travelling

TOUR TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR

I was in a kashmir with my family for two days on a holiday earliar in these month. on our return there was so much interest from freinds in knwoing details about the trip- most who spoke to us had never been to kashmir, a few were there many hyears ago, before the militancy problem emerged- that i thought it worth writing a blog about our impression.

Movies, poets and story tellers have shown and described the splender of kashmir in ways i can never hope to do. Let me just say that its one of the most outstanding beautiful places  i have ever seen in the earth. we were in srinagar, gulmarg and pahalgam. the last two offers positively stunning views gulmarg   had snow, pahalgam offers and unforgetable horse ride of a fairly stip mountain side, that leads to magnificant medow ringed by trees and snow- kept pics.

srinagal Dal lake houseboats, shikaras and gardens are absolute treat, made nicer by the politess and friendliness of the locals. as you go around Dal lake on a Shikaras, you come across  other shikaras from whom you can buy stuffs like seek kababs and rotis, or you could go to a houseboat that sells kashmiri textiles and artiffects.

We stayed One night in a house boat. it was one of the older houseboat, wiyth fairly basic, but comfortable rooms. the owner was delightfully pleasant old man. we were told there are more, luxurios houseboats available at higher teriffs.

We could not get to ladakh, which is 250km from srinagar, but that would be another must- see place if u have the time and willingness to spend. as many who have seen 3 idiots would know, specticular lake in the final sence in ladakh.

An army oficer who met in udhampur in jammu said the  ost beatiful place that he had seen in kashmir was allong the new road passing over the pir panjal mountain range. it puts gulmarg to shame,  he said .Getting there my familty live in udhampur, so our first stop this town that is also the headquarters of indian army northern command., we drove down to srinagar from udhampur its a lovely Scenic route along mountain side.