Sonamarg! That was our destination on this, the penultimate day of our wonderful holiday. We kicked off our day trip just after breakfast. It was a 2 hour drive to Sonamarg from Srinagar. We did stop on the way at Kangan for something that we had by now got addicted to - Kahwah!
The landscape en route to Sonamarg are simply breathtaking! Tall snow-capped mountains sometimes lined with pine trees and sometimes just brown and barren were simply a sight to watch. We also stopped briefly to take in the beauty of the surroundings. Of course, we also couldn't resist a good snow ball fight! Priya and the kids on one side and me, fighting a three pronged attack valiantly, on the other side.
Finally we reached Sonamarg. The mountains were all covered with snow. There were many tourists (and their vehicles) at the site. We immediately embarked on an 'expedition' to trek our way up the hills. No sooner had we started off, we were surrounded by men offering their services to accompany us to the top along with their sledges. Our short walk and the rarefied thin air made us realise that we would need them. Especially with the two kids. So we hired them. I thought we hired two of them, but realised that four of them were walking alongside us within a few moments. The expedition party was becoming bigger. We used the sledges, the men pulling them on our climb up the mountains. The kids were loving it and so was Priya. I climbed for most part of our journey, as the guy was finding it really difficult to climb while pulling my sledge. We reached the top and the sight was amazing!
We then had to make the mandatory snowman, of course! We did that and then started our descent. The plan was to use the sledges on our way down. Considering that it was quite steep, it was indeed a bit scary. But it took us a fraction of the time to slide down the slopes compared to the time it took for our laboured climb up! After a bit of haggling, the 'sherpas' were paid off. I however realised, after speaking to others, that we paid about four times of what some of the others paid for the same services. Looked like we had been taken for a ride by the locals...literally and figuratively as well! But I do not mind it. For us it is a once in a lifetime experience; for the locals it was only one of the few ways they could earn their livelihoods in a terrain like this.
After a very tasty lunch, at probably the only hotel in sight, we started our drive back to Srinagar. Once we reached Srinagar, the ladies were all in a frenzy keen to do some shopping. The men folk weren't interested. So it was decided that the men would retreat to the hotel after dropping the women at the main market for the shopping. After the shopping the women would join them at the hotel. Priya was back in a couple of hours, just in time for dinner. However, she seemed worried. Two out of the four women had got lost in the crowded market and had not yet reached the hotel. Moreover, Priya narrated an incident which she witnessed in the market. A government vehicle which was towing away illegally parked vehicles in Srinagar's main market area was attacked by a stone-pelting mob. She was, very justifiably so, very frightened.
The busy day however took its toll and after dinner, we had a good night's sleep. I must say, the hotel was very comfortable as well, compared to the one that we were in at Gulmarg.
My dream holiday had almost come to an end. All that was left of it was the flight back to Mumbai the next day.
Take care!
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