Agar Firdaus bar ru-e-zamin ast, Hami ast o- hami ast o- hami ast.
If there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here it is here.
After
offering puja to Mata rani, we headed for Kashmir valley, with joy and passion we all
shouted "JAY MATA DI "....our journey through the loops of mountains
started..........
From today onwards I am starting My
Kashmir Diary...God Knows Whether you all will like it or not but I find
immense happiness sharing the tit-bits of my tours.
It all started long back, designing, planning approaching people and then the D-Day came when we all unlaced ourselves, back-packed and rolled on to "breathe fresh ".
29th March'2013 , with a throbbing heart me and my husband along with my Cooks and Helper reached HOWRAH STATION to greet all our guests with a smile . Though all were very known faces but I had to give a professional touch coated with emotion and warmth . REACHED JAMMU ON THRID DAY .
It all started long back, designing, planning approaching people and then the D-Day came when we all unlaced ourselves, back-packed and rolled on to "breathe fresh ".
29th March'2013 , with a throbbing heart me and my husband along with my Cooks and Helper reached HOWRAH STATION to greet all our guests with a smile . Though all were very known faces but I had to give a professional touch coated with emotion and warmth . REACHED JAMMU ON THRID DAY .
Thereafter we sat Coach and with joy and passion we all shouted "JAY MATA DI "....our journey through the loops of mountains started..........
we were gently riding on the mountains.after a while me , subhas and amal da , my cook got off the bus to shop for vegetables from wayside vegetable mandi.. It ws fun and exciting.
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| my troop on their way to Katra from Jammu Station |
Reached katra, our first destination.
While my guests were busy at the adda i had a glance up twrds the trikuta hill - my heart creep ed through the swirling & lighted paths going to Mata's Bhavan ,touched her feet for blessings for the trip to go fine.
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| Our stay at Katra |
Though most of my young trip members rocked on for MATA BHAVAN with lots of enthu and spirit but they return back with puffing heart and tons of tiredness....totally exhausted !
While we were on the way to Srinagar the cloud started gathering and in less than half an hour, we were welcomed with strong winds and rain.Our driver was in no mood to hurry and he went on very pleasantly(though that was no so pleasant for us) but all of us were craving to reach Srinagar and it was getting dark. In the mean time my cook Amal Da asked " what to cook reaching Srinagar , mutton and rice " ? and every one sat straight hearing that one line. Well by this time Mr. Nazir , my hotelier in Srinagar was getting anxious and made number calls to locate us.Ultimately we were greeted by cold, wet and chilled Srinagar at 11 pm. Reaching the hotel Mr. Nazir welcomed us with hot Tea and Biscuit but we were in no mood to have tea we wanted to dumped ourselves in bed . Amal Da did a great job- within an hour he prepared and served my guests with steaming rice and Mutton...after which we slept like dead men.....
While we were on the way to Srinagar the cloud started gathering and in less than half an hour, we were welcomed with strong winds and rain.Our driver was in no mood to hurry and he went on very pleasantly(though that was no so pleasant for us) but all of us were craving to reach Srinagar and it was getting dark. In the mean time my cook Amal Da asked " what to cook reaching Srinagar , mutton and rice " ? and every one sat straight hearing that one line. Well by this time Mr. Nazir , my hotelier in Srinagar was getting anxious and made number calls to locate us.Ultimately we were greeted by cold, wet and chilled Srinagar at 11 pm. Reaching the hotel Mr. Nazir welcomed us with hot Tea and Biscuit but we were in no mood to have tea we wanted to dumped ourselves in bed . Amal Da did a great job- within an hour he prepared and served my guests with steaming rice and Mutton...after which we slept like dead men.....
First Destination of Srinagar was ChasmaShahi( One of the many mughal
gardens scatted around Srinagar).GOOD.
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| AMSTERDAM OF EAST, TULIP GARDEN |
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| tulip garden......and my troop |
My guests and me became elated to visit the next one , even the children got exhilarated by the beauty of the place. Guria Abhirupa Chatterjee got bold out by the beauty of the environment and randomly started clicking...click, click, click...Paramita Roy with her fancy hat on used nook and corner for photography , elders were like HAWWW.... what a place....IT WAS TULIP GARDEN , tulips bursting in different hues , quietly swaying with the breeze residing just below the PIR PANJAL range. It's mini Amsterdam in India .After Tulip Garden though we visited all other places Like Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Shankaracharya Temple, Etc. but none could beat the heat of Tulip Garden.
After the day long touring when we arrived at the hotel we were greeted with Garama Garam Coffee and VEGETABLE Chop by Amal da and Hari Da..With the coffee and its accessories went on an ADDA session till the Chicken and roti being served.
Next Destination-- Sonamarg, 84km. from
Srinagar. Very enthusiastically all my guests locked themselves in their seats
so to have first glance of snow in Sonamarg . The bus rolled on the roads and
touched the outskirts , we were thoroughly enchanted by the road side scenery.
Yellow flowers of mustard all around guarded by Huge mountains and that is overlooked by the blue sky. Me
and my guests were at the sixth heaven. Rinku ji, was playing peppy numbers in
his stereo to exhilarate us... but peace had to draw a line here and our bus
had a break down. We waited for 3.5 hrs.in a small village on the way to
Sonamarg. Worried, Anxious and irritated we spent these hours like we were
facing devil. By that time we got acquainted with many villagers who helped us
a lot and became our true friends. In the coach only my guests did a great Job
by helping ownselves with the lunch. Paramita Roy and
Rina ghoshal along with Subhas served all others fried rice and chilli chicken.
I too became elated to see everyone helping each other.
Well we reached Sonamarg at about 4 pm. and believe me it was an extra ordinary scene all around, Snowy- Crispy Kashmir was at our access , smiling at us. We hired Sumos and entered more deep into Baltal and reached Kargil point. The driver was happy to see our energy and played Hindi songs in full volume.... WOW..all started dancing and to added to it started snowing. ...Like small white cotton balls the snow cheered us......Had an excellent time and my guests enjoyed thoroughly.
Well we reached Sonamarg at about 4 pm. and believe me it was an extra ordinary scene all around, Snowy- Crispy Kashmir was at our access , smiling at us. We hired Sumos and entered more deep into Baltal and reached Kargil point. The driver was happy to see our energy and played Hindi songs in full volume.... WOW..all started dancing and to added to it started snowing. ...Like small white cotton balls the snow cheered us......Had an excellent time and my guests enjoyed thoroughly.
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| SNOW WHITE SONAMARG |
Today's destination is snow clad
Gulmarg. The day started well as after a short delay RInku ji arrived with the
coach , we rolled on the roads of Srinagar and soon the beautiful scenery
welcomed us with a smile.
As our Vehicle gained altitude, patches of snow started appearing. Soon the patches grew bigger and bigger and by the time we reached Gulmarg (2653 m) it was snow, snow and more snow.
We stepped out to explore the place. But we were soon surrounded by the sledge wallas.. They didn't even allowed me to suck the beautiful , snow white Gulmarg . To stop them bothering us we agreed to go on a sledge ride , all of us .It was Paramita Roy A 's suggestion and astonishingly each one of us, even the elders gladly accepted the proposal and yooo we gooo on snow on sledge. It was hilarious and fantastic. When the sledge was pulled down from a height we grabbed the Feron of the rider and shouted at full volume so to have a control on our adrenaline flow. Gulmarg showered on us joy and cheer utmost.
The day wrapped up with A SHIKARA RIDE IN DAL, followed by Shopping. Shikara Ride is an integral part of your Kashmir travel. Without the ride of shikara, your travel will be incomplete. It is a different experience altogether. So many shops float to you and you float to different shops.
As our Vehicle gained altitude, patches of snow started appearing. Soon the patches grew bigger and bigger and by the time we reached Gulmarg (2653 m) it was snow, snow and more snow.
We stepped out to explore the place. But we were soon surrounded by the sledge wallas.. They didn't even allowed me to suck the beautiful , snow white Gulmarg . To stop them bothering us we agreed to go on a sledge ride , all of us .It was Paramita Roy A 's suggestion and astonishingly each one of us, even the elders gladly accepted the proposal and yooo we gooo on snow on sledge. It was hilarious and fantastic. When the sledge was pulled down from a height we grabbed the Feron of the rider and shouted at full volume so to have a control on our adrenaline flow. Gulmarg showered on us joy and cheer utmost.
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| GULMARG |
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| SLEDGE RIDE AT GULMARG |
The day wrapped up with A SHIKARA RIDE IN DAL, followed by Shopping. Shikara Ride is an integral part of your Kashmir travel. Without the ride of shikara, your travel will be incomplete. It is a different experience altogether. So many shops float to you and you float to different shops.
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| SHIKARA RIDE AT DAL |
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| SARSO KA KHET , IN KASHMIR VALLEY |
Time to say Bye to Srinagar, but
frankly speaking to explore the valley adequately 4 days time is not sufficient
This is being told by the Kashmiri family who invited me, subhas and mishtu for
a dinner. Oh ! I just forgot to mention this chapter in my diary.
We had an exclusive- wonderful experience spending time with Mr.Nazir's family,(The one in whose hotel we resided in Srinagar)He is an excellent host and so is his staffs and family. I got to know a Kashmiri family from very close and I would treasure those moments spent with them throughout my life.
We had an exclusive- wonderful experience spending time with Mr.Nazir's family,(The one in whose hotel we resided in Srinagar)He is an excellent host and so is his staffs and family. I got to know a Kashmiri family from very close and I would treasure those moments spent with them throughout my life.
last day we wrapped up with SRINAGAR and headed towards KASHMIR'S most beautiful hamlet amidst lush green pines & snow peaks and green valleys...THATS PAHALGAM, OR PAHALGAON. , it is the first village on the way to Kashmir valley and the name suggests this fact. After settling down to hotel , my cooks hurried up for making lunch as after lunch we were supposed to visit ARU VALLEY AND BETAAB VALLEY. We had a good lunch time with Hot Kima Khichuri, Begun Bhaja, Omlette , Chatni , the steamy Khichudi quite well did beat the chilled weather of Pahalgam. It was an open air lunch in Hotel's garden which again gave immense pleasure to us.
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| ARU VALLEY |
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| TWO LITTLE CHAMPS IN THE RUSTIC BEAUTY OF ARU |
We are almost about to end our tour as the nest day we headed for PATNITOP , the hight point in Jammu , to make our journey less tiring I opted to give a stay at Patnitop rathe than directly heading for Jammu station , 14 hrs journey.
Patnitop is a sleepy hamlet in the midst of densely populated pine trees....
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