Heaven In India

With no vivid memory but for a few pretty pictures with my gorgeous parents that hang casually framed on the wall of our living room- perhaps the only evidence to remind me that I have been to this place when I was two years old.
So, realistically this was my first visit to Kashmir in my entire adulthood being on the other side of 50 now.
It is said, Seeing is Believing.
So is I realised after my vacation, how much truth this statement holds. 

Kashmir or Cashmere, situated in the northernmost part of India is known for its abounding valleys, majestic mountain peaks and outstanding natural beauty that comes closest to one's imagination of Paradise.

Travelling for me has never been a fetish. I am a quintessential cancerian home bird, mostly confined to comfort in the coziness of my space but a holiday to any destination with family is certainly a thing to do!! 
Whenever we do chance upon a family holiday plan, I spring at the offer mainly because it gives us quality time together. 
It began with weeks of shopping to make sure we were well-equipped to survive the peak of winter, followed by another hectic week of mindful packing to ensure nothing was left out from the elaborate, tedious check- list.
We are non-experts at winter clothing for the simple reason that we live in the tropical regions and not sure of how extreme temperatures can possibly treat us.
We managed to put it all together. Warmers, shawls, sweaters, hand gloves, trench coats, jackets, woollen socks, mufflers, appropriate foot wear, snow boots etc - the list seemed tiringly endless but we took no chances whatsoever.

On the big, awaited day we landed in the capital city of Kashmir. Eager to explore the place, understand the culture, relish the local food, learn more about the people and their lifestyle - a curious bunch, we set out without wasting a minute. We were fortunate to have local designated wheelmen who willingly played tour guides to us as well.They were amiable, respectful, methodical, patient, most importantly well- informed and enthusiastic about their work besides being spontaneous to every query thrown at them.

Srinagar - flanked by the mighty, magnificent snow capped mountains on one side and the vast, mesmerising lake on the other is a dream city to be in. We instantly fell in love with its serenity, warm people, the skillfully created handicrafts and intricately done hand embroideries it has proudly to exhibit. We couldn't get enough of the Shikara ride on the Dal Lake and its enthralling beauty. The chill in the air felt rather friendly- it did complete justice to making our experience more enjoyable. 
We toured the city as much as two days could permit before we drove down to the next destination- Pahalgam.

This drive is a must- do because one cannot afford to miss long stretches of barren willow and apple trees, snow covered plains and peaks, freshly extracted green apple juice that we merrily guzzled on the highway.
We were informed that the wood of the willow trees is used to manufacture cricket bats.
Pahalgam is richly abundant with lush green valleys and sparkling streams, each view more scenic than the other.
One would not want to blink an eye for missing out on a breath- taking glimpse. 

We halted at a beautiful spot where the ice cold streams flowed gently finding their way through the rocks.The fragrance in the air was fresh and the pristine water shone bright beneath the soft rays of the sun. An absurd, yet joyful feeling filled my heart. This place transported my memory back to the photographs of my childhood that I grew up seeing. I could not express the delight I felt at that moment.
Finally, my imagination turned into reality!!
I visualized myself with my father lovingly carrying me in his arms. I could have spent hours by myself here but we had an agenda to keep up with.
I urged my husband to quick click a picture of me sitting on the rock (exactly like the one I have when I was two) 

Kashmiris are very generous with serving Kehwah- their version of tea is brewed with their own grown saffron, exquisitely flavoured with spices and liberally topped with crushed or sliced almonds. Kehwah is brewed in a pot called the 'Samovar' and is readily served hot anytime, anywhere.  
Clothing is an interesting aspect of the Kashmiris.
Both men and women wear long, warm, loose coats or cloaks that they call 'Pheran'.Their hands comfortably burried inside the Pheran, hold a small cane basket in which a clay pot is placed filled with lighted coal to keep them protected from the freezing temperature. This is called a 'Kangri'. It amazed me to comprehend how adaptability and humans work together intelligently.
The men wore dark-colored plain, chequered or striped pherans while women wore them more attractively with fancy embroidery on vibrant colors.
The Kashmiris speak Kasheer.
On the way to the last destination of our holiday we were hosted to a sumptuous lunch cooked & served at a Kashimiri home. This meal was by far the tastiest, most gratifying in our ten days of travel. 
Words may not be able to justify the warmth & impeccable hospitality with which we were fed. That said, it will live in our hearts and be treasured in our memories forever. 

Gulmarg, you ethereal beauty!! 
As we entered Gulmarg, a light shower of  snowfall greeted us like a blessing from heaven. 
Personally, this was our first sight of snowfall ever. We screamed with excitement in sheer joy. We were extremely lucky to witness mild and heavy snowfall on all days during our stay here.
We decided to make this an early night as we had exciting activities lined up for a fun-filled day to follow.
Comforting soup, a moderately heated room and good night's sleep is all we cared for.

Up and about the next morning, we were at the location to the grand Gandola ride.
Snow- biking, sledging and skeing were few among the snow sports being offered here to the zestful tourists.The weather was exceptionally kind to us - we spent the entire day crazily playing like kids in the snow, making snow balls and snow men. 
To be amidst the mountains covered with thick sheets of milky -white, freshly-fallen, feather-light, flaky snow is a fantasy- the pleasure unexplainable. We kept pinching ourselves to believe we weren't dreaming.
We were absolutely transfixed by the supreme  beauty - beyond our eyes could see and our hearts could hold.
It was hard to leave but I came back home with a feeling of awe and wonder, prouder & happier than never before. 

Kashmir and its people rely heavily on tourists for their living. Unfortunately, it lies in a disputed region and not much has been done to enhance its true worth to improve or promote tourism here.
Kashmir belongs to us and we Indians must preserve this asset so that travellers from around the world may come here to unwind in the peace of the passing winter or immerse in its unparalleled beauty.