Kashmir Trip - Srinagar

Encouraged by my friends to continue putting my thoughts in my blog, I am starting this 3 part series on our trip to Kashmir last year on Christmas holidays. The first part covers Srinagar city, the second part is on Gulmarg and concludes with Sonmarg. We had planned for this trip way one month in advance and I suggest everyone to do so. The first point to ponder was how to get there? Quite a difficult question as there are multiple options but considering we had very less time, air travel was the most suitable(quite expensive one also)option available to us. Trains to Jammu are generally full at this time of the year. Air ticket booking was done on GoAir flight from Delhi to Srinagar which costs around 3500 bucks per head if you book early.

So our journey starts from Delhi airport on board GoAir Airbus A-320 flight to Srinagar. We left ground at around 12 noon and in just half n hour were witnessing one of the most spectacular views on earth, the great Himalayas. You can never imagine the sheer size and beauty of these great mountains unless you fly over them. I had never thought that earth looks so beautiful with its snow clad mountains and valleys from above.

In 2 hours time we reached Srinagar airport. The first thing that you notice on  Srinagar arrival is that the aircraft has been surrounded by heavily armed security guards which reminds you that this is no ordinary Indian city. Within half n hour we were outside the airport. Srinagar is no different from any other Indian city with its usual traffic and crowd. What makes it different is the presence of Indian Armed Forces in every nook and corner of the city, though their numbers have declined considerably now.

We met one Yousuf bhai at airport and he offered us to drop to a houseboat which he knew very well. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the famous Dal lake. House boats of different shapes and sizes with Shikaras moving between them dotted the landscape. We took one shikara to our house boat. The house boat was quite beautiful with all the facilities though they charged 1600 bucks per day which included breakfast and dinner. After resting for a while we took the same shikara for a ride around the lake.

Dal lake is one of the largest lake in Srinagar and is famous for it house boats and shikaras. Other places of interest around Dal lake are Nehru Park and Char Chinar(4 chinar trees in the centre of the lake). Shankaracharya temple can be seen on the top of the northern side of the mountains. It was getting dark and temperature was falling rapidly so we moved back to the warmth of our house boat. The other attraction in Srinagar is the Shankaracharya temple, situated on the top of the mountains but unfortunately no cameras and cellphones are allowed inside for security reasons so we could not photograph Srinagar from the top.

Srinagar was the summer capital of the Mughals and they have built beautiful gardens all over Srinagar – Mughal Garden, Nishat Bagh, Nasim Bagh, Shalimar Garden and Chashm-e-Shahi Garden. Though at this time of the year it looked barren. The best time to visit these gardens is during May-June when the flowers are at full bloom. Apart from the gardens there is Hazratbal Dargah and the local market to be seen. Rest there is not much to be seen in the city. Venturing out in the night is not recommend even in the main city. Two decades of militancy has taken its toll in the valley and you can’t experience it unless you visit the city. Tired after this whole day enjoyment it was time to hit the bed. Next day it was time to explore Gulmarg.

Amritsar Trip

I must say that it took quite a bit of cajoling, request and some serious threat from my friends to write this blog on the trip to Amritsar which we had went way back on 20-21 Sep 2008. So the story goes like this...one fine day, frustrated with our daily routine office work, we 5 friends decided to take a break and head to any place to recharge our batteries.

After a lot of heated discussions and arguments,it was decided that lets check out Amritsar as it was quite close to Delhi and economical also. You see software engineer are not quite well paid :( Anyway our epic journey started from New Delhi railway station on board the Shaane Punjab Express (2497) on a 2nd sitting class (fare - Rs125).

 

Choosing 2nd Sitting turned out to be quite a big mistake as it was quite hot and crowdy and the journey from New Delhi to Amritsar is of around 450 kms. The train left Delhi at around 7 in the morning. It turned out to be quite tiring journey when we finally reached Amritsar at around 3:30 pm.

We had reached Amritsar but there was no time to relax as the lowering of Flags event at Wagah border starts at around 4 PM and gets over by 6 PM. Also it was quite a distance from main city. Quickly we booked room in a nearby hotel and rushed off to Wagah border in a auto-rickshaw. Had some refreshments in the midway and finally we reached the border in around 45 minutes.

Wagah is a small village situated on the international border between India and Pakistan with electrified fencing along the border.Its quite close to Lahore than Amritsar, only 13 kms from Lahore compared to 23 kms from Amritsar city. Its main attraction is the 'Swarn Jayanti' gate where the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony is held everyday by Indian Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers.The main ceremony i.e. lowering of the respective national flags at sunset is short and quick. Rest is followed by songs and dance by children and others performers.

It was time to return to city and by 8 we were in the main city.The next important place was The Golden Temple, the holiest abode of all Sikhs, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib.Built around 1588 on lake Amrit Sarovar, it is made up of white marble with gold paint on the main temple where the holy book The Adigranth is kept.It was quite a moment of peace for all of us as we just sat around the lake enjoying the cool breeze and the reflection of the temple on clear waters of the lake.

It was really a heavenly experience listing to the devotional songs and prayers which goes on day and night.I still miss that peace of mind which seems to have been lost in the our daily life.We also visited the monument dedicated to the innocent lives who were killed in Jallianwala Bagh.

It was time to retire to our hotel as we had a train to catch in the morning. But destiny seems to had other ideas. After reaching station we came to reason that train is late by 4 hours and we have ample time to waste. The software engineer in ours waked up and we sat discussing what to do in this time.

Lets head back to Golden Temple.Yes that's what everyone wanted.The temple seems to had a different beauty in the daytime.The reflection of the Golden Temple on the clear blue lake water was casting a magical spell on everyone.The true beauty of the whole temple premise can only be enjoyed in the daytime only.We were offered the prasad, halwa mixed with the purest desi ghee you have ever seen or tasted.

Time just flied and we were getting late for the train.It was a very short trip but nonetheless very satisfying one.We all wish to visit it sometimes again. For now goodbye Amritsar...