اگر بهشت بر روی زمین وجود دارد و
این است که این است آن این است
[ Agar Firdaus bar rooe zamin
ast
hameen ast-o, hameen ast-o, hameen ast ]
Any write-up on Kashmir would rightly begin with the above couplet that the Persian poet Amir Khusrau said (alternative version says the Mughal emperor Jehangir said this)
when he set his eyes on this beautiful land, meaning ‘If there is paradise on
earth, it is this it is this it is this’.
At the risk of sounding clichéd
and repetitive if not superfluous, here are 13 things you cannot miss on your first visit to
Kashmir.
1. Fresh
Air! The crisp mountain air can be so strong at times; it can be quite
overwhelming for our lungs accustomed to various degrees of pollution.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4ALedU6HjBDB2n5RYZSeJ3hSi9ett8aVSUSIMOC3aqmKwGzI0MTVAro3lhWjcNcSW6ao9yuujbL96Zny7hMwOOK6sh5aRzx-YRL8oAwkPhGBi_TvHvp_KiH-ggPcnnSfEs_sV_IQjRPf/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG) |
Mist laden air |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRqt_n8vsIjSAk9Y7poddqf-97aFZnzHfJb0PWw4YhIZu7dxUSe0Hjj7FWcobPgBtUcMCgH_j3LCCJu3Z0ulBpekcaog1VrIvhddTr-O3yBvdF5n2u78r_8Az76aMnS4wzo-RPk3fuWin/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG) |
Drive through steep valleys with breathtaking views. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITDeIOL4bgEMRFsKOKkiFk4Lzr4AhMJO_29NWDXIAeNFAvN1lxetGcDQn7RDTTXi2SgdXroHL8OSmKU4lrlBdGh4cfBtWeSgO-zcBOII2NSm10Qbg89qiNJXwdbFco8ghXrwfeXcSwqa8/s1600/IMG_1473.JPG) |
Tiny white flowers spread across |
2. Drift through the clouds! Take
a Gondola ride about 14000 feet high! Watch the hills disappear into the clouds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XGo3ZBSzyFctcWybz31q12ufVSxccLE99EiOjpEzlgKxYYUdvHJNW9x-Cbmco9VI5devFPB0dpG1vOTrcfFTQiTbUXRFblweEELsxZ5Dc2Q4wSrqwkr0szCbQZkxPqIVrTw2g-HHTJwO/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG) |
Steep climb up on a Gondola. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMwT_A6S55Le9rTLX3aN5yKEulGXDVn9uXGtQ81v6oyAXHp8rSuahiuTHRAluQCUvej9zHFDQRHZ_KlAhXonNbrGOd-tMRLVXuyCd1QgvQ-3VJN4TvIc-rYB6dTbzr3BEIeRoBQuIU6fZ/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG) |
A momentary glimpse of the blue skies.. |
3. Shikara ride : Spend
a few hours in a Shikara. Watch people from the village across the Dal Lake go
about their routine life in their boats, oblivious to the meandering tourists –
be it buying meat or selling
groceries or going to school.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK1sLr0kuLY6l86AzSbIoqDdj5BUEr8IoKiq4FKSMyHWr4t2Gm8mrIow9vPeNSG-YUeUxuNEb2sukVLDc5A3YtpS-U9U6HL3yb4MjSMz-E3fqPMAHSl3u6Jw_TF8cQrXm4Y46cSGOR8Xr/s1600/IMG_1920.JPG) |
The vast expanse of the Dal Lake dotted with colorful Shikaras |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcAqXjZNPT3Q1YkK_kpb9O-Unxquif83a3C8_nYFWS85JCHDaoSEQVgZRLLtG15kQaXwX8m5PQC5xhz7ts9iaMkXPK71AacQiq4z74CgYshyd1SFhpAfVrVhJ_yDN5l8tEHgoYnAvBr_p/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG) |
Shikaras lined up along the ghats. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PK1dBe9kIVWLhwutG_TL0x5XFQJj580hyphenhyphenmAwaADgk_WFuXh4Igb7AGY3axGv-vhvOYk5ly2grhIJNIQ0Eg5woP5meg7I90mwXKJ-Jt3OX_3HvVANWyX4HiE7crN3sTa-z-KqCommwUEd/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG) |
Fruit vendor passing by.. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQpDZxpUXKIcRfYWY4dXJJawtU80l-J6tFL4O0-4cZW6YL1okttQ_oB-q6c8ty3vkAMlB6tWlIGUvG9L-8X39aCOj-LLUuZiLMdQCCLZPZr4CUvvdSzRty5mur9iJHh5Z334C7WFVIZ5M/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG) |
Sun peering in through the clouds |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgmmMVGcbCe4DUOIxtJhWR7EW2eCn9oBtFEPizvwy7yXopwFf9xNdlTqqQv17QcObyNQlEi_mHBGQN-ZMdYqEzdscsdSCLSlfAuTJ4a8cWv5AtI1lHAi6MTLDxOJgPkYOnIPasBtpB443/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG) |
The hill atop which is located the Shankaracharya temple. |
4. Go
to a dry fruit store; simply soak in the aroma of various spices.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3Mp-tYsjZn1NIB4s-lnEjIrzLorFI97JTMIeqcczcIc5ImIflO4IM4NEny4RWrT3U8kzRoS2c8NFE3Wf77N4tTsqoThnc-0cJOUCTLkhNxpBdNj_pGFwWbj_DVdRmmGWQskkamLAiqT0/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG) |
Zaffran, anyone? |
5. Horse around! Make
sure you hire a horse at least at one of the places you visit! It can be quite
adventurous at times, when you’ll see little rocks slipping from underneath
the hooves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9IPbZss5IA5pjc206l8gY3cmcBJ98Zt6fgAfXHji_RF9_w1up__TZQfz6PBAVauUtJ0f6kaOHZtdtJOuWookD7S-XOSp70F5-RPiAmYFULpGWwmChJ4g12hIvG8uAedAfvlvPvTrHM32/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG) |
A horsekeeper, wearing the traditional Pheran |
6. Maggi ! Appreciate
the importance of Maggi, which might
be the only thing you get in the hills.
7. Talk
to the local people- they are always ready to help; especially the kids – watch
them giggle as you try to talk in Kashmiri; but don’t be surprised when the
kids demand their ‘bakshis’ from you,
and yeah, one or two might even ask you “India se aaye ho?”. That did leave me
a little shaken.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispS04kcLvm79HlgPUF8anwtghDfakXpu1RvoPL9HpHkPn-Rmcch25nMgTcsUEBcQhXQae00IYgSC1tM6dZMPgyYQNL7VS3DwtgIGowBl8ehRw4ES79PWF7eUz_HsVL86GuJfUpjlKBfR1/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG) |
The li'l girl who wanted her picture clicked.. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoDU_5wG9wwrtLXy8XmxES-jLUnsnpyoV0dWyN4bjKQhSMbuJi4mnCv6hHfYe0eVvCRrNoqMmUJhRaLFMe9U2h7aqQHn7QnqZtQpxkrKeS7m7yzjc505Nv73iRB8Tq23a-BYC3kFAau_n/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG) |
"Aap India se aaye ho?" |
8. Go for
random walks in Srinagar city; the days are pretty long in the summers. I
missed the hub of Lal Chowk, thanks to a Bandh call given on the very same day
that I’d planned to go.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX4Bh4tSc4yqufq5dr2rYovXMq7ouWGub1WqeBp7cCrZwnb-LbxDV7uVILYKB4wd3aVPCTJCcUqeQZvV7b4GhNRgDa8kl2Tl4nKPIhOIbq5jXVoLHng3xUih3vA1XQdoE8cTCvr64v3Nl/s1600/IMG_0960.JPG) |
A beautiful evening by the Jhelum. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw63aiFdsSyUDgsSxQ4_5Kxjmpz7SKfMlApeWRxwqkL4mxPh56U0LBDgcKNn69g0_WmKyGFuW3V3svYjsJoOpPwAq0cJWjz6NFekb-Hb-_XZKCvz4xV1vYVPy11KZ1NBGx1Ugu4_7sCOuk/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG) |
Chinar trees; you'll find them everywhere. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAACYx461bLi7gxzlnDejxODAz1AWY7vsrL35lDPfCqQilSjVf6RurGrPR4d8fgByKZF7jc8S5KLnFoDfPKPbWJX-c-jXmAHpYBi9551IUnV0Nq1FFsKzA3Ik_5dPmo6w2rFjYTgiPnM1d/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG) |
Srinagar city.. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2fW43EJRH_G9e6gzk5mKOKxtv0weCZEUM0XSa-Y1QRuzaXHwRC0p9D5-pTMGo8m4zNbv0nJIS4Aaq9phWBLNx9h0aOU7gXw-gCFvkGHcivanse4MFcBrrXEZWFPUEfnYPNDiTqNA4J_l/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG) |
Could never get enough of this particular view.. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cN1g83IPyRVfQkt9cl1E0qsPiXrhMBxBprLWx7n78eJd5eaBE2u4RWNewOqgNFHXB-s0v3EoOHtNTbh2uFXBj0Up4sCHn9eeJHXwopnpYQOu_l-9-7SZAaILQgyCuLEetEJgT-H2GySY/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG) |
Sharika Bhawani temple, Hari Parbat, on the outskirts of Srinagar city; considered one of the holiest places by the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community |
9. Taste the crystal ice cold water from the mountain springs.
10. Local
cuisine: Make sure you taste the Kashmiri Wazwan,
the Kahwa, and of course the wide
variety of cookies and confectionery! However, to each his own, and it varies
from person to person on how you’ll enjoy the food. (Click here to read more on Wazwan)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoG_y-T9WepJkXQInyWjIdw7VrmFw7RAwBqDPRKswa_3y8hyphenhyphenz-eBibkzAnvJX6DgwazxLQHlfh5GBAyTSWqkXPRepojZBDE14q_qfhoxbc_KwQVYodCeBNpbbHv8ehdLodfsSXH-HGz_O/s1600/IMG_1652.JPG) |
Kashmiri Wazwan: Rista, Gushtaba, Sheek kabab, Tabak Maz, Dhania Qurma, Mirchi Qurma etc served with piping hot steamed rice. Many of these are cooked for hours together for that special flavor. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IWgzIR_16DgNDjp0xVl5FBtQQvNPgiPIyvDOgpg5p8scmgT8TZCEUgBGNbvie-yca5K__GR9nILc7_PKccnhFl1Gy-fYBCzIFzaeSwTCOqf9UrKafvw_J4YhWoJFxtGx9FXkx_57GN73/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG) |
Kahwa, with saffron, almonds and elaichi |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4ec9X5R1gyQtXmy4HDUbIfvv4-LYvzhcTzfZS-jcv1OuRWGOtkJ-kFwBZ2O0I9xUySZZmli7v4K7ILcDejKrza0pMgN5pTUAIgJkQsq58E5jWyS8JRt1F9gYEJ7cGo7h014sA7fhgUTi/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG) |
Yummy walnut cookies.. |
11. Shop
till you drop! Including from the floating markets on the lake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvnt5Tru6YfWM6kRP96cQ1wnbRrXLrol4JGw9y3h-YfN_DFMGC-9U0Owu8F_mfRJRUzxrxOAEiH1iMvbxW4LcTLmOaTuwGU-9T_dzNxMdr7c2Qqr7GT9wdEy2kGsKICd_AV_ODdIkYLVq/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG) |
Earrings with Jali work and Papier mache work |
12. Drive
past the rolling hills and valleys and streams and glaciers! And don't forget to stop at such picturesque locations.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyjDKzcWGYxHa1WO4DJDzNGU03NMiCL7tjNb_tiGrK5GCAdp1m93Yyu1LuBzgdiugk1tuvyNQx9r-oqFeGYgwRX1Yl1aeig9K9Ep-2R25URz2U967rMhTcS_8Z9Qhw9SYDlr1yjWmxVpb/s1600/IMG_1000.JPG) |
Paddy fields along the roads |
13. Finally,
try recalling all the colors you know, but that may not be enough, as there are
simply too many!
(Note: Close-up pictures of the locals/individuals have been clicked with their permission. This is purely from a traveler's point of view; any errors-politically incorrect or not are purely unintended!)
Edit: 30 Sept 2014.
It is heart-rending to read about how badly the entire city has been affected by the recent floods.
The area where we stayed, Rajbagh has been one of the worst affected. The calm waters of the
Jhelum which I adored so much, were capable of causing such destruction, I never even imagined!
A sincere request to all, to make a contribution, big or small, towards rebuilding this beautiful city.
Very beautiful pictures & nice description..... enjoy a lot. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLovely snaps piyu!! Nice narration too.. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much ! :)
ReplyDeleteToo good yaar..:-) its really a treat to see ur pics and read ur blog..!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful neat work priyanka.. pictures n description as well.. enjoyed every bit.. thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Usha and poonz, for your words of encouragement :)
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of sounding repetitive...... beautiful, glorious and breathtaking pics, Priyanka!, I'm a fan of your many talents!!
ReplyDeleteAh Caron, big words I must say. Thank you !
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog Piyukamath. Excellent photos.
ReplyDeleteBholebaba
Thank you BB :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog and beautiful photos. Reading this blog was as great experience as re visiting Kashmir. Great job Priyanka
ReplyDeleteThanks a ton Yogesh! :)
DeleteExcellent blog and beautiful photos. Reading this blog was as great experience as re visiting Kashmir. Great job Priyanka
ReplyDelete