Around Srinagar in 5 days | Kashmir Photo Blog
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You think tourism equals terrorism in Kashmir and this is keeping you away from travelling to Kashmir. Going around Srinagar for 5 days did change a lot of my perception, rekindled my love for unspoilt Nature and reassured my belief in the couplet coined to describe Kashmir,
“Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.”
As a tourist, terrorism in Kashmir was not a problem for me, my pre-paid mobile going completely dead was the real real issue J Jokes apart, yes Kashmir is terror striven but I feel it is more in the mind than on ground. For years, through news we have built an image of Kashmir where every Kashmiri is a terrorist. Kashmir is a dichotomy. It is beautiful yet scary. Every time I saw a kashmiri clad in a phiran , the Bollywood storyline of guns being pulled out and shootout in middle of a crowded market kind of thoughts rattled my mind. Every time, I would sit in a taxi, scenes from Roza where the hero was kidnapped and the heroine left behind howling crossed my hyper imaginative and Bollywood inspired mind. However, after 5 days of stay and trips in and around Srinagar, I realized that Kashmir is eulogized and glamourized (both in good & bad sense) to an extent that our own perspective, our own view, and our own understanding stands paralyzed. We see Kashmir from a borrowed lens, a perspective that has been repeatedly ingrained in our mind through breaking news and Bollywood.
Yes, terrorism is prevalent but not always, not everywhere (Kashmir valley is huge) and is not the bread & butter for everyone. There are common people who are heavily dependent on tourism as their daily jobs and can meagrely earn just 200 to 300 rs a day or even less as tourists are ever dwindling. I was thoroughly mesmerized to see the beautiful Kashmir – the chinar leaves, the mughal gardens, shimmering dal lake,
I will leave out the adjectives because much has been said and written about the beauty of Kashmir by acclaimed expressionists and what more can I add to that effervescent beauty.
Dal Lake, need I say more?
Highlight activity – Shikara ride
Shikara ride costs around Rs 500 – 700.
Not to miss : Must have kahwa while on shikara.
Boats that sell stuff will be irritating .
Going beyond tourist – Morning vegetable market shikara ride that starts at the break of dawn and is only for an hour should be done by photography enthusiasts. You will get to see local essence and perfect light for the click.
Not recommended – To stay in a houseboat especially if you have little kids. It gets boring by evening, difficult to manage in a constricted space with danger of falling in water looming at parent’s mind and hygiene issues.
Kashmir is not merely a place. It is a state of mind, it is an experience, it is a perspective & it is what YOU want it to be.⠀ The Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar. Pristine in white on the left bank of Dal lake, this place had a aura of its own.⠀ Pigeons flocking at the entrance of the shrine have witness so much that they have a story to tell. Just listen quietly.
Early morning vegetable market shikara ride on Dal Lake.
We stayed in a premium houseboat at Nigeen bank of Dal Lake called Sukoon . It is important to choose the right houseboat to have the perfect experience. Details about our Sukoon houseboat experience in my next blog.
Stay at Sukoon houseboat, a premium eco-luxury property on Dal Lake
These meadows and streams bring peace upon your soul
“You may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one.”
An offbeat destination which I chose on recommendation of my blogger friend, Sakshi , Yusmarg is 1.5 hours from Srinagar and is absolutely soulful. Let the pictures do the talking.
On way to Phase 2 Gulmarg in a cable car
Have loads of snowtime and family time 🙂 SnowTime = Family Time
SnowTime = Family Time
Rent coat, gloves and boots from the shop on way before you reach Gulmarg as on top you will be hustled by throngs of sellers most of whom have bad quality stuff.
Buy ticket for both phase 1 and 2 together to save time. Opt to go to Phase 2 first and then stop at phase 1. Phase 2 is the real stuff.
Going up in cable car with complete view of valley is a breathtaking experience.
You can do sledging and skating
No food stalls in Phase 2 so go prepared with bottle and some snack.
Phase 1 has proper restaurant.
Feet tend to get frozen as there is quite a lot of snow. You must stuff the corners of your snow boot with plastic or any such stuff to avoid snow to seep in. My 4 year old son got snow bite and was extremely uncomfortable. We applied vicks vapour rub to reduce the bite. Must carry extra pair of socks.
We reached Gulmarg early in the morning and ended the trip with sumptuous lunch at the Khyber Himalyan resport & Spa , a property that takes your heart away. More details to follow in the next blog.
Snow white Sonmarg
In Sonmarg, there are two points that you can see – one on horseback and other in car. We chose Zero Point which was to be reached in a car through a bumpy road, amidst snow tunnel and some amazing scenery.
Highpoint Activity – Snow scooter, sledge, skiing and hot bowl of maggi amidst snow.
Snow scooter
2. Reach early to avoid traffic snarl. The place where vehicles are parked is narrow and by 4 pm trucks are allowed to commute which makes it even worse. Timing is important.
We had the best snow experience at Zero point.
Kashmiri Wazwan – You can’t leave Srinagar without gorging on this.
Last day was for shopping and enjoying delectable Wazwan.
Kashmiri carpet
There are so many things to buy while seeing around Srinagar. On Gulmarg to Sringar way you will find many big shopping outlets.
Kashmiri carpet – Rs 12,000 – They will courier
Kashmiri silk saree – Rs 3500
Electric blanket – Rs 1800
Important tip – Too many security checks at Srinagar airport so time yourself properly.
Yes, ofcourse. It is super fun. For my son, boating at Dal Lake and snow masti time was the Srinagar trip highlights.
Yes, Srinagar can be done with kids.
I found it absolutely safe for tourists. You need to haggle & hustle like in any other tourist town; you have to be careful about your own safety like you would in any other tourist town. That’s about it and yes, one more thing rethink the perceptions
Of late, there was a whatsapp message doing rounds claiming that amajor in Army urges you not to visit Kashmir and this way if we plug their source of income through tourism they will not be able to fund terrorism.
Appalling! I am wife of an Army officer and I am proud of the beauty of Kashmir and wish to showcase it to every citizen of the world. Yes, it is a difficult terrain to be posted and there have been much causality. But you can’t equate tourism with terrorism.
Terrorism is a completely different ball game and their channels and sources are much discreet and structured.
Rest, I leave it to you to decide.
Gitanjali Banerjee studied International Relations from JNU, worked as a teacher, and then moved on to follow her heart. Juggled with freelance writing and blogging. Has worked with Airtel , Educomp and now is with MakeMy Trip. A content manager by profession, she blogs avidly, loves to travel, read and cook.
images are awesome thank you sharing wth us
Awesome article! I enjoyed reading this, very beautiful and clear images and I got a lot of information, and you wrote this blog very well. Thank you for sharing.
Very informative blog and suggestion for travelers. It looks like you have covered almost every place. A very detailed, inspiring and informative post, all pictures are extremely beautiful.🙂
Nice post author.Thank you.Keep it up.
Good and very well explained .
This is very interesting and informative…
very nice itinerary. You have portrayed well…
Thanks for sharing this impressive blog. I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way. All images are so beautiful.
Hi thanks for sharing the information about the around srinagar in 5 days kashmir
Thank you for your information. I’m learning from you
The blog beautifully explains the issue of preformed perceptions. Amazing work!
Thank you for sharing the post, it was really nice reading your blog! it helps me to learn a lot from you
This is very nice Article.
thanks for this wonderful blog.
thanks for this wonderful and informative blog,
Hey, I am so glad to read your thoughts because I really enjoyed reading this. The way you explain your travel experience is truly awesome.
Thanks
Great Blog!!
Thanks for posting. Awesome article.
You have collected very nice photos. Its really awesome. Thanks for sharing your Trip Experience. Its really helpful for travelers.
uff, I am watching these Kashmir photos again and again.
Thanks for showing love to the blog. Keep coming
Lovely article and photos. May I ask, when did you go to Kashmir (which month)? And did you get the tickets for the gondola in advance?
Wow kashmir is so beautiful ..created by god…& your blog is very nice Thanks for sharing
Nice blog post with awesome images. Thank you author.
Nice blog yours ..i like it & picture which you have clicked is really awesome Thanks for sharing
Amazing post with full of an eye-catching destination place as I and along with my friends visited for 5 days tours by the help of Sushant Travels(through a reference of local guidance) which provides excellent facilities during the time of a journey.
i like kashmir . Thank you for posting with us this place with image .I will hope that you will as soon as possible share us your my favorite article
srinagar is the most beautiful place in india… however , these days people avoid going there because of the activites there these days.. i hope government will solve the issue soon…
Great pictures of the ‘paradise on earth’. ‘Sukoon’ houseboat sounds nice! Really pray that there’s peace and tourists won’t fear to visit…
True that!
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