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Come and gain real life experiences by having more fun. Affordable & sustainable travel only for you....
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| PLACES IN KASHMIR |
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SRINAGAR
A jewel of a destination, Kashmir is one of the most amazing holiday destinations in India. Srinagar, the state’s winter capital, is the first stop for most travellers to Kashmir; and with its great lake and meandering river, its exquisite pleasure gardens and romantic shikara rides, the old-world charm of its houseboats and the ageless grace of its architecture, the city is a fitting introduction to the many enchantments of the valley.
GULMARG
Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country. Originally called 'Gaurimarg' by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers.
Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here.
PAHALGAM
Situated at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river, Pahalgam (2,130 m) was once a humble shepherd's village with breathtaking views. Now it is Kashmir's premier resort, cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 25°C.
A number of hotels and lodges cater to all preferences and budgets, from luxurious hotels to unpretentious trekkers' lodges.
VERINAG
Verinag is named after Nila Nag, the son of the wise saint, Kashyap Rishi, who reclaimed the Kashmir valley, the original shape of this spring was in the circular form of a kund. In 1620, the Emperor Jahangir had the shape changed into the traditional Mughal octagonal. The spring, which has a circumference of 80m in enclosed today by a brick wall under which are vaults.
These lake – like waters have a limpid clarity in which the verdant surroundings of pine trees are mirrored.
YUSMARG
Yusmarg in Kashmiri means The Meadow of Jesus. It is believed by the natives that Jesus came to Kashmir and stayed at Yusmarg for some time. It is an alpine valley covered with snow clad mountains and the meadows of Pine and Fir, It lies 13 km south of Charari Sharief a town of Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is situated at the bank of Doodganga River which is a tributory of Jehlum River.
SONMARG
The drive to Sonmarg is through the
Sindh Valley which presents yet another
spectacular facet of countryside in
Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2730
m, Sonmarg ('The meadow of gold') has,
as its backdrop, snowy mountains against
a cerulean sky.
The Sindh River that meanders through
the valley abounds with trout and
mahaseer. Ponies can be hired for the
trip up to Thajiwas glacier, which is a
major local attraction during the summer
months.
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PILGRIMAGES IN KASHMIR |
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SHRI AMARNATH YATRA
Amarnath Yatra in India is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the Trinity gods. The Amarnath shrine is located approximately 145 km from Srinagar, 4,175 m above sea level. The path leading to the holy cave of Amarnathji is inaccessible in the winters.
This is because from September to June, the weather conditions in the area are extremely hostile and the path remains covered with snow.
SHANKARACHARYA TEMPLE
The Shankaracharya Mandir of Kashmir, India is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is thought to be the oldest shrine in the Kashmir valley.
The temple, as it stands today, has undergone many repairs throughout its life. The first repair is supposed to have been done under the rule of Lalitaditya.
The second repairs were undertaken by Zain-ul-Abideen after the temple got damaged in an earthquake. These repairs were carried out during the Governorship of Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din.
KHEER BHAWANI TEMPLE
Located at Tullamula in the Srinagar district, it is a very important Hindu Shrine. The temple is associated with the Hindu Godess, Ragnya Devi. An Annual festival takes place here on Jesht Ashtami ( May-June) when Hindus visit the place in huge numbers to offer prayer to seek the blessings of the diety.
devotees also on every Shukla Paksh Ashtami round the year & perform HAWANS to please the Mother. The Temple of Kheer Bhawani was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 & later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh.
HAZRATBAL MOSQUE
Hazratbal is remarkable for being the only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs. The shrine – mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the mountain beyond.This is displayed to the public on religious occasions, usually accompanied by fairs. Apart from these occasions, Friday prayers are offered at Hazratbal and attended by throngs of people.
JAMA MASJID
The Jama Masjid of Srinagar is situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. An important mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. Later, the son of Sultan Sikandar, Zain-ul-Abidin got the mosque extended.
The attractions of the Jama Masjid of Srinagar, Kashmir include beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture, a magnificent courtyard and 370 wooden pillars.
HARI PARBAT
Hari Parbat (SHARIKA PEETH) is situated at the periphery of Srinagar city is an ancient and on of the holiest place of Kashmir. It is the abode of Maha Shakti. The Divine mother of Shri Jagat Amaba Sharika Bagwati also known as Maha TRIPURSUNDHARI OR RAJESHWARI locally called HARIE. The EIGHTEEN ARMED goddess SHARIKA is regarded as the presiding deity (ISHT-DEVI) of Srinagar city.
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GARDEN & LAKES |
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DAL LAKE
Dal Lake has rightfully become an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. A Himalayan urban lake, it has five basins and a number of channels that are well linked with each other.
There are plenty of fishes in Dal Lake and fishery is the second largest industry of the region centered on the lake.
The sparkling quiet waters of Dal surrounded by snow-capped mountains on its three sides, undoubtedly mark it as one of the most beautiful lakes of India.
NAGIN LAKE
Nagin Lake, a subsidiary of the Dal Lake, is regarded as a separate lake. Swimming, diving and boating are some of its major attraction. Its picturesque locales consist of Shankaracharya hill, Hari Parbat and a number of willow and poplar trees along its banks.
Leading from the Dal is the smaller Nagin Lake. Trees of willow and poplar whose reflection is mirrored in the lake edge the waters. One can hire Bathing Boats here, as well as on the Dal along with the exciting water-skis and motor launches.
WULAR LAKE
Bestowed with an unmatchable natural scenic beauty, Wular lake draws several tourists through out the year who are absolutely overwhelmed at the bewitching beauty of the place. One of the prominent place of tourist interest, Wular is located at a short distance of sixty kilometers from the beautiful city of Srinagar.
The largest natural fresh water lake, Wular lake is the off-shoot of River Jhelum.
SHALIMAR GARDEN
Emperor Jehangir got the Shalimar Garden built for his wife Nur Jahan in 1616. A second garden Faiz Baksh, (The Bountiful) was added to it later during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658). Covering an area of approximately 539 m by 182 m, the Shalimar garden offers an amazing view over the other gardens, lakes and shallow terraces.
Also known as the "garden of love", the Shalimar Mughal Gardens has four terraces, rising one above the other.
NISHAT GARDEN
Nishat Garden is the largest one of the Mughal gardens in Kashmir. It is situated on the banks of the picturesque Dal Lake. Also known as "the garden of bliss", the Nishat gardens have the Zabarwan Mountains forming its backdrop.
Asaf Khan, the brother of Nur Jahan, designed the Nishat Bagh in 1633 AD. Within the garden are ruins of some of the buildings dating back to the Mughal period.
CHASHMASHAHI
Chashmashahi is the smallest of the three Mughal
Gardens of Kashmir. Meaning Royal Spring, this garden measures 108 m by 38 m and is above the Nehru Memorial Park. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan set up the Kashmir Chashma Shahi Mughal Gardens in 1632 AD.
The garden is quite famous for spring of energizing digestive mineral water inside it. Chasma Shahi Garden of Kashmir, India, offers a striking view of the scenic Dal Lake and the neighboring mountains.
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ADVENTURES IN KASHMIR |
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MOUNTAINEERING
Climbing in these Himalayas can be very invigorating. An expedition can take a month, Srinagar to Srinagar. Rich in flora and fauna, the summits of most peaks are a spine-tingling experience with views of the neighboring countries of Pakistan and Tibet. One can climb the peaks of Kolahoi(5,425 m) and Harmukh (5,148 m), quickly making an alpine ascent. With the mighty ranges of the Himalayas towering 10,000 to 28,000 feet above the sea level, mountaineering options in Kashmir are almost unlimited.
RIVER RAFTING
The challenge of holding your balance in the midst of speedy water is what river rafting is all about. And India, with a large network of rivers, is the place to be if you wish to enjoy the thrills of rafting. Originating from the great heights of the mountains, especially the great Himalayas, these rivers speed down in a way that makes you feel as if they are in a hurry to reach the plains and enjoy a long overdue freedom.
SKIING
In the world, the number of Skiing resorts are very limited as the sport requires utterly flawless facilities and perfect landscapes.
India is not unfamiliar with skiing, Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir is the best place to indulge in skiing adventure sports. In fact if one talks about skiing in J&K, it is only about Gulmarg as it has one of the most renowned skiing resort in Asia, when it comes to facilities and surrounding ecstasies.
GOLF IN KASHMIR
Kashmir offers a unique opportunity to play golf all through the summer – from April to November – in invigorating surroundings, where the wind whispers through enormous trees of chinar and stately pine.
In the verdant golf courses at Srinagar and Gulmarg, you will be able to play for longer hours than you can in the plains because of the lower temperatures – Srinagar’s highest temperature seldom goes above 35°C.
PARAGLIDING
Paragliding is a popular adventure sport that attracts tourists to Kashmir. Krishna Travels offers you a detailed guide of parasailing, hot air ballooning and paragliding activities in Kashmir. Aero sports are a rage amongst those visiting the Kashmir valley.
Amongst the numerous aero sports, paragliding is the most popular in Kashmir.
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