KASHMIR: A MELODY CALLED HEAVEN ON EARTH
“Kashmir is the delicate reminder of the
fact that poetry not always needs pages and words. The living poetry can be
felt through heartbeats and emotions.”
My bag, my heart, a mixed bag of emotions with New Year round
the corner was excited to begin a journey. I was headed to what they called
‘Heaven on Earth’ - Kashmir, little did I knew that I
was in for eight days of sheer adventure with 23 odd people and memories that
will give a rise to the concept of FOMO within me.
So let me tell a story, rather a stories or better call it as a chapter from which I will say as one of the most memorable trip because at this place not only I left a piece my heart like other places visited but also a part of my soul was also left there.
Trip started on a HAPPY note with meeting some known and a lot more unknown persons who were simple, adorable, awesome, creative, sassy, rowdy, kinky (:P), vital, ageless :D who became travel mates to friends and a part of life in the next eight days. At the end of the trip when some of our friends got stuck in Srinagar because of cancellation of flights due to heavy snowfall, deep down we all wanted to stuck out there amidst the happiness. Although we all were sad initially for them but soon became jealous because they were enjoying out there and playing in snowfall (told you fomo :P) and we were able to concentrate on our work only they came back to their homes. Such was the bonding and sharing that happened.
Wait… it was the conclusion but you must be getting
interested so let’s start from the beginning!!
The valley– as Kashmir is commonly known –
conjures paradisiacal images with postcard perfect landscapes. Kashmir
undoubtedly is one of the most picturesque locations in the country because of
its varying portraits. Kashmir can be defines as a canvass that can be painted
again and again as desired and nature has done the same.
As the flight took off smoothly, the landscape underwent a gradual metamorphosis and as we flew over and after an hour, our captain announced we would be Srinagar soon. The landscape now had changed from tropical dry deciduous forests to Coniferous and Alpine. Lofty snowcapped mountains stood majestically along the horizon. Snow white cumulus clouds caressed the mountain tops as they travelled with the wind. It was time to land and eventually we disembarked with trepidation, hoping fervently our trip would be successful.
Houseboats in Kashmir
We stayed in Swan Houseboats. Houseboat is a wooden boat that
designed in a beautiful manner to make it a perfect dwelling place for tourists
over the waterways. Moored along the edges of Dal Lake and Nagin Lake, Houseboat in Srinagar is counted as one of the key
tourist’s attractions of the Kashmir valley. Large numbers of tourists
are attracted to Kashmir by the mesmerizing charm of houseboat, which provides
ethereal experience of living on the water in a wooden paneled bedroom, with
all modern amenities of a luxury hotel. The cedar interiors of a houseboat are
intricately carved and exhibit the skilled artistry of local craftsmen. The
various native decorative items and antique amenities of houseboats are the
cultural symbol of Kashmir.
The unique floating market of the Dal Lake in Srinagar
Floating market was a different experience. Floating vegetable market on the lake is a place where suppliers and vendors complete their usual business. This market starts early in the morning at 6. Watching these men wake up early in the morning before the crack of dawn and making their way down to the market through the frozen lake was an extraordinary experience. Rising early in the morning in the chilly winters was mesmerising all together. And at some random place in this awesome and unique experience someone will come to you on his boat and ask you- ‘Phool Loge Beta’, and you end up buying some packets of flower seeds!!
I just took a deep breath yes! I am alive in each & every moment here. Wind is so fresh & water is so clear. Beautiful snow filled mountains are just in front of me.I am looking around to the floating gardens, sprinkling the ice cold water over me, humming with the boat person to take part in his Kashmiri folk song. I closed my eyes trying to lock this very moment in my mind. Wow! It feels so amazing.
We soaked our memories in a warm cup of
Kahwah Tea, while indulging in the varied landscapes of Kashmir. Feel your
heart synchronize with the gushing waters that travel from the glaciers above..
My blessings with Snow
As
were travelling to Gulmarg, I was just telling my fellow travelers, oh wait now
we were friends just after a single day J; that I have
been very lucky with the snowfall and hoping with fingers crossed that it must
by my consecutive fourth year trip that I will witness the snowfall. By God’s
grace and blessings I was not disappointed neither my new friends.
Wow! It’s a snow fall. These snowflakes are very shy; they are just disappearing touching me.
The
main attraction at Gulmarg is the Gondola ride, a 15-20 minute cable car ride.
The first phase is the first stop in the cable car ride and the second phase is
the highest and the farthest point. It is said that the LoC is visible from the
second phase. However, we did not visit second phase since it was snowing
heavily, so there was anyway no point as we could not see anything. However,
the first phase is more than enough. Here again you have sledges, skis and ice scooters.
The pure white snow on the table top mountain and the surrounding peaks is a
sight etched on our minds. People were seen throwing snow balls at each other
and enjoying walking around in the snow. Some were skiing and some were
enjoying their sledge rides. It was amusing to see some of them actually eating
balls of snow like ice cream.
A stroll in snow at night
So this
is one of the many crazy things that we did. It was snowing and some of us who
were awake to talk some endless life conversation, decided to take a stroll at
-8degC in Gulmarg at 1am in night. And to summarise that experience, the photo
below will do the justice to your eyes.
Now there is no wind to feel, the sky is packed with gray clouds, a complete silence in atmosphere… and this marvelous white flower like flakes are floating in the air.
And the adventure awaits us
Make
a note that if you are travelling with oneintheorangejacket, there will always
a surprise adventure awaiting for you. For us it was the trek to Baisaran
valley. I still remember when he proposed this idea, all of us said yes on one
go because we believe in Vyshakh that he will be making this trip more
memorable. I will always believe him on that J.
And after
all it was a trek, although it
was for some hours only but this places
called- Baisaran Valley known as Mini Switzerland of India was a landscape
carved from heaven.
Just felt like sitting there for hours with cold breeze hitting the face and completely capture those panoramic scenic beauty with my eyes because no gadget can do justice to that heavenly beauty.
And home of mountains and dreams:
Our
story of Kashmir is incomplete without the mention of our Shakeel bhai and
Saddam Bhai. They have their own company known as mountains & dreams
operating trips and treks in Kashmir. They were our local guide. I have no
words to appreciate them and thank them for the amazing trip they have given to
us and a heartful welcome in their homes with lovely food and tea. Their lovely
family welcomed us into their home. We had the most honest and enriching conversation.
While returning back I kept thinking that people all over the country think
that Kashmir and its people aren't safe , but it’s not true. I really wish
Kashmir was not portrayed as some terror zone as the media does. "
Shakil
Bhai and Saddam Bhai & their family was so humble and simple-we sat there enjoying
as though we belonged to their home. At least that's how they made us feel...
New Year in the lap of Golden Meadows
So
the trip was all set for New Year party. Before the party we had planned Secret
Santa among us and after exchanging our gifts, we started the party to bid off
this lockdown year and welcome the next year full of adventure for all of us.
While writing this I am still thinking that this was the best New Year I have
celebrated till now and hopefully one of the most memorable new years of
upcoming lifetime. It was full moon lit sky with moon shining over mountains.
The countdown for New Year was full of enthusiasm and happiness because we all
knew this is our time to enjoy fully as this night with such amazing people
will never come. So sing, dance, walk and most importantly soak into the
happiness as all we human’s desire.
And
it all ended with eating donuts at 3’o clock in the morning
Romanticising with the Cold
It
was a bright sunny day. We all sat for a long time just outside our property,
and again on the riverside, soaking in the sheer beauty of the surroundings,
not willing to leave. But something happened after this sun bath: P
It has been an adventurous start of the New Year’s Day. As
the day we headed for skiing was the first day of the New Year. It was sunny
out there but the temperature was already-13deg celsius and as we were
approaching the spot the cold breeze became chilly wind and the harshness of
same can be felt on face and complete body. It was the most extreme of
temperatures I have ever been but only thing that kept us going was the
extraordinary beauty of the landscapes.
Forget, skiing or walking we all were just
trying to beat the wind but that was not happening either so as planned some of
us went for skiing because once a gentleman quoted, “Skiing is ~always~ fun” ⛷
We were already feeling numb so it was not very long that we surrendered to the chilly winters and stopped. But it was like stepping into a painting and then ski on the untouched snow powder.
But
it was the splendid, fabulous, and best ever beauty in this world.
The Goodbyes…
ख़ूबसूरती देखनी है तो... कश्मीर जाना
सरलता देखनी है तो... कश्मीर जाना
मोहब्बत देखनी है तो... कश्मीर जाना
Although I enjoyed this trip to the fullest I have made a commitment that I MUST visit Kashmir in summer to witness the Kashmir valley in full bloom. It was completely white when I visited in Dec-Jan so my next visit would be dedicated to the green Kashmir, the apple trees, the saffron fields.
More often said that it’s more about the people and place
doesn’t matter but give a thought when there are twenty odd strangers?!
What I believe and experienced is that, it’s the
place that let these twenty unknown nice persons come together and share a perspective
to interact and bond but only initially...and as we know one day later they
become travel mates to friends who once started the conversation about
appreciating the beauty of the Dal lake and that Kashmir beholds. And
eventually they end the trip with a very happy heart and wonderful memories
with emotions that don’t allow them to say goodbye. But they leave to their
homes just to meet sooner on some new adventure and that’s the part I love
about travelling - first travel, make friends and then travel more together to
create memories forever or in the words of oneintheorangejacket see you soon in the mountains क्यूंकि हम तो फकीर हैं J
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