Kashmir

The tiny little hamlet of Aharbal is famous for its' innumerable waterfalls. This tourist spot south of Srinagar offers generous opportunities for Trout fishing with promises of a bounty for the amateur and the experienced angler alike!

The Aharbal waterfall (pictured) is the biggest waterfall in the area.

At a certain point I lost track of you.
You needed me. You needed to perfect me:
In your absence you polished me into the enemy.
Your history gets in the way of my memory.
I am everything you lost. You can't forgive me.
I am everything you lost. Your perfect enemy.
Your memory gets in the way of my memory.

I am being rowed through Paradise in a river of hell:
Exquisite ghost, it is night.
The paddle is a heart; it breaks the porcelain waves:
It is still night. The paddle is a lotus:
I am rowed- as it withers- toward the breeze which is soft as if it had pity on me.
If only somehow you could have been mine, what wouldn't have happened in this world?
I am everything you lost. You won't forgive me.
My memory keeps getting in the way of your history.
There is nothing to forgive. You won't forgive me.
I hid my pain even from myself; I revealed my pain only to myself.
There is everything to forgive. You can't forgive me.
If only somehow you could have been mine.
What would not have been possible in the world?

Agha Shahid Ali

Agha Shahid Ali is considered the most insightful and gifted contemporary Kashmiri poet. Known for his often poignant and searing imagery with words, Ali died peacefully, in his sleep from brain cancer in December 2001. He was just 52.

It's the time when Kashmir bursts into a riot of colours and millions of flowers carpet the landscape. Meadows turn emerald and the wind whispers through the majestic Pine and Chinar trees..

(photographs courtesy of Intie)

We had heavy snowfall in march. Consequently, this time around we've had a late spring. (picture courtesy: my friend, Intie)

Spring is nearly here and quite naturally it's the favourite time of the year for me. I love it when spring announces it's arrival with a fresh, chilly breeze that makes you feel alive. There's a buzz in the air! The snow dusted peaks look so fresh and so full of life.
Soon Kashmir will see a million blossoms carpeting the ground in the backdrop of some awesome chilly, yet pleasant weather and I'm looking forward to that.