Kashmir

Introduction

Lofty mountains playing hide and seek with the clouds - pine -fringed meadows straight out of a swiss calender- sparkling springs and crystal clear lakes- that is Kashmir for you. No wonder that the Great Moghul called it "Paradise on Earth"

Lying at the northern tip of India, present day Kashmir, with an area of 2,22,870 sq.km. Covers Jammu and Ladakh districts as well, stretching from pakistan in the west to the China border in the East. Srinagar, the ‘Summer Capital’ of the state is situated at an altitude of 1730m, while Jammu the 'winter capital' is the nearest railhead connected to all other parts of the country.

Legend has it that Kashmir was once a vast lake called 'Satisar' which was surrounded on all sides by snow covered mountains. However, when the Vitasta (Jhelum) river was channelled out of the lake, all its water flowed down the river and the lake dried up. The new landmass that arose from the bowels of the lake was renamed as 'kusphmar' which gradually became 'Kashmir' in popular usage.

Being strategically located on the ancient land route of trans-continental trade in central Asia, kashmir has always enjoyed a unique stature but the distinctiveness of its landscape lies primarily on the multitude of waterways that criss cross the state . The Jhelum is of course the life line of the valley having served as the chief route of transportation but it is its famous lakes that have lent Kashmir its unique charm.

Kashmiris have always lived in floating barges that were used to ferry goods and doubled up as residences as well. With the passage of time as families became larger, the smaller barges were converted into "Dunga Boats", but it took an Englishman, Dr.Conhard, to build and operate the first proper house boat in 1888 A.D. Conhard named his dream vessel "Victory" and it set the trend for fellow Britishers in the valley. Since the Maharajah of Kashmir forbade foreigners from owning land in the state they took to living on these floating cargo-homes.

Since then, a lot of water has flowed down the Jhelum and the modern houseboats that dot the Dal lake today no less than luxury hotels. Replete with all the amenities for a comfortable stay these deluxe houseboats provide the ideal accommodation away from the humdrum of the city. A fleet of quaintly decorated 'Shikaras' (small Gondola-shaped boats) ply to and from all the houseboats ferrying tourists and are also fabulous for longer rides on the lakes.

Traditionally built with local cedarwood, all the houseboats and shikaras are tastefully decorated and provide adequate levels of safety and comfort. The houseboats have plush interiors with walnut wood furniture and soft carpeted floors to give you that royal feeling. Your leisurely stay on a houseboat is made more exciting with a variety of cuisines being served on board. Apart from the customary Western, Indian and Chinese, you would get to sample the exotic 'Wazwan'-the traditional Kashmiri spread. Imported from ancient persia,the wazwan banquets have become interwoven with all aspects of Kashmiri life and are held on occasions ranging from weddings and childbirths to celebrations of return from holy pilgrimages. Wazwan is always eaten off a large platter platter traditionally prepared by master chefs called 'Wazas'. Such is the authenticity of the food that even the huge copper cooking vessels have remained unchanged over centuries of celebration!

According to popular belief, even the arts and crafts of the Kashmir valley are heir to an illustrious Persian tradition.On his visit to Samarkand and Persia, the great ruler sultan zain-un-Abidin who reigned over this region from 1420AD – 1470 AD, is believed to have wooed some master craftsmen from those kingdoms to come and settle here. It is from them that modern day Kashmiris have inherited the exquisite arts of making the Pashmina and the Jamewar shawls, hand knotted carpets, walnut wood carvings paper mache artefacts, stone sculptures, gold and silver jewellery and intricately carved copper vessels. Kashmiri paintings have also become a collectors' item over the ages.

Apart from the beautiful lakes the Kashmir valley also serves as a good base to explore numerous hill stations in the surrounding Himalayas. Covered within a days' trip from Srinagar, these include the popular destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Yasmarg, Ahrabal etc.And how could one forget the splendour of the world renowned Mughal Gardens which boasts of an exotic collection of flowers that has lent the valley its distinctive historical charm. Several other monuments and shrines in every nook and corner of the state also speak of the traditional artistic lifestyles and religious beliefs of the people who have lived here for centuries. An important tourist attraction of the place is its ample opportunities for trout fishing which is not only cheaper than anywhere else in the world but also yields both the brown and the rainbow breeds on extremely pleasing angling adventures.

Spring, summer, Autumn and Winter unfold in the valley each with its own inimitable charm that makes for an enjoyable visit at any time of the year, while the cuckoos song heralds the advent of spring with its variety of blossoming trees, summer ushers in the time for all sorts of vigorous sports on the snow covered slopes. The colours of the majestic chinars change in winter, along with enthusiasts who go out for shooting wild geese and ducks.

And to make your stay a memorable one aboard the our beautiful houseboats in this "Paradise on Earth". We are pleased to provide you with a few suggested itineraries that are designed to give you a general guideline on your visit, but can always be changed to suit your special prefer ences:

SRINAGAR

Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. It is a city with beautiful lakes, gardens and religious structures. The river Jhelum flows through the city. The main attraction of the city are its lakes -the Dal, Nagin and Anchar. The Dal, is the Srinagar's largest lake, has a number of floating dwellings called the houseboats. These houseboats can be accessed only with the help of the shikara boats. The houseboats on the Nagin and the Jhelum are situated on the banks of the lake, and can be accessed directly from land. The houseboat and shikara people are self sufficient. On can find doctors, tailors, fruit and vegetable vendors etc, in wooden shops on the lake. A ride on a shikara is an interesting experience particularly as one cruises through the beautiful lotus gardens.

The beauty of the land compelled the Mughal emperors to visit it and they planted various gardens to add to its charm. Chashmashahi is the first Mughal garden built at a height above the city. It is the smallest of all the gardens with three terraces and a natural spring of water enclosed in a stone pavilion. Nishat is the next garden along the road that around the Dal lake. It was built by Empress Noor Jahan's brother Asaf Khan. It is the largest of the gardens and has several terraces, a central water course. The Shalimar Garden was built by Jehangir as a tribute to the beauty of the land. It is surrounded by beautiful chinar trees and possesses a series of stone pavilions and flowing water course.

Apart from the lakes and gardens the city has various structures of religious importance. The Hazratbal Mosque, is made of white marble with a dome and a minaret. The shrine contains a single strand of hair of the Prophet Mohammed, exhibited to the public on certain days of the year.

Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara was built to commemorate the visits of the sixth guru of Sikhs who traveled to Kashmir to preach and stayed at this site where the gurudwara now stands.

The Shankaracharya Temple, is situated at an altitude of 1000 ft, on the highest hill in the city. It is devoted to lord Shiva and dates back to 2500 BC. The philosopher Shankaracharya stayed at this site when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma.

The temple of Sharika Devi is situated on the Hari Parbat hill on the western side of the city. The temple is dedicated to Sharika Devi, believed to be a form of Goddess Durga.

Other places of religious importance in the city are the Kheer Bhavani temple, Jama Masjid, etc.

GULMARG

Gulmarg, also called the meadow of flowers, is a world famous tourist spot in the Baramulla district of Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2730 meters, it is surrounded by dense forests of tall conifers. A huge lush and green cup-shaped meadow encircled by snow-capped mountains.

Gulmarg has the world's highest green golf course, 2680 meters above sea level, one of India's premier resorts for winter sports and the prime ski resort in the country. A cable car up to Kongdori has been installed which is a great hit with tourists. The longest ski run in Gulmarg is provided by the Gondala cable car which allows a ski run of 2213 meters. On a clear day, you can see the Nanga Parbat in one direction and Srinagar in the other from Gulmarg.

A trek to the Alpather lake, 13 km from Gulmarg, can be undertaken from here. This lake remains frozen even in June. There is another spot called Khilanmarg which offers an unparalleled view of the Himalayan peaks.  

The famous shrine of Baba Reshi, a noted Muslim saint who is revered by people of all faiths, is also located near Gulmarg.  

PAHALGAM

Pahalgam is situated 95 kms east of Srinagar. It is a beautiful resort at confluence of Lidder river and the Sheshnag lake. The landscape is marked by steep hills, lush forests and the cascading Lidder river. Extremely popular with tourists, it is an important trekking base. One can trek or hire a pony to some of the most exotic locations in the area. Main ones include the vast meadow of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly wooded pine forests and scenic picnic spots like Hajan and Chandanwari. Chandanwari, is also the starting point of the journey to the Amarnath Shrine which takes place every year in the month of July/August. 11 kms. from Chandanwari is the mountain lake of Sheshnag. Panchtarni, 13 kms from Sheshnag  is the last stop before the Amarnath Cave, 6 kms away.