Kashmir

A cell phone wielding sadhu and his disciple on their way to the Amarnath Cave. During summer months, Hindus go on a pilgrimage to this cave which lies high up in the Himalayas. The holy site can be approached from both Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

Located 84 kilometers from the state capital Srinagar and situated at an altitude of 9567 feet, Sonamarg lies in the valley carved by River Sindh, surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains. My visit to Sonamarg yesterday was, in no less terms, awe inspiring.

Sonamarg literally means "Meadow Of Gold". Since my fête champêtre at the meadows of Sonamarg did not take place in Spring, I did miss out on that one but, nonetheless, I have to admit I was fascinated to say the least!

Like they say, getting there is half the fun. I couldn't agree more. The road to Sonamarg passes through quiet hamlets nestled on the footholds of hills with glaciers and waterfalls beautifying the already scenic landscape.

The skiing season in Gulmarg, the world famous ski resort in Kashmir, lasts for about four months, but with the Thajiwas Glacier and the upper reaches of the Sonamarg valley covered with snow practically all through the year, I guess skiers can thrill themselves for a longer period.

Speaking of Thajiwas Glacier, I had to trek arduously quite a distance in order to get some good shots of this imposing glacier on film. Let's hope I did a good job.

Pictures will be posted on my blog in a couple of days.

This one is the last in a series of Dal Lake Pictures...

Here's another one in a series of pictures taken recently at the Dal Lake in the heart of the city!

This picture is one in a series of pics which was shot a few days ago while enjoying an evening out with an old friend who is now working someplace else and had come home on vacations.

Whenever I have had a hard day I spend my evenings on the boulevard along the banks of the Dal...
It's difficult to catch on picture the essence of a sunset on the dal lake...that's because each sunset is different, conjuring up feelings hitherto undiscovered!