Planning
for an adventure:
Where
do I start off, We were 8 Friends. We had planned that after Eid would go
somewhere we never have been before. We were thinking and I thought why not
Kashmir! It has been said that it is definitely a heaven on earth. So we
started talking with our parents and were getting itinerary to calculate how
much it would cost us. We were probably students back in August 2012, and it
was difficult thing to convince everyone s parents also. Finally 8 of us
calculated the route and we chose to travel by train.
Finally we decided to get to Delhi
first, and then go to Kashmir. So we were all set to pack our bags and go.
Never travelled that far with friends, so it was an excitement, thrill and
adventure waiting.
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| Journey begins! Excited! :p |
It
was a long journey, Reached Delhi we could hardly find two wheeler s there, and
it was really clean after all it was the capital of India. We stayed in a Hotel
and then traveled in metro, first time we were travelling in it. We had
arrived to Chandni Chowk and there had road side momos which were really good,
and then went to jama masjid to try food in a well-known restaurant called Al
Jawahar. Had chicken tikka, tandoori roti & butter chicken for dinner. It
was delicious.
Day
2 Delhi:
The
second day we went to Indira Gandhi museum- Qutub Minar - Red Fort – Lotus
temple & India Gate. All the places had a rich history.
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| Indira Gandhi Museum |
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| Qutub Minar |
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| Red Fort |
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| India Gate |
Then
in the night we left from anand vihar station to Jammu.
Day
1@ Kashmir:
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| On the way from Jammu-Srinagar |
From
Jammu our package was starting, Nazir bhai was our trip in charge and guided us.
A tempo had come to pick us up, the driver named Majeed Bhai had been humorous
with us and enjoyed our company throughout the journey, and we 8 had settled
down.
It
took us around 5-6 hours to reach Srinagar; we could see a lot of military
personnel around, to protect tourists from difficult circumstances. We could
see the beautiful hills and the breeze was just amazing. It was a scenic
beauty. Our jaws had dropped and we did the right thing travelling by road from
Jammu to Srinagar.
Finally
we reached Srinagar. Our stay was at Nazir bhai s place who welcomed us in his
Shalimar Bungalow.
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| Shalimar Bungalow |
He gave us three bedrooms. There were electrical blankets also available
which are used during winters. The rooms were brilliant with Kashmiri shawls
and curtains gave an authentic touch. We also included food in the package and
it was homely food just felt like we were eating at home. Phew! Tired we slept.
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| Our room |
Day
2@ Kashmir:
Had
breakfast at Nazir bhai s place, Left for Shalimar Garden, It was a garden
which I had never seen before. These gardens were enormous and huge and they
were built by the Mughals during their period. Shalimar garden is the biggest
in Kashmir. It was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
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| Kashmiri look ;) |
We had lunch at Nishat garden, and we left to
Zabarvan Park where there was a helium balloon which took 4 people at a time in
a basket, when it takes off the bucket shakes it is little scary at that point
of time, but then we realize the beauty of Kashmir, we can see the Dal lake the
gardens and the peaks of mountains just an amazing sight. We were almost 150
meters above ground and we there for a couple of minutes. It was just amazing.
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| Helium Balloon |
Then
we left off to Lal Chowk it was the market for retail, clothes, dry fruits, and
other Kashmiri bags and clothes were sold here. Then we had left off to Chasme
Shahi which was another garden but with flowing stream of water coming up from
the mountains. We had gone to the top to drink it and really the taste was just
brilliant.
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| View from above balloon |
Day 3@ Kashmir:
We
had got up early in the morning, today our destination was Sonamarg, and we had
to travel around 80 km to reach the destination. Finally we reached, but
further to see the spot we got horses for ourselves and were excited to go, we
went near a frozen glacier. Usually at the time of December it’s completely
covered up with ice. But we were in the month of August so it was clear and
pleasant climate.
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| Sonamarg |
Then
we head back to our bungalow pack up and shift to house boat on Dal Lake. We
were excited to stay in a house boat. The boats are called shikara and we
finally reached our house boat which was named DUKE OF WINSOR. We had a hall to
watch TV, we had a dining hall to eat, and there were 3 rooms given with TV and
attached toilets. So we were very much happy about the stay. We then had a
visitor, he had come with various hand bags and Kashmiri dresses for sale.
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| Our House Boat |
We then head to the house boat market
to see it, there were all sorts of things sold, Saffron (Kesar) which is very
much famous, we should buy it carefully because there is adulteration in some
of it also. There were many shops in the house boat area were we visited.
Leather jackets, sandals, Kashmiri shawls, Kashmiri handbags, dry fruits and
curtains were majorly sold.
Day
4@ Kashmir:
Today
we were going to Aharbal waterfalls which were around 30-40kms, on the way we
stopped and saw the flowing water and were astonished by the color and
chillness of water. Then we stopped nearby had lunch and went to a garden full of apple trees. We ate those delicious apples and head back home.
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| Aharbal Falls |
It
was Gulmarg traveled around 50 km, and it is cold up there in the mountains we
were told to get the jackets and be prepared. Gondola ride is the best part of
it; there are two phases of it. We had gone to the second phase and then
climbed up the mountain. We had gone a long way up and the cold was severe.
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| Gulmarg Gondola ride |
There we saw a board that trespassers will be prosecuted, so we did not go further.
There we played with ice, it was fun. It was 13000 feet high and we had maggi which was delicious.
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| Maggi-man ;) |
Day
6@ Kashmir:
Today
our destination was Yusmarg travelled around 50km, this was the one spectacular
place that I loved the most. We were riding on horses in the middle of forest
and all of sudden it started drizzling it got cold. Cold winds blew around
making scary sounds in the forests. We then came down to a flowing water stream
which is called the DOOD GANGA and sat there for a while. The scenery I still
have it pictured it was the most beautiful place I had ever been. Riding on the
horses in the forests I felt for a while we were in a stone age and felt
relaxed because the peace and silence, birds chattering, it’s priceless.
Definitely this place was brilliant and must to go.
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| Dood Ganga |
Day
7@ Kashmir:
We
had packed up and now we were heading over to Pahalgam which was around 90km.
We then reached Pahalgam and then we got ready to see a spot which was called Baisaran(Mini
Switzerland). We definitely had a good time there and again horse ride to reach
the spots. Almost every spot we had travelled by horses.
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| Horse ride |
We
could find a stream flowing nearby and as kids we started playing there in the
water and found that it was freezing cold.
Day
8@ Kashmir:
We
were ready, today we had planned to see the deer park and do river rafting. As
we were travelling we could see there was a lot of crowd in the park waiting
for someone. We found out that it was Shahrukh Khan who had come for shooting
Jab Tak Hai Jaan with Anushka Sharma.
After seeing the park we had
gone to the spot where river rafting was done. Got ready with life jacket on.
It was an awesome experience.
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| River rafting! |
The
end:
It
was hard to leave such a beautiful place, but it was time to go home. We
returned back after 15 days.The
best 15 days of my life. Those moments spent with close friends are just worth
it. In case if you are confused of going somewhere in India your first priority
should be Kashmir. Next on my exploration list is Ladakh to explore. Sponsors please call. LOL!
