Wandering in the Kashmir Vally....

Wandering in 

the Kashmir Valley….

Leaving behind Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab Jhelum express was moving towards Jammu Tawi. I was very curious to witness the Cluster of stream of Jhelum, Chenab River (One of the five rivers of Punjab).  Catching the glimpse of the Cluster of stream from the running train was really a terrific feeling.  Moving   over the river, my mind took me to (Gulza Sampooran Singh Kalra) Gulzar’ short story - Raavi Paar.  He has portrayed the Story of partition of India. India and many countries have an unfortunate and painful history of partition. But what about these rivers? These rivers are coming from neighboring countries. They are satisfying our needs and  moving  to neighboring countries. Humans have drawn the border lines on the world map. Humans cannot draw the lines on natural resources like the sun moon, planets, ocean, air, water and emotions. One human discriminates against another  human on the basis of nation, class, religion, politics, caste, creed, gender.  Lines exist only in the human conscious or subconscious mind.

By road route we entered the huge Banihal tunnel started from Tawaha to Qazigund on national highway 1A. The presence of the military and cameras made us quite conscious. Throughout the journey we have seen Indian soldiers in standing position holding the guns in their hands. It revealed the tensions of the city.  Crossing the tunnel was a very different experience.

We reached Shri Nagar - the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State.  A crowded city surrounded by various shops, market places, banks, ATMs, schools, colleges, houses, buildings, tourists and soldiers.  The Kashmir valley of flowers has beautiful and colourful gardens. It has all types of visitors full of tourists, local people, local and surrounding students (school and college picnic).  At Shalimar Garden in the  evening my daughter Aarushi and our tourist friend's daughter Shiny were playing with a Kashmiri girl- Naaz. Her parents Mr. and Mrs. Khan insist us to join their family for tea.  They said that they always prefer to have an evening tea with a family in the garden.  They brought a big basket of tea set, tea, snacks, dry fruits and so many things. When I had my first sip I realized that the tea has no sugar. Yes. It was  saline tea.   Then they clarified that   in Kashmir due to cold weather people prefer to drink salty tea as it is good for bones. It was a fabulous experience! We enjoyed a salty tea in the garden with a kashmiri family and also exchanged our eating habits. We offered them Besan ka Laddoo.

Avantiswami temple is also one of the attractions of tourist. It was built by a hindu king Avantivarman in the Utpala Dynasty. I was fascinated by Dal Lake. It has occupied almost a major part of Shri Nagar along with Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, Gagribal aDal and Nageen Dal. These lakes are surrounded by beautiful mountains. The incredible lake is one of the significant parts of the local life. Dal lake is surrounded by various 50 years old Beautifully handcrafted Houseboats especially Firdous, Gulshan etc. Shikara is the main source of traversing the Lake. Dal Lake has  varieties of  beautiful shikara. On Shikara and boat the small sellers were selling  colourful and variety of vegetables, flowers, edible dry food items. There we purchased something for our daughter from the boat. While speaking with a boat rider, one piece of paper fell from my daughter’s hand. Suddenly that old man said -

 “Madam, please be very careful. Don’t throw anything in the lake. We keep it very clean. As it is the only source of our livelihood.”

We asked him- Where is the street food Galli?

He replied- ‘Yes. Here is one famous food street known as Khayyam Chowk.’

Yes. The whole lake was very clean. At the bottom of the lake the Lotus roots were so visible. Lake water was very transparent like ice.

When we reached Khayyam Chowk, the aroma of cuisine attracted your attention. The chowk is especially famous for delicious Kebabs.

Eating Maggi in a short snow-fall was another lovely memory of Chandan Valley. The forty or forty-five years old guide informed us before terrorism issue the big film directors especially Raj Kapoor and his family had done maximum film shootings in Kashmir. There were  film studios in Aru Valley, Chandan Valley, Betaab Valley and Sonmarg. It was the  second Switzerland of film the industry. I have noticed that till date local Kashmiri people are fond of 1980s -90s songs. They are not updated with new songs. Due to tourism transport is one of the important businesses in Kashmir. These transport drivers played  songs from Ram Teri Ganga Meli Ho Gayee, Betaab, Saajan etc. movies.

Visits to various small factories  like silk, wool, cloth, wooden bat, market place, local restaurants, dhabas, and various shops 0f dry fruit, saffron etc. gave an opportunity to witness kashmiri local life.

 Baramulla district attracts the tourist for the divine beauty of Gulmarg town. Apharwart mountain peak is the centre of attraction of every tourist. To reach the peak we have crossed two phases – Kang Doori valley and Apharwat valley by Gondola cable car. The moment we reached the point we came across Pakistan occupied Kashmir. We have seen beautiful Pir panjal mountain range.
sed with breath-taking views. We were just 2.5 km away from visibility of LOC line of control and

Geographical diversity of Kashmir valley makes it very unique.  Its unique combination of plain landscape, mountains, lake, rivers, green forest, woods of deodar, pine, elm, walnut , gardens, flowers actually  it’s a valley of rivers, flowers, forests, lakes, snow, rain, snow fall, glacier, Saffron, fruits, farming, dry fruits etc.

 By witnessing the divine beauty I also want to say-

 Yes.

 Kashmir is the real Paradise on this earth….