KASHMIR’S ALLURING BEAUTY
“A floating market? Are you here to sell me goods?” I ask, waking up from my “pleasant dream” as I am suddenly brought back to reality.
I buy a blue tray and bid a quick goodbye. But then, soon there are many of those selling kesar, flowers and dry fruits. I say no to them all and get back to nature — just the Dal and me. It was too precious a moment to be lost.
The evening is spent visiting the famous Nishat gardens and a 100- year- old factory shop that specialises in carpets and Pashmina shawls.
There is not much to do in Srinagar after sunset and we decide to get back to our hotel.
We decide to call it a day after a wazwan dinner and once back in my room, as I surf the internet, I am shocked to read about a terror attack in Srinagar a few hours ago. It says two policemen were killed in a terror attack in Srinagar that morning.
I am taken aback and intrigued at how calm and normal things were as we went about our day. It seems as if the people in the Valley had learnt to take the beauty and the occasional disturbances in their stride, with both existing in a strange, oxymoronic way.
The next morning we head to Gulmarg, which is around 58 km away from Srinagar. Clear skies and a white blanket of snow as far as one can see, it is beauty at its peak.
We reach Gulmarg at 10 am and head for the Gondola ride, a ropeway that goes up to the height of 12,293 feet — the second highest in the world and the highest in Asia. The nineminute ride offers breathtaking views. Beautiful, glorious mountains, chilling winds and glorious sunshine... words fail to describe this beauty.
There are many professional skiers here from all parts of the world and a few of them take a helicopter ride to the peak and then ski their way back.
We try out some snow games — snow scooter, sledge and even savour the kahwa and corn at that height — before making our retreat.
As our plane soared above the sun- kissed, snow- laden Himalayas, my mind went back to the beauty and memories of these two days.
It is not without reason that they say, “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto – hamin asto – hamin asto” ( If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here).