An Off season Kashmir Trip
Well !! They say its heaven on the earth. Paradise, a cogent moniker that Kashmir earned with ease, is an exaggeration by no means. But that doesnot come without a rider- " Go there when it is best to do so ". On the northernmost horn of India, Kashmir stands renowned for its pristine valleys and milky rivers. For a tourist who goes there at the peak of happenings, it is without doubt a treat for the eyes.
Here is a account of what can be expected in Kashmir when you reach there with not too much of tourists folks around. Generally, the peak season lasts from April to July. April being the month when the famous Tulip gardens bloom at its best. After the tourism sun, if there is any such thing, sets in July, the valley sees a lean period of travelers. The silver lining is almost everything becomes half as costly as ever.
The first thing you may have to content with is the fact that there would not be any Snow anywhere in the valley except for the unreachable heights of the Himalayas. All the famous tourist spots Kashmir is known for will have no Snow to offer. But still all is not lost as the following things can still light you up.
1. Boat Ride in Dal lake :
Almost smack in the center of Srinagar is the famous Dal lake and the Shikaras floating atop it. As the evening sets in and the birds fall back to their nests, make yourself available on a Shikara feasting on the wonder nature has to offer. Though the world is crazy about Houseboats and an overnight stay in it, for most people house bot stay may not be the a soothing experience afterall.
2. Gulmarg: Snow clad hill, sprawling fields of white and bone chilled to the core, well that's the story when it snows in Gulmarg and when it's not it's all as green as it can get. Beware of holidays in the valley as the cable cars would be resting then and you would be left with the plains to explore. Kashmir being kashmir, everything is mesmerizing but nowhere near what it really is, the heaven. Restrain urself from hopping onto any horse as any money you would pay would be a scorching memory. Better just stroll around the horses grazing over there.
3. Sonmarg: Nearly 60 km from Srinagar, Sonmarg is a place to go at any time. The drive in itself is good to remember, the streams, villages all worth mentioning. But the moment you reach the main base, you will be hounded by horsemen promising heaven. Heaven it is, no doubt, but the money they ask for will milk your purse. Get a horse ride for 500-600 Rs and trek upto Thajiwas glacier to soak in the whole of pristine mother nature there. As the mercury remains relatively high during this time of the year, you can walk upto the place where the ice melts to form streams, something that you dont see daily.
4. Pehalgam : Hop on to a taxi from Srinagar and a four hour drive will take you to Pehalgam. Once in Pehalgam, there are four good places you can be at namely Betaab valley, Baisaran valley, Aru valley and Chandanwari. Baisaran also known as Mini Switzerland is a meadow rolled out atop a hill. When the mercury drops, its fully covered with snow, living up to the name it is known by. But the real fun lies in the trek to reach Baisaran. Closest to being called a vertical climb, the trek is best done on a pony. If climbing the hill doesn't pump enough adrenaline, climbing down with your nose ahead of the horse will certainly do. The only spoiler can be the bargaining before the trek. What should ideally be around 1k per head is blown up to 9k. Aru valley, Chandanwari and Betaab valley can be covered in a day with a taxi. It goes without saying that all these places are best to be at during the peak season when the nature is at it's best.
On a whole, being in Kashmir is an experience in itself, be it off season or not. Having said that, it's worth knowing that nothing matches its beauty when it matters the most. In addition to the above mentioned places, there are many gardens in and around Srinagar worth visiting. Bon voyage
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