Kashmir, unlike its shown, go see it..

First place of which you can think of in Kashmir has to be Dal Lake, Srinagar. Shikara ride is a must if you aren't staying in a house boat. It take approx Rs. 400 for a ride.

Other than Dal lake, there Shankarachrya Temple and Hazratbal Mosque to be visited. Since it was already evening I finished with my dinner and headed back to my hotel. Opposite gate 9 there is a restaurant Lhasa.

Day 2, headed to Sonamarg. August is summers of Kashmir, it was pretty hot. Sonamarg is such a beautiful place, should have spent overnight there with river flowing next to cottages and snow capped mountains all around. However, had booking in Srinagar so had to go back. Here you can visit Thajivas glacier where snow is very less during this time of the year. Need to hire a pony to go ahead. They would lure you in to 5 points site seeing which is basically Zojila pass nothing more, best thing about it is its terrain completely different from Sonamarg.

Day 3, Headed to Pahalgam from Srinagar. Some of the finest cricket bats are made in Pahalgam region. Pahalgam is again very different region. Apple orchids on the way. Did thought of plucking some but they were still unrip and not fair with farmers if all the tourists did that.

I had put up in a beautiful cottage. River flowing on the other side of the room and mountains on one side. Hotel Brown Palace, Pahalgam. Walking by the river as the sunsets.

Day 4, Headed to Aru valley and Beetab Valley. That's so Kashmir.

Beetab valley gets it's name from a movie 'Beetab' shot there. Locals picnic here, it's huge lush green meadows, snow capped mountains and other end you see some women harvesting and shepherd grazing his cattle and far away you can spot a military bunker.