It was a tremendous journey and an experience of my lifetime. I was at the 'Heaven on Earth', and this feeling was enough to raise my spirits. We have been thinking of a delightful Kashmir tour for so long, but unfortunately it was just a dream till june 2013. But this time around, we planned Kashmir trip seriously, and at one fine day, we leave for a journey to this natural heaven.
Nestled in lap of Himalaya, Kashmir is a part of northernmost Indian state Jammu & Kashmir. Most often, a Kashmir trip begins from Srinagar - the summer capital of the state, and we also chose the same. Srinagar is well connected to Delhi by roads, railways and flights. We opted for the second option - by trains. Since Srinagar does not have its own railway station, we took train to Jammu (the nearest railhead). After that, an overnight Volvo bus carried us to the beautiful Srinagar. The city welcomed us with amazing panorama of Himalayan Mountains and lush green orchids at morning time. Mist-clad mountains, lovely weather and endless greenery gave a small rush of smile on everyone's face.
The first day was for Srinagar sightseeing. After dropping our bags in hotel rooms and taking breakfast, we headed on to the Nishant Bagh and Shalimar Bagh. The gardens are situated on the bank of Dal Lake and are impressively built in Mughal style of architecture. An enchanting array of flora & fauna in these gardens leave all visitors spellbound. The famous Dal Lake is a must-visit attraction, when you're in Srinagar. A vast expense of water bodies, Dal is surrounded by panoramic hills & orchids. We enjoyed Shikara ride in the lake and spend splendid time in nearby markets. The area has great dining options. Dinner overnight in a deluxe Houseboat was truly a mesmeric experience.
On the very next day, we visited historical mosques, temples and markets in Srinagar. It was a great fun shopping in the city's lively markets, which are famous for Pushmina shawls and Kashmiri handicrafts.
