Discovering Paradise on Earth: A Land of Unmatched Beauty and Hospitality

Everybody must have once thought about what heaven must look like. I was lucky enough to pay a visit to the same on Earth. This year, my mom and I travelled to a place famously known as 'Paradise on Earth' - Kashmir. This beautiful city of India was on my bucket list for so long, and finally, I got the opportunity to travel there.

April was the perfect month to travel as we could enjoy both - the snow and the grassland. We were a group of six travelling together from Delhi to Srinagar via road, and it was nothing less than fun and adventure. (One thing about Kashmir is that the tourist needs to buy a sim from there, otherwise the phones won't work).Finally, around 9 pm, we reached our hotel in Srinagar and checked in in our respective rooms. Everyone bathed, had dinner, and slept, as all six of us were exhausted. 

The first destination in the itinerary was Sonmarg - The Meadow of Gold. Thankfully, our room had a marvellous view- a river (Jhelum) with the mountains in the back. After our breakfast, we left for Sonmarg, which was at least a 3-hour journey from Srinagar. The best part about a road trip is that you will never be disappointed with the view - the mountains covered with snow and the green trees, a river running beneath it, mustard fields, and the cool and fresh air. (While travelling to Sonmarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam, one needs to book a local taxi as private vehicles are not allowed to go after a certain point). 

Our driver dropped us at the parking lot, from where we took a taxi and rented gumboots to have fun in the snow. Making a miniature snowman, throwing snowballs, and then sledging down the snow, all six of us had a blast. It was particularly exciting for me as I was seeing snow for the first time in my life. In the evening, we drove back to the hotel and retired for the day.

The second day was a little less hectic as we went for local sightseeing and shopping in Srinagar (Summer Capital). After breakfast, we left for 1-hour Shikara ride, followed by the most famous Tulip Gardens. During the Shikara ride, various vendors approached us in their boats selling flowers, fruits, beverages, and more. We also saw a spot where the Bollywood movie 'Haider' was filmed. 

Every April, the Tulip Festival is held, showcasing various species of flowers, and we were lucky to experience it. There were stalls and restaurants where we had lunch and bought some memoirs. In the evening, we chilled and did more shopping at the infamous Lal Chowk - a local marketplace, after which we stayed at the houseboat.

The next place to visit was another snowy mountain - Gulmarg (The Meadow of Flowers). Our driver dropped us at the parking lot and from there to the Gondola ride station we took a local tax

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i. Our group has only booked Phase 1 ticket which means that our cable car ascended approximately 3000 mts above. Obviously, the weather was chilly and we had to dress up accordingly. Over there my mom and I learnt some skiing after falling a few times, it was tiring but fun. On the top of the mountains, we enjoyed a bowl of Maggi and a plate of momos, along with hot coffee. The day couldn't be more perfect, and for dessert, we had a local sweet dish called Kashmiri Kulcha which is only available in Gulmarg. It was time to descend and go back to our hotel to rest and rejuvenate for the next day.

The last place in the itinerary was Pahalgam -  'The Shepherds Valley'. We checked out from the hotel and made our way to Pahalgam, en route we did some more shopping for Saffron and other Dry Fruits. On the way we saw the orchards of apples and walnuts, the driver even stopped at an Apple Orchard from where we drank organic apple juice. He also made a halt at a mosque where a song sequence from the Indian movie 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' was shot. 

By the time we reached Pahalgam, it was evening, and all six of us quickly freshened up to explore the well-known ABC Valley - Aru, Betaab, and Chandanwari. The view was just mesmerizing and peaceful, which makes you realise, why Kashmir is known as 'Heaven on Earth'. In Aru, we saw a house that was again used in the movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan as a residence for the main character. The Betaab Valley is the place where the film Betaab was picturised. Chandanwari was just another snow-covered mountain. 

We made our way back to the hotel and sat for dinner, knowing that this was our last meal together. Everyone had mixed feelings, and we spent a lot of time chatting and discussing all the things that happened throughout this thrilling journey.

Finally, the day had arrived, we checked out from the hotel, said our goodbyes, and made our way to our respective destinations with sweet memories. However, one should be aware of the climate while travelling to Kashmir. Landslide due to heavy rainfall/snowfall can lead to road blocking, which can disrupt the whole itinerary. One can spend hours or even days waiting in traffic jams and not being able to visit some tourist places.

However, the overall experience was refreshing, soul-touching, and fun - Kashmir is a true gem of natural beauty. The best part was the hospitality and the helpful nature of Kashmiris, which makes you feel safe in an unknown City.

“Gar firdaus, bar ruhe zamin ast,hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.”

“If there is paradise on this earth, it is here, it is here, it is here…” Spoken in awe by the great poet Amir Khusrau.