which cost you 50-100Rs rather than Gulmarg. Someone offered a Sledge for 20rs for kids. Enjoyed 2 hours just seeing Glacier and Snow. 4PM had good lunch at veg restaurants near parking lot and reached Srinagar back at 8PM. Zero point , Zojila pass and Kargil war memorial are other places which can be visited by hiring a cab.

Ponny details : Mohamad Rafi - 98899568700

Last day of the trip which we kept for local sightseeing. Planned for Shankarachary hill, Tupli garden and few more gardens. But wen we woke up , it was raining around at 11AM ,no sign of stopping. Finally decided to move on with rain to Tupli garden and watching Tupli flower in rain was different experience. From there spent some time in Nishat Garden with beautiful Dal Lake view. Opposite to Nishat garden there is a small veg restaurant where we had lunch and started back to airport to board for flight back to Bengaluru with lot of memories filled.

Srinagar airport is under army, multiple checking are there so try to reach airport 3 hours before schedule.

Kashmir is more dependent on tourists so people will openly asks for tips. In some place even 100rs not make them happy but in few places 20rs will also make a big difference.

This is Indeed Incredible INDIA!!!