Kashmir Trip - Sonamarg

Day 3 of our stay in Kashmir valley.Our next and last destination – Sonamarg, literally meaning ‘Meadow of Gold’.It is around 76 kms from Srinagar city, situated on an altitude of 2740m from sea level on the National Highway 1D which goes up to Ladakh through Kargil and Zoji La pass.Being much farther away from the city, we had to start early.Though we were able to start at around 11 only.This journey was quite unique as we started from the hustle and bustle of the Srinagar city and after crossing the city border the surroundings changed drastically.Open fields and fruit gardens could be seen everywhere.Apple,Pine,Chinar,Walnut trees could be seen on both side of the roads.Shawl and carpet making factories are also very common on the outskirts of the city.

After 2 hours drive, we could feel that temperature had fallen significantly and its bite could be felt inside the vehicle also.High mountains were visible in the distance with snow covered peaks.Road or rather lack of it, made the journey little painful.After an hour we reached a place called Gagangir which is 13kms from Sonamarg.NH-1D passes through it but remains blocked due to heavy snowfall at this time of the year.Here we had to hire winter jackets and snow boots as it is terribly cold and slippery in the snow.This cost us another 1500 bucks.

Riding on horse we headed for Sonamarg, but alas main Sonamarg city was cut off due to heavy snow so we went only up to Iceland Park which is 3 kms from Sonamarg.This park is just a small shelter area created for the tourists.Not satisfied we ventured deep into the snow covered road, falling again and again in the snow.It was really a beautiful moment to savor with the river flowing on one side and mountain range on other side.

We spent around 2 more hours in the snow playing and slipping around the snow.It never felt to us that temperature around us was way down -5 degrees something.Only once did i realized it when I tried to photograph the snow in my hand.Next moment I could not feel anything on my left hand as it was almost paralyzed in the extreme cold.Gloves are one of the most important inventions of mankind, i thought.

It was time to move on and we said good bye to Sonamarg.I am really looking forward to make one more trip here.By night we were in Srinagar but before that we visited the famous Hazratbal Dargah.We had next day flight for Delhi at 12.It was a trip which will be in memories forever.Though we could not visited some other places like Pahalgam but still wish to come back to see the beauty of mughal gardens and others in summer.Firdaus was right in saying - "yA firdaus barrUhe jamInast, hamInasto-hamInasto-hamInast" (If there's heaven/paradise on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here.)

Security at Srinagar airport is like nothing you have seen on any airport in India or abroad so it is advised to report as early as possible.By evening our flight landed at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi.Took another 2 hours to reach our flat in NOIDA.Laying on my bed I was thinking about the snow covered mountains, the Dal lake, the shikaras and the beautiful people back there...