Day 142-2011 : Paradise On Earth - Part 3

Day 3 in Kashmir and we find ourselves in Pahalgam.  Pahalgam is one of the most beautiful places in Kashmir.  The scenery, when I woke up in the morning and looked out of the window of my hotel room, was amazing.  The rising sun was shining bright on the snow lying on the mountains...radiant!

After breakfast, we headed out to a place called Chandanwari.  We did not know what to expect, but when we reached there, we realised that we are going to meet snow, point blank range for the first time.  It was a steep climb made a little dangerous by some of the snow slowly turning into ice.  And guess what, we made our first snowman here!  Now, making a snowman is not as easy a task as it sounds, especially without any gloves.  The palms of our hands started freezing after the first few scoops of the snow.  However, we finally managed to erect something that might resemble an emaciated and gaunt snowman!  Suryanksh was mighty upset (which is seen in the picture below) that we did not carry a carrot for making the snowman's nose, in spite of him telling us that repeatedly for the past one month!  Small twigs would have to do for the nose as of now!

We came down in a sledge when descending the slopes.  It is a bit scary (given that these are hand-made wooden sledges) but also an exhilarating experience.  It took us exactly a minute to slide down the slopes which we had climbed in about forty minutes.

On our way back to the hotel, we visited the Betaab Valley, christened so because the Sunny Deol - Amrita Singh starrer, Betaab, was shot on location here.  Again, more beautiful landscapes.  The locals have tried to maintain the landscape as it was in the film.

I have been asked to also describe my interactions with the local Kashmiris.  To be honest, for the first few days, I held back myself from picking their brains, just to test the waters.  Only after being comfortable of the fact that Kashmiris are not necessarily hostile to their countrymen who do not happen to be Kashmiris, did I open up.  The people were extremely friendly and helpful!  Kashmiris respect tourists, because their livelihood depends on tourists, at least for a vast majority of them.  There is acceptance of this fact peace brings prosperity.  I spoke to a shop keeper, who was very happy that the situation in the last five months has been relatively peaceful thus allowing the tourism industry to function.  Priya went to buy Rajma (imagine buying Rajma from Kashmir for taking it to Mumbai!!!!) in a grocer's shop near our hotel in Srinagar and the shopkeeper, after learning that she is a tourist from Mumbai, offered her tea and insisted that she have it!  It is a place where tourism drives a lot of things and there is no tourism for 5-6 months when it is snowing.  I was told that they lock themselves up in those 6 months in their homes and do nothing.  Hence the window to earn for their livelihood is drastically reduced.  It is ironical that in such a beautiful place, the people live a very hard and difficult life.  One or two of them though, from the younger lot, did come across as someone who considered themselves different from Indians, especially when they were negotiating for money!

After lunch and the mandatory afternoon nap that my better half has to have, we went for a visit to Aru Valley.  The drive to Aru Valley is so jaw-droppingly picturesque, I was spell-bound by the landscape.  It was a very narrow pathway and in fading light, especially while coming back, the driver of our Maruti Omni showed great driving skills!  I was impressed.

Another day had gone by.  As I was dozing off after dinner, I couldn't help but think that I had not bargained to be presented with such wonders of nature when I decided to come to Kashmir.  Little did I know that there was more to come.

Take care.