Kashmir – Paradise Lost

Situated on the northern most borders of India is the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This state borders Pakistan and Chinese occupied Tibet on either side making this state a very strategically indispensable sector to India. Kashmir is in the northern half of this state and this part is called as India’s Switzerland. This is the Indian Himalayan answer to the European Alps. This landlocked state is perhaps one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. As you travel by road from Jammu to Srinagar, Kashmir, you can see why.

The roughly 8 hours that it takes to reach Srinagar from Jammu is tiresome to say the least with winding roads up steeping mountain ranges before you enter the Kashmir valley. But the tiring journey is amply justified as when you enter the Kashmir valley, after passing through two very lengthy tunnels, you are welcomed by sights that will take your breath away. Immediately as you enter the valley, you are confronted with a scenic beauty that will make you wonder if you have died and gone to heaven! Majestic Himalayan slope on either side of the road, which seem to get taller and grander as you carry on. Pine and fir trees dotting the sloping edges, flowers blooming everywhere in spring or a perfect white tapestry all round as this region is covered by snow in the winter. The first thing to strike you apart from the difference in the flora and fauna as you enter Kashmir is the chill in the air. The air turns perceptibly colder as you get close to Srinagar.

The capital of Kashmir is Srinagar and this town is the base point or starting point from where you can start exploring Kashmir. You can find accommodation in the many hotels you find here or in a houseboat on the famous Dal Lake. In spring the whole town is covered by blooming flowers and many parks open during this time. From Srinagar you can visit Gulmarg, which is roughly 30-40 Kilometers away and this place is a tourist hotspot, as this is the perfect place for mountain sports like skiing, snowboarding etc. If mountain trekking and walking is your cup of tea, then you should try Pahalgam, which is a mountain resort, which offers ample opportunities for these types of activities and is perhaps one of the most beautiful places in the whole of Kashmir. Srinagar is filled with souvenir shops and also shops that sell the famous Kashmiri shawls and carpets.

The people of this valley depend mainly on tourism for their sustenance and hence are warm and friendly to the tourist. The local language is Kashmiri but you can also get by with Hindi and English. This wonderful state has been riddled with insurgency problems over the last two decades and this has dampened the tourist’s interest in the state. With a strong presence of security forces everywhere in the valley, one does get a feeling of insecurity when going around. If only Kashmir’s problem was solved then as one poet said Kashmir will become the paradise again, if there ever was a paradise on earth.

Author – writer baba