4 Days Of Autumn In Jammu &Kashmir

They say- Kashmir is the paradise of India. And as a child, I had always woven stories in my mind of how beautiful this paradise could be. At times, I felt it is overrated a description and it would not be as heavenly as people describe it to be. Last autumn me and my girls actually decided to explore this paradise on earth !

Our flight took off from Chandigarh airport on its way wards Srinagar. I was awestruck viewing the Himalayas from the sky, as it truly stands for its name “ Jannat- e- Kashmir”! Had all sorts of butterflies within me on my arrival at Srinagar airport. We had our pre booked cab waiting for us to take us to our hotel. Well, we decided not to board in a normal hotel but a Shikara stay. Yes, so all 5 days we boarded in a house boat in Dal lake. The beauty of the mired water and the Chinar trees sparkle the beauty of this valley. We had our boat transporting us to the houseboat we lived in . The sculpture of the Mughal dynasty paves in a historical touch within you.

We looked around the day at Mughal garden and window shopped at the carpet factories nearby. If you are to buy Pashmina Shawls, buy from them . The average shawls cost you 5000-20000 INR. The garden in the laps of Himalayas looked austerely beautiful!

Excited and overwhelmed by the beauty of Dal lake and the view of Himalayas from the boat couldn’t keep us calm anymore. We woke up early morning, devoured a whole lot of Poha made at boat and set our ride to Sonmarg. The car stops at the laps of the hills and you have to mount on a pony and trek up 9 kms uphill. The roads upwards and the scenery onwards get charming with the altitude. Unlike winters, there were no snow but a green view of sprawling valley of Kashmir.

It was a fairy tale view to catch those cattle grazing in the meadows and rolling meadows by a stream flowing by. On our way back enjoyed a cup of Sulamani tea to combat the cold winds of Kashmiri autumn.

This day we were geared up for Pahalgam. And our driver told us we will get to see the apple orchards. The child in me couldn’t help imagining picking red apples and sipping in a cup of juice while watching Himalayas.

You get to drive through kilometres amidst apple orchards and reach to Pahalgam. Trek upwards to the valley. On your way upwards you meet shepherd villages and their huts. The roads upwards look risky but the trek is worth taking risk. We were very scared on the way as the ponies are unpredictable and the roads are quite narrow and steep. However , the scenic beauty would divert your mind otherwise. Our horse man talked about his life in Himalayas. His farms in the village, grows kidney beans and potatoes for a living and on. I was lost in his stories while making my way downhill.

This day we had plans of going to Gulmarg but cancelled the plan as it is quite similar to Pahalgam and Gulmarg is more fun during winters. Hence, we climbed up a fort near the Dal lake and caught the view of Srinagar town. We were bored of the local food and decided to have Delhi style food nearby. Just for foodies in here, you can get Bengali and North Indian restaurants around Dal lake . And can shop a lot from the nearby markets. We befriended our driver so much so in 4 days that he too shared his life story of the hills.

We learnt how winters are frozen and the women get back to carpet weaving all winters long. Probably next time I visit Kashmir will do it in winters, to see the valley wear white gown of snow.

You cant get enough of the view and the beauty of this valley. Our trip costs us 28000 INR from Bangalore,including flights, stay, food and daily tours. Save your money by not checking in hotels but staying in house boats. Also book a car that will pick you up from airport and show you around and drop back. That way the cost cuts down a lot. The houseboats adds breakfast and dinner to the tariff, so if you have your meals there, you ll cut down your food expenses too. Also, last but not least, its an amazingly safe place to travel. We were 3 girls and we never felt we were travellers. Kashmir makes you feel home, we met local people and couldn’t thank them enough for making our tour so warm and cosy.

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