Kashmir

Aharbal

2009-08-19T16:57:05+02:00

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.

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title-5332009

2009-01-06T13:54:04+01:00

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.

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Spring in Kashmir..a symphony of colours..

2007-04-12T19:56:25+02:00

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)

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Late Spring

2007-04-12T16:25:17+02:00

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

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Spring

2007-03-04T17:28:43+01:00

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.

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Paradise In Snow

2006-11-30T09:19:23+01:00

Kashmir is famous for its four distinctive seasons, each with its own peculiar character and charm, each extravagantly beautiful. Spring sees a million blossoms carpeting the ground and in summer the valley turns into a mosaic of varying shades of green. In autumn the green shades turn gold, and then russet and red as the season advances. Winter presents Kashmir in an entirely different mood as the landscape becomes bare, soon to be covered by the white mantle of the first snowfall. Kashmiris celebrate the first snowfall of the season by socialising over a barbecue. They relax in the cold crisp evenings with a cup of warm 'Kahwa'... a black tea brewed with cinnamon, cardamom and honey. Also a perennial favourite is the pink coloured 'Nun Chai' made with a special salt. Rich and redolent with the flavour of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and saffron, Kashmiri food is suitable for all palate. Predominantly non- vegetarian, "Wazwaan" as it is known has been aptly described by the author Salman Rushdie in his book Shalimar the Clown as "banquet of thirty-six courses minimum and fifty courses maximum." Wazwaan also has some interesting vegetarian options like dum-aloo and 'chaman' (cooked cheese). Among the popular non-vegetarian ones are curd based Gushtaba, chilli-flavoured Rista and Roganjosh.

For a truly adventurous holiday try your hand at kayaking, canoeing, water surfing and angling. Angling at Aharbal is a delight for every angler with a spirit of adventure. Aharbal, a quaint little village located at a mere 3 hour drive from Srinagar city is full of freshwater rivers, streams and waterfalls. The imposing Aharbal Fall is the biggest waterfall in the area and a sight to behold. Finish your holiday with a round of shopping in the local markets for gorgeous handicrafts.

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Narayan Nag

2006-11-28T16:08:36+01:00

Located en route to Sonamarg, Narayan-Nag has an interesting history to it. Legend has it that the Hindu deity Vishnu created this magical place for the Pandavas who had been exiled by their cousins, the Kuravas.
Narayan Nag when translated means “Gods’ Own Spring”. Truly, the place has natural springs scattered all over it. What amazed me were the ruins which in no uncertain terms must have had a splendid grandeur in their times. I could make out large rooms, a temple and even some huge bathtubs made up of stone which looked more like mini swimming pools to me. I fail to understand how such elaborate construction could have been carried out in this pristine, untouched place. But then, I guess it wasn’t hard for Vishnu !

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More Paradise

2006-07-17T19:49:06+02:00

These Kashmir Pics were handpicked by me from the website of an American bloke named Sam whose website is filled with lots of travel photographs of landscapes, city views, nature and people from different parts of the world. If you are interested in travel photography, have a look by clicking here:
http://www.samsays.com/

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Sonamarg ... conclusion.

2006-07-02T18:09:17+02:00

Hope you guys enjoyed Sonamarg. Did you know that Sonamarg is the gateway to Ladakh?
If you haven't heard of this amazing place, I suggest you should. Check out Ladakh and Leh on the web. BTW Wikipedia has an exhaustive article on ladakh which can be read by clicking here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakh

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Sonamarg

2006-06-28T21:36:00+02:00

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On The Way To Sonamarg...

2006-06-28T16:36:40+02:00

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.

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Sonamarg....Beat The Summer Heat Skiing !! (yes, you heard it right!)

2006-06-25T13:51:25+02:00

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.

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Picture Perfect !

2006-06-14T22:23:18+02:00

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

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The Boulevard...

2006-06-14T21:38:52+02:00

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Dal Lake Pictures...

2006-06-14T21:11:48+02:00

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

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Dal Lake - View From The Boulevard

2006-06-13T19:59:52+02:00

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.

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Sunset

2006-06-13T16:42:25+02:00

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!

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Srinagar City

2006-05-09T19:48:56+02:00

Nature has lavishly endowed Kashmir with certain distinctive favours which hardly find a parallel in any alpine land of the world.
A spell on a houseboat on Dal Lake has always been one of India's real treats and Kashmir also offers some delightful trekking opportunities and unsurpassed scenery.
Srinagar City is centered around the Dal Lake and this huge lake attracts millions of tourists, both domestic and foriegn. A drive along the Boulevard (the road along the banks of the lake) has been an all time favourite with the locals and tourists alike mainly because the scenic beauty along the boulevard, with the lake changing colours every hour, and the glorious sunsets which are famed to simulate a different look, feeling and experience with each new day are so captivating. Srinagar city also has a lot of gardens along the banks of the Dal Lake. Nishat, Cheshma-i-Shahi, Shalimar and Harven gardens were all built by the Moghuls and are absolutely breathtaking in view all through the year. These gardens have the famed Chinar trees. These majestic Chinar trees resemble Maple trees but are much more bigger and graceful.
In the past, Dal lake was renowned for it's vastness which stretched for more than 50 square miles. Unfortunately today, due to unabated tourist influx, which largely has been unorganised for some years now, this lake has shrunken to less than 10 square kilometers...thanks to the teeming hotels alongside it's banks and the houseboats that nestle inside this lake and pour in a lot of waste everyday.

Pictures in this post show Autumn In Kashmir with the majestic Chinars in the background and Houseboats along the Dal Lake.

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Pahalgam, Kashmir

2006-05-08T17:13:44+02:00

Pahalgam
Pahalgam is situated at the junction of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river. Pahalgam (2,130 m) was once a humble shepherd's village with astounding views. Today, Pahalgam is Kashmir's prime tourist resort. It is cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 25 degree C. Pahalgam is bountiful with many places of interest, and because the resort is set between fairly steep hills, it is worth hiring a pony rather than walking. On a more personal level, it is one of my favourite places.

The Major Fascinating Sights At Pahalgam are:
Baisaran : The most beautiful of these is the huge, unspoiled grassland of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly wooded forests of pine. Hajan, on the way to Chandanwari, is an idyllic spot for a picnic. Filmgoers will recognize it instantly as it has been the location of several movie scenes.

Mamal : Pahalgam has eight tiny villages within its surroundings, one of which is Mamal. There is a Shiva temple here, generally considered to be Kashmir's oldest existing temple, dating back to the 5th century.

The Amarnath cave : The Amarnath cave is 6 kms away from there. During the month of Sawan, an ice stalagmite forms a natural Shiva-Ling in the Amarnath cave. It is a hotspot for Hindu pilgrimage during the months of July and august.

Tarsar Lake : It can be reached from Lidderwat. There are delightful camping sites and flower meadows at Sikiwas, 24 kms from here. To reach the nearby Mansar lake one has to cross a 243 mts high bridge. Tulin Lake: is situated at an altitude of 13313 feet and the scenic beauty surrounding this lake at the top of the world is absolutely amazing!

Adventure Sports At Pahalgam:
Trekking : The ambience of Pahalgam offers exciting trekking opportunities, the best known being Pahalgam - Chandanwari- Sheshnag- Panchtarni- Amarnath Cave Temple- Sonamarg trek.

Golf : Pahalgam Club has a 9-hole golf course, which can be used by tourists. Golf sets can be hired from the Tourist Office.

Fishing : One can go for fishing in the Lidder. Pahalgam is located on the banks of this turbulent river and white water rafting in the Lidder can be an unforgettable experience indeed.

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The land of everlasting charm and beauty...

2006-05-06T16:38:23+02:00

Kashmir with it's snow dusted peaks, calm and tranquil lakes, meadows of gold and irrepressible scenic beauty beckons you...Experience Kashmir for an unforgettable experience of pure bliss and adventure. Kashmir has everything for everybody...
You Just Can't Have Enough Of It !

Adventure Sports in Kashmir:
Kashmir is completely adventurous. Travel to Kashmir and indulge in the most exciting and challenging adventure sports events from gliding, skiing, trekking, golfing, mountaineering and lots more...Enveloped within some of the highest mountains in the world ranging in altitude from 5,000 to 7,000 m, some unnamed and unclimbed, the challenging terrains of Kashmir offer endless opportunity to occupy you with some thrilling adventure sports activities. Tourism in Kashmir offers climbing sheer ice-walls and vertical granite slabs, trekking the beautiful forest trails to glaciers and mountain lakes, angling in swift flowing trout streams, golfing on some of the highest courses in the world, rafting down rapids and narrow gorges, hang-gliding and hot air ballooning, skiing down some of the finest slopes and ski-mountaineering across range upon range of mountains. Kashmir in India is an adventure playground par excellence.

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Welcome to Kashmir....

2006-05-06T16:05:07+02:00

Gulmarg

Facts & Figures:
Location : Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. At an amazing altitude of 2730 meters above sea level the hill resort has a gentle sloping topography. Gulmarg is 57 km southwest from the capital city of Srinagar and is close to the Indo-Pakistan border.
Altitude : 2730 meters
State : Jammu and Kashmir
Major Attractions : Skiing
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year.

The Meadow of Flowers...
Gulmarg, a prime location in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is about 52 Kms from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir. At an altitude of 2,653 m., Gulmarg is exquisitely situated in a pine surrounded basin of the Pir Panjal range. Gulmarg or the `Meadow of Flowers' is a lovely blooming sight where an opulence of flora displays various colours with the changing seasons.

Gulmarg's astounding beauty, prime location and closeness to Srinagar naturally and unequivocally make it the most prized hill station in the country. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was impressed by the sight of its green slopes embellished with wild flowers. Today, Gulmarg is not only a mountain resort of exemplary beauty - it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country's major ski resort in the winters.

Arriving at Gulmarg:
By Flight : The airport at Srinagar at 57 km is nearest to Gulmarg. The airport caters to the air transport to the hill resort. Regular flights connect Srinagar with the other major cities in India.

The Trackways : The railway station in Jammu is the nearest to Gulmarg that caters to the rail transport to the hill resort.

The Major Fascinations at Gulmarg:
Golf Club : Gulmarg boasts of a magnificent grassy golf course that is the world's highest too! The Golf Club offers short-term memberships to the players.

Trekking : Gulmarg is an excellent base for trekking in the northern Pir Panjal Range. Nanga Parbat can be viewed to the north from several view points, including Khilanmarg, west and over 1,500 feet up the woody hillside from Gulmarg.

Skiing : Gulmarg is undoubtedly the best ski resort in India. Gulmarg is also a good skiing sight for learners. Ski enthusiasts can easily get all required gear and equipments as well as professional ski instructors in Gulmarg, to try out a hand on skiing. The longest ski run in Gulmarg is provide by the Gondola Cable Car Lift, where skiers can swoosh down the slopes from the height of 2, 213m.

Excursions from Gulmarg:
Gulmarg Biosphere Reserves : This is located at a distance of 48-km from Srinagar, to the southwest of Gulmarg. It is famous for storing several rare and endangered species such as the musk deer, and a brilliant and varied fauna.

Alpather Lake : This lake is frozen until mid-June and even later in the year one can see rocks of ice floating in its cold waters.

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