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Set like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted
diamond, changing its hues with the seasons - always extravagantly
beautiful. Two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan Range and the Pir
Panjal, surround the landscape from the north and south respectively. They
are the source of great rivers, which flow down into the valleys, forested
with orchards and decorated by lily-laden lakes.
The Mughals aptly called Kashmir ‘Paradise on Earth’ where they journeyed
across the hot plains of India, to the valley’s cool environs in summer.
Here they laid, with great love and care, Srinagar’s many formal, waterfront
gardens, now collectively known as the Mughal Gardens. Anecdotes of four and
five centuries ago describe their love for these gardens, and the rivalries
that centred around their ownership. They also patronized the development of
art & craft among the people of Kashmir, leaving behind a heritage of
exquisite artisanship among these people and making the handicrafts of the
land prized gifts all over the world.
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HOW
TO REACH
By Air -
Indian Airlines operate regular daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai
and Jammu. They leave from Delhi directly, from Delhi via Jammu, and from
Bombay via New Delhi and Jammu. Jet Airways also operate daily flights to
Srinagar from Delhi as well as Jammu. Indian Airlines has its city office in
the Tourist Reception Centre, while the Jet Airways office is close by.
Air Deccan operates cheaper flights from Delhi.
Srinagar airport is 14 kms from the city. The taxi ride to the Tourist
Reception Centre costs about Rs.250/-. Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport
Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates special coach services between the airport
and the city.
By Rail -
The nearest railhead for Srinagar is Jammu Tawi (305 kms) where trains
arrive from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad, etc. As
with flights, train bookings have to be made well in advance. During the
holiday season, additional trains operate to and from various parts of the
country.
By Road -
National Highway 1-A, connecting Srinagar with Jammu, is a good, all-weather
road with several sharp inclines and hairpin bends. It is maintained by the
Border Roads Organization (BRO), which clears the road of any obstructions
resulting from natural causes like landslides and heavy snowfall. The famous
Jawahar Tunnel that connects Jammu with the Kashmir Valley across the Pir
Panjal range falls en route
WHEN TO GO
Kashmir has four distinct seasons, each with its own peculiar character and
distinctive charm. These are spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring, which extends roughly from March to early May, is when a million
blossoms carpet the ground. The weather during this time can be gloriously
pleasant at 23oC or chilly and windy at 6oC. This is the season when
Srinagar experiences rains, but the showers are brief.
Summer extends from May until the end of August. Light woollens may be
required to wear out of Srinagar. In higher altitudes night temperatures
drop slightly. Srinagar at this time experiences day temperatures of between
25oC and 35oC. At this time, the whole valley is a mosaic of varying shades
of green - rice fields, meadows, trees, etc. and Srinagar with its lakes and
waterways is a heaven after the scorching heat of the Indian plains.
The onset of autumn, perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards
September, when green turns to gold and then to russet and red. The highest
day temperatures in September are around 23oC and night temperatures dip to
10oC by October, and further drop by November, when heavy woollens are
essential.
Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which presents
Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched
from beside the warmth of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone
who has not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in
winter-these are either centrally heated or heated with ‘bukharis’, a
typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of wood, quite effective in
the winter
WHAT TO SEE
Srinagar – The Lake City
Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of
1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal
and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of
the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally
attractive to visitors around the year.
The well-known sights in the city are Shankaracharya Temple atop the hill
called Takht-e-Suleiman, a 5 km climb from Nehru Park on a metalled road.
Across the city is another, much lower hill crowned by the Hari Parbat Fort,
built by an Afghan governor of Kashmir in the 18th century. The low wall
enclosing the upper part of the hill was constructed by Emperor Akbar. On
the hill are several famous places of worship: the temple of goddess Sharika,
the shrine of Muslim saint Makhdoorn Sahib, and the historic Sikh Gurudwara
Chatti Padshahi
More about
Srinagar
Gulmarg
Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar
naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country. Originally
called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th
century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy
slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of
Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from
here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty-
it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of
2,650 m, and is the country's premier ski resort in the winter.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there-- roads
bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice
fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season,
nature's colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich
emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of
village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through
fir-covered hillsides. At one point, known simply as View Point, travellers
generally stop their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a spectacle of
snow-covered mountains, almost within touching distance.
PAHALGAM - The Valley of Shepherds.
Situated at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the
Lidder river, Pahalgam (2,130 m) was once a humble shepherd's village with
breathtaking views. Now it is Kashmir's premier resort, cool even during the
height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 250C. A number
of hotels and lodges cater to all preferences and budgets, from luxurious
hotels to unpretentious trekkers' lodges, including J&K TDC's huts.
Around Pahalgam are many places of interest, and because the resort is set
between fairly steep hills, it is worth hiring a pony rather than walking.
Pony fares are posted at prominent locations.
The most beautiful of these is the huge, undulating meadow 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.
Pahalgam has within it no fewer than eight tiny villages, one of which is
Mamal. There is a Shiva temple here, generally considered to be Kashmir's
oldest existing temple, dating to the 5th century.
More about Pahalgam
SONAMARG - The Meadow of Gold
The drive to Sonamarg is through the Sindh Valley which presents yet another
spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2730
m, Sonamarg (‘The meadow of gold’) has, as its backdrop, snowy mountains
against a cerulean sky. The Sindh River that meanders through the valley
abounds with trout and mahaseer. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to
Thajiwas glacier, which is a major local attraction during the summer
months.
Sonamarg is the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain
lakes –Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. Sonamarg is also
the take off station for the drive to Ladakh across the Zojila, a major pass
in the Great Himalayan Range, through which the Srinagar-Leh Road passes.
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