It
is not just tourists who flock to the Dal, avian visitors are attracted by its
beauty as well. If you peep outside a houseboat window on a summer dawn, you might encounter the paradise flycatcher, the first feathered friend
to break the silence of the dawn. The golden oriole with its melodious voice
follows suit, as does the Tickell’s thrush. Simultaneously the ring dove can be
heard stringing its harp and cooing the crescendo with the dove in repartee
filling the morning breeze with melody and concord. As the day advances, other
birds join in with their quota till the concert is in full swing.
Kashmir’s
best-kept secret is that the valley is an ideal golfing destination. The Royal
Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, considered one of the best in South Asia,
recently played host to Ambassadors’ Cup. Rafael Conde, the Spanish ambassador,
had heard about the valley, but said its beauty left him stunned. He has
promised to come back and he will get others with him. In a way, a visit to the
golf course in the valley has made him almost an unofficial ambassador of the
beautiful state. His opinion was echoed by the others captivated with the
76-acre course which boasts natural forests and water bodies. Of course,
Gulmarg boasts of the highest golf course in the world dating back to the days
of the British Raj.
The
Clubhouse, reminiscent of a Swiss chalet with its quaintly sloping roof, is a
place with character and once magnanimously built a separate course for the
women as they pestered their husbands at play. There is more to Gulmarg than
golf. Remember Shammi Kapoor yodeling chahe koi
junglee kahe to a merry Saira Banu? Or Shashi Kapoor wooing
Nanda in Jab Jab Phool Khlle? These are just two of the exhaustive list
of films enacted in the valley. At one time, this destination was such a
Bollywood favorite that one road leading to the town was nicknamed Tonga Road
for this was where the ardent hero wooed the heroine sitting astride a tonga.
Romance aside, Gulmarg is great for skiing and other winter sports like
shimmying down the snow on a snow scooter or tobogganing. If you read Calvin
& Hobbes, you would know that this ingenious, impish cartoon character is
obsessed with descending downhill on his toboggan. Something you can replicate
on the slopes of these verdant slopes.
The
romance of Sonamarg starts with the name itself, it means the Meadow of Gold.
The drive from Srinagar is through the Sindh Valley which presents yet another
spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. The Sindh River that meanders
through the valley provides an angling opportunity as it abounds with trout and
mahseer. This picturesque station is surrounded by snowy, alpine
mountains. It is one of the best places to trek but
if you would rather not put yourself through
the ordeal there are robust ponies who will do the job for you. Sonamarg is just
two hour away from Kargil and also is the base for undertaking the yatra to
the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawa Purnima. Legend has it that Shiv recounted
to Parvati the secret of creation in the Amarnathji cave. Unknown to ‘ them, a pair of mating pigeons eaves dropped
on this conversation and having learned the
secret, are reborn again and again have made the cave their eternal abode.
Man pilgrims report seeing a pair of pigeons trek the arduous route to pay
obeisance before the ice-Iingam.
Strange
as this may seem, natural beauty is the least of
Kashmir’s charms. Perhaps it’s the most obvious on which is why Kashmir
has become a by word for beauty, but its lesser known facets - history, culture and people to name
but a few are far more special, though no less
wondrous than its breathtaking natural bounty.
Houseboats
Many
tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a houseboat,
which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-panelled
elegant bed-room, with all the conveniences of a luxury
hotel. Srinagar’s houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin
Lakes and river Jhelum, each decorated
fancifully and named romantically and even whimsically. The well-known tourist sites
in the city are Shankaracharya Temple atop the hill called Takht-e-Suleiman.
Hari Parbat Fort, is another tourist spot highlight built in the
18th century by an Afghan governor of Kashmir. On the hill
are several famous places of worship: the temple of goddess Sharika, the
shrine of Muslim saint Makhdoorn Sahib, and the historical Sikh Gurudwara
Chatti Padshahi. Other attractions in Srinagar include Hazratbal mosque
and the beautiful Mughal Gardens of Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh. and Chashma
Shahi. You must sample wazwaan. It is Kashmir’s most formal meal. Hours of
cooking and days of planning go into the making and serving of a wazwaan. The wazas
or cooks pound the meat for hours. Guests seat themselves in groups of four
and the choicest dish after dish is served, each aromatic with herbs and the
fresh produce of the region.
Vaishnodevi
Tucked
deep in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu & Kashmir is the cave shrine of
Vaishno Devi. Much revered by Hindus, the shrine finds mention in ancient texts
like the vedas. Vaishno Devi is a bustling religious centre that draws
pilgrims all through the year. The shrine is located just 61 km north of Jammu
at a height of 5,200 feet. Devotees may trek to the pilgrimage tours of India from Katra. The
path can also be traversed on a pony.
Midway
to the shrine is the Adhkuwari temple, where the Goddess Vaishno is believed to
be have spent nine months on her way to the mountains. Inside the 100-meter
long cave, the shrine is narrow and pilgrims have to walk through a running
stream of cold water called the Charan Ganga to get to the sanctum sanctorum.
Within, three rock-cut idols of the goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and
Mahasaraswati are venerated under canopies of silver and gold.
The
yatra follows the path Vaishno Devi took when fleeing from Bhairon.
Thousands of devotees make the climb daily to have darshan. It is
believed that Vaishno Devi is the elder sister of the other seven Devi Matas
(Kangra, iwalaji, Chamunda, Chintapurni, Naina and Mansa).
Patni Top
Bounded
by dense forests of pine and cedar, Patnitop is easily the most picturesque
hill stations of Jammu. Situated on a hilltop, it offers an excellent view of
the stunning vistas of Chenab Gorge. It’s easy to walk around Patnitop - the weather is always pleasant and it is only a 5 km area. Chinar Garden, Picnic Spot and Skating
Garden are the three must visit spots. Madha Top and Sanasar, a grassy meadow,
called Mini Gulmarg, are a short drive away.
Also visit the 6th century Nag temple and the Shudh Mahadev ka &Prasad which houses a holy trishul. Mantalai is lovely with apple and orange groves. Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvati here.
Also visit the 6th century Nag temple and the Shudh Mahadev ka &Prasad which houses a holy trishul. Mantalai is lovely with apple and orange groves. Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvati here.
