Kashmir – Paradise on Earth

 Kashmir – Paradise on Earth

Nestled between two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan Range and the Pir Panjal, Kashmir is truly a ‘Paradise on Earth’. With its enchanting beauty, serene lakes, snow-capped mountains and exquisite gardens, Kashmir is a traveller’s paradise.

The Mughals discovered Kashmir as a retreat, to escape from the sweltering heat of the plains. They patronized the development of arts and crafts amongst the locals and helped lay Srinagar’s waterfront gardens, better known as the Mughal Gardens. Kashmir has four distinctive seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Spring is during the months of March to May, when the entire valley is covered with blooms from a variety of flowers.  The weather varies from 6°C to 23°C. There might be short bursts of rain, but these are brief. Summers are from May to August and the temperatures vary between 25°C to 35°C, during the day. The myriad lakes and water bodies provided cool relief from the heat.

Autumn is believed to be the best season to visit Kashmir for its beauty. The leaves turn from green to golden and then to red. From September to November, the temperatures in the day are around 23°C and night temperatures come down to 10°C or even lower. From December to March is winter, when the snow-capped mountains are a magnificent sight to behold.

Getting There

By Air: Srinagar has an International Airport and all major Indian airlines operate daily flights to and from there, from major cities in India. The airport is located 14 kms from the city.

By Rail: Trains operate from major railway stations to Jammu Tawi, which is the nearest railway station to Srinagar. It is approximately 300 kms away from the city.

By Road: Private taxis and state-run buses are available for travelling to Kashmir. National Highway 1-A is the main highway that connects Srinagar with Jammu, which is well connected to many cities of North India, including New Delhi.

Activities

§  Shikara (Boat Ride)

§  Skiing

§  Fishing

§  River Rafting

§  Mountain Biking

§  Trekking

§  Paragliding

§  Bird Watching

§  Horse Riding

Places to Visit:

GULMARG:  This hill resort is famous for its ski resort, especially in the winter. Other snow sports like snowboarding, sledge riding, heli-skiing and tobogganing are also popular here. Literally meaning ‘meadow of flowers’, this picturesque valley makes a great picnic spot.

PAHALGHAM: This hilly area is popular for all kinds of adventure sports like river rafting, canoeing, trekking and horse riding. There are also several lakes and valleys to visit around here with its rich vegetation and forest areas.

SONAMARG: Literally translated to ‘meadow of gold’, this town is a basecamp for many trekking expeditions and hiking trails. It is located 87 kms from Srinagar and is a popular route to travel to Ladakh.

LOLAB VALLEY: Located about 120 kms from Sringar, you can easily reach this valley via a local bus or taxi. This valley is well known for its fruit orchards, rice fields and its lakes and is a combination of three different valleys – Potnai valley, Brunai valley and Kalaroos valley.