Hidden Kashmir (Trip Account)

Balvar

Hi Fellow IMers,

Just did a week a long trip of the Kashmir Valley, having visted Kashmir earlier also. Had specifically planned to visit the lesser visited places of the valley. Situation in valley was normal with Shopian case have cooled off, but the day I reached the Srinagar there was fresh disturbance in the maisuma area (Yasin Malik’s area) of the city, but the best part was that Boulevard road & dal gate were completely unaffected , but the low point was Lal Chowk was completely shut.

So started with visiting the Gardens around the Dal and specially Cheshmashi Gardens & the garden is good example of Mughal architecture, built by the brother of Mughal emperor, the view of Dal Lake & Hazratbal mosque in the horizon was good. For dinner went to the Shamianya Restaurant on Boulevard road tried Biryani & Ristey there, needless to sday that it was simply awesome. From there went to the Anantnag to visit the Pampore saffron fields and the ruins of the Awantipura along the road only and also visited a friend in Anantnag (also referred as Islamiabad).

Dood Pathri: Next day being a Friday & the bandh was called there more trnesion than usual in valley had planned a trip to Dood Pathri in Budgam. Dood pathri is about 45 Kms from Srinagar. Dood Pathri has a mix of both Gulmarg and Pahalgam, Its has vast open meadow surrounded with tress and mountains, pretty much similar to Gulmar, but seemed more beautiful due lesser people & untouched beauty. Also just 500 mts from the meadow is full roaring water stream ‘Shalin Ganga’ which provides a touch of Lidder valley of Pahalgam, . There is semi dirt jeepable trek which goes to Dood pathri , the govt has also set up a Doodpathri development Authority and is promoting the site in a big way, Overnight Camping is a certainly a very good proposition over there.

Wular Lake , shukruddin Chisti Dargah & Mansbal Lake: From Srinagar went sopore (about 40 Kms) and from sopore to Bandipore, the drive from Sopore to Bandipore is good with the view of Wular. From there moved to pay obeisance at the Shukrudin Chisti in bandipore it’s a at hill top and provides a Impeccable view of the Wular. From Bandipore moved to the Mansbal lake which is about 25 Kms from Sringar. The lake is agan very less visitred and comparatively very clean in comparison to Dal Lake . The track along the lake was worth a walk and there was also a small shiv temple subbmrged in water aong side the lake. From Manasbal came back to Srinagar via Gandderbal.

Naranag Valley:.From srinagar went to Kangan on the Srinagar – leh highway. The name dervies its name from Braclet ‘Kangan’ as its surrounded in a circle with hills. From Kangan took a jeep track for Narainag Valeey. The track was about 20 Kms from Kangan with acontnous Climb. There was a archeological site there with huge old ruins of pre medieval era. Naranah also serves as a base camp for trekking upto Gangbal lake in Harmukh Range. The Nullah there was full of white water and the place is also famous for its trout fish. Spent the whole day there soaking in the beauty and enjoying the trout and had the dinner there with a German group camping over there

Nageen Lake: Nageen Lake can be referred as a Sister of Dal Lake, but the advantage of staying of in Nageen Lake that you have land in the back of the house boat, and Nageen is certainly less cramped and more clean than Dal. From Nageen lake took and 1.5 hours Shikara ride thru the channel of steam, passing thru the old city and several foot and road bridges, and luckily on the last day of my srinagar lal Chowk and opend so did some shopping from the Residency Road.

In last would signoff with famous saying of Shahjahan “ Agar Frdoz Baroo Zameen Hamistoo Hamisto Hamis”, If there is heaven on earth its here……..

Selected Pics of the trip

http://picasaweb.google.com/balvarpooni/HiddenKashmir#

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Reagrds,
Balvar

mridula

The second last picture looks beautiful But where are the snow capped peaks?

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Mridula

Travel Tales from India

ashwinnaagar

Nice trip account..great to see posts with a different perspective of kashmir..

ashwinnaagar

http://picasaweb.google.com/balvarpo...221388221 730
and which place is this??

http://picasaweb.google.com/balvarpo...352763169 682
and this one?

arunganpath

I think Photo 730 is Awantipura Ruins and 682 is Lidder River (hopefully, not sure).. Lets wait for Balvar to comment.

Balvar

The First Pic is of the runis at Naranag valley there was pool of water, the pool is where there is the spring, also i am standing on the log a walnut tree used as channel for the spring water.

The second pic is of the strem which flows from the Naranag Valley, Arun its a good try ;-) as it resembles a lot to the Lidder river

Bhaswaran

Nice write up

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Photos in Indiamike :http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496

Photos in Flickr :http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaswaran/

Darjeeling trip Video : "Darjeeling - The Queen of Hills" DVD

Balvar

Thnaks Bhaswara !!, Mridula the valley is experecing realyy warm climate this year, the maximum temprature has touched around 34 Degree Celcsuis, and more voer at this time of year Snow covered peaks can seen in upper reaches of Gulmarg ans patches around thajwas glacier near Sonmarg

goodfriend

hi balvar

i liked your post very much and i will definately make use of it during my trip to kashmir in octbober, i will be there for more than a week, i realised that you travelled to off-beat places around kashmir, thats great, can you suggest an iternary for me, write to me on my thread

In Kashmir From 3rd Oct To 13th Oct 2009, Need Help


is any one travelling to kashmir from 3rd oct to 13th oct?????

thanks and cheers


[quote=Balvar;779028]Hi Fellow IMers,

Just did a week a long trip of the Kashmir Valley, having visted Kashmir earlier also. Had specifically planned to visit the lesser visited places of the valley. Situation in valley was normal with Shopian case have cooled off, but the day I reached the Srinagar there was fresh disturbance in the maisuma area (Yasin Malik’s area) of the city, but the best part was that Boulevard road & dal gate were completely unaffected , but the low point was Lal Chowk was completely shut.