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Under the Chinar Trees: My Wanderings in the Kashmir Valley (Part 3)

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A Journey Through Pahalgam’s Living Postcards October 11, 2022: Our stay in Pahalgam felt like living inside a sprawling landscape painting. We woke to a view that felt as if it had been brushed onto the windowpane: a theater of raw, liquid energy. The river was the master of the scene—a churning torrent of icy, crystal-clear water that surged over massive, prehistoric boulders with a relentless and powerful grace. In the soft light of early morning, the spray from the rapids rose like a delicate veil, creating a fine mist that hung suspended over the banks. Through this translucent haze, the surrounding pine trees appeared as dark, emerald silhouettes emerging from a dream, their needles glistening with the river's breath. The soundtrack to this visual was a deep, resonant roar—a symphony of water hitting stone that was at once humbling in its might and deeply, incredibly peaceful in its rhythm. As we prepared for the day, it felt as though we were venturing from one masterpiece i...
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Under the Chinar Trees: My Wanderings in the Kashmir Valley (Part 2)

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The Unspoken Beauty of Doodhpatri While Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg were the mainstays of our itinerary, it was an unexpected detour that truly stole our hearts and left a lasting impression. We had read about Doodhpatri in a travel blog and decided to give it a try, opting to visit en route from Gulmarg to Pahalgam. Riding through the greens The winding road October 10, 2022:  We started our day early, after a sumptuous breakfast at our hotel, excited for the journey ahead. As we left the bustling city behind, the landscape transformed. The road from Srinagar to Doodhpatri was a scenic journey in itself, a ribbon of asphalt winding through a canvas of charming villages and farmlands. It was autumn, and the harvest was done, leaving a quiet serenity over the fields. We passed by acres where golden straw was rolled up in neat bundles, left in piles like forgotten haystacks, a perfect symbol of the season. At places, children were playing games, their laughter echoing through the...
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Under the Chinar Trees: My Wanderings in the Kashmir Valley (Part 1)

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Our excitement was palpable, a buzzing energy that had been building for months as we planned our escape to the crown jewel of the Himalayas. I had spent so many nights pouring over maps and photographs that I could almost visualize the serene vistas and the crisp mountain air before we even left home. Finally, the day has arrived, and that long-held excitement has transformed into the breathtaking beginning of our adventure. October 07, 2022: The lingering sweetness of incense from the Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata was still fresh in our minds. We traded the humid bustle of the city for the crisp, thin air of the Valley. Kashmir in October is a masterpiece of transition—where the greens of summer begin to surrender to the golden hues of autumn. Our journey began in Srinagar, where our hotel sat perched beside the Jhelum River . The river here feels like the city's heartbeat—steady, ancient, and wise. In the afternoon, we walked along its banks, crossing a magnificent wooden brid...
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Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains: From Tawang’s Heights to the Serenity of Bomdila (Part 3)

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October 23, 2018:   As we bid farewell to Tawang and began our descent toward Bomdila , the mountains decided to show us their "other" face. While our journey up had been a thrilling battle with mists and shadows, the return trip was bathed in an almost surreal brilliance. Sela Pass: A Transformation in Gold and Blue Reaching Sela Pass for the second time felt like visiting a brand-new destination. Gone were the "flocks of cloud" and the heavy veil of mist. Under a bright, shining sun , the pass was a different wonder altogether. The Sela Lake (Tso Lhamo) , which had been a ghostly silhouette on our way up, was now a dazzling expanse of mesmerizing, bright blue water . The clarity of the high-altitude air made the surrounding snow-capped peaks look sharp enough to cut the sky. The reflection of the sun on the water was so intense it looked like scattered diamonds. We spent a long time here, simply absorbing the silence and the vibrant colors that only the Himalayan...
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