"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”- Mark Twain
My week in Kashmir was spent in the lap of nature soaking in the sheer bliss & solitude of the paradise called Kashmir.
This trip was my first ever real adventure with a lot of things I did for the first time - climbing a glacier, witnessing snow, sledging, wandering away on off-trails, staying in homestays, shikhara rides, seeing shepherds. What a truly incredible journey!
Whether it was trekking to the top of the glacier in Gulmarg; or going off trail amidst pine trees and stumbling upon meadows with horses and shepherds in Pahalgam; or gazing at the vastness of night sky spread with constellations of stars in Sonmarg; or being overwhelmed by the hospitality of the wonderful people at the homestay & houseboats; I count my blessings even more & realize the beauty of life.
Travel is the only experience that makes you richer, as you become more experienced, wiser, learn to take risks, let go off inhibitions, embrace life, become kinder, be more trusting, become truly appreciative of life & people around, believe in humanity & yourself & last but not the least, discover yourself.
As Albert Einstein rightly quoted, "A ship is always safe at shore but that's not what it's built for"
My Kashmir adventure's highlight was definitely trekking up a glacier. I climbed Mount Affarwat at 14,000ft above sea level from a height of 10,000ft. At Gulmarg, despite having a gondola pass from Phase 1 to Phase 2, I challenged myself and with a few fellow travelers decided to climb up the glacier which beckoned me from afar. As this was going to be my first time witnessing real time snow, I decided to earn it than having it come easy to me. 'Death march' as one of my fellow travelers rightly termed it as was by far the most exhilarating experience of my life where I have not felt this close to death nor so close to being alive. Anything that doesn't kill you makes you feel alive! I feel alive, in awe, proud, full of gratitude & inspired. I am in love with Kashmir, the people of Kashmir. The beauty of this place is unparalleled to anything I have ever seen before. As people of Kashmir say, God may have broken our backs but not our hearts.
In the end, I would like to say-
“Agar firdous baroye zameen ast, hami asto, hami asto hami ast” – Amir-e-Khusru Dehluvi
(If there is paradise on earth, It is here, it is here, it is here)
Brief itinerary:
Day 1: Srinagar Arrival. Transfer to Hotel (Overnight in Srinagar)
Day 2: Day Trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg (Overnight in Srinagar)
Day 3: Srinagar to Sonmarg (Overnight in Sonmarg)
Day 4: Sonmarg to Pahalgam (Overnight in Pahalgam)
Day 5: Pahalgam (Overnight in Pahalgam)
Day 6: Pahalgam to Srinagar
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Srinagar Arrival (Overnight in Srinagar)
Stay- Homestay
Price- Rs. 1,500 (with breakfast)
Leave for lunch at Houseboat, Butts Clermont (This was done as a special favor by the owner)
Leave for Boulevard Road which connects to Dal Lake, can start trip with Shikara ride. After lunch & ride, visit Mughal Gardens, Chachma Shahi Garden, Botanical Garden, Pari Mahal etc. Remember to eat local Tuj (Mutton based bbq) at Makai Point.
Eating places-ahdoos or mughal darbar in residency road
Day 2: 8:00 AM leave for Gulmarg- Takes approx 2 hours (Overnight in Srinagar)
Stay- Butt's Clermont Houseboat (Upper Dal Lake)
You can book your Gondola tickets at GONDOLA TICKETS ONLINE (Only up to Phase 1 is sufficient Rs. 600 return ticket per person) Sightseeing in and around Gulmarg. There are some really nice hotels in Gulmarg. As this is tourist season time so do expect rush and long queue. Also, there are people who offer assistance as tourist guides etc. they can be avoided similarly there are horse riders offering you ride etc. Over all such rush is avoided by taking long walks in and around Gulmarg during tourist season. By 4:00 PM you will be at the base of Gondola and you should plan to leave Gulmarg by 6:00 PM max so that you reach Srinagar by 8:00 PM
Day 3: 8:00 AM leave for Sonmarg. Takes approx 2 hours (Overnight in Sonmarg)
Stay - Farah’s homestay, Bardparan, Gagangir
Price- Rs. 4,300 (with breakfast & dinner)
Sonamarg is very beautiful and often referred to as Meadow of Gold. Famous bollywood movies have been shot here. You can avoid going to Baltal (the place which is also base camp for Amarnath Yatra) and focus more towards Glacier trek if it is possible.
Day 4: 9:00 AM leave for Pahalgam. Takes approx 4 hours (Overnight at Pahalgam)
Stay- River Front Guest House, Aru, Pahalgam
Price- Rs. 6,580
Trekking to Aru and Lidder Valley
Day 5: Pahalgam (Overnight in Pahalgam)
Stay- River Front Guest House (Booked)
Betab Valley is famous tourist spot here. We then head to the snow covered mountains of Chandanwadi, which is the last motorable point for the Amarnath trek. The frozen Sheshnag lake is here
Day 6: 8:00 Pahalgam to Srinagar. Halt for lunch. Fly back from Srinagar.
Taxi for our entire stay with ax will cost Rs. 9,600.