INSHALLAH HOUSEBOATS
ABOUT KASHMIR SRINAGAR (INDIA)
Lying on the banks of River Jhelum with deep and mesmerizing valleys cascaded in sky scraping mountains and evergreen beauty, Srinagar blends together the tints of nature, beauty, harmony and romance.
With deep and mesmerising valleys cascaded in sky-scraping mountains and evergreen beauty, this heaven on Earth leaves you absolutely mesmerised. Right from Chashm-E-Shahi to the exotic Shalimar garden, Srinagar offers bountiful of places to visit. Surrounded by mountains for the adventurous lot to lakes for photoholics to shopping markets for the spendthrifts, Srinagar does not disappoint anyone.
The snow clad peaks in the Himalaya and the undulated hilly mountainous regions are perfectly suitable for all types of trekking expeditions. Sonamarg is the base camp for many trekking expeditions. The major treks passing through various mountain lakes such as Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Kishansar has its base at Sonamarg.
Dal Lake
Nigeen Lake
KASHMIR GULMARG (INDIA)
Gulmarg, the meadow of flowers, is one of Asia's premier hill resorts for its legendary beauty, prime location and the range of choices it offers to the visitors. Famous for its exquisite valleys, gorgeous streams, fascinating slopes for every sort of skiing and hiking, Gulmarg is also home to one of the highest golf courses in the world. Gulmarg is equally most sought after place in summers as well as in winters for, it offers myriad choices during summers like greenery and flower beds all around, with beautiful lakes, sublime valleys and Gulmarg Gandola. During winters, the place is thronged by the tourists for its snowy slopes where skiing is done.
Heli-skiing was introduced in Gulmarg, for the first time in India during the mid 1980s in collaboration with the world renowned French skier, Sylvain Saudan of Himalaya Heli-Ski Club of France. For this highly exciting sport, skiers are taken to the top of mountain ridges by helicopters from where they ski down the immense Himalayan slopes. Initially, the programme was started at Apharwat in Gulmarg. Subsequently, other sites in the Kashmir Himalayas were also used for the purpose.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there. The roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season, nature's colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides. Gulmarg is a self sufficient place having hotels of all choices and pockets. A market is also there offering all a tourist could imagine. The place is open to tourists throughout the year
Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve
Home to numerous species of flora, fauna, & avifauna, the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve is among the most popular tourist places to visit in Gulmarg for wildlife lovers. Biodiversity blooms here in its richest form.The conifers and green herbs give the entire sanctuary a scenic appearance. This offers ample opportunities to capture the animals in scenic settings.
The endangered Musk Deer is the main attraction of the reserve. Other species of animals include Hangul, Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear, and Red Fox. The biosphere reserve is also a paradise for ornithologists. The area has a large population of indigenous and migratory birds including, inter alia, Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Pigeon Monal, Snow Cock, Kashmir Roller, and Jungle Crow. Also, it would be more fun to check this out during winter in Kashmir.
Strawberry Valley
A favorite destination of the yesteryear Bollywood movies, the idyllic Strawberry Field is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Gulmarg. Travelers can walk to this pristine part of Gulmarg or take a pony ride.
During summers, the fresh
strawberries are ripe to be plucked and savored.
Quick Fact: Many scenes of
the Shashi Kapoor – Amitabh Bachchan starrer Namak Halal
were shot in and around the Strawberry Field.
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Strawberry Valley Address: Strawberry Valley, Gulmarg
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, Jammu and Kashmir
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Strawberry Valley Timing: 24-hrs
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Best time to visit Strawberry Valley(preferred time):
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09:00 am - 04:00 pm
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Time required to visit Strawberry Valley: 03:00 Hrs
Apharwat Peak: Snow Clad Year Round
At an altitude of approx. 4,200 meters above sea level, the Apharwat Peak is one of the most beautiful places to visit in and around Gulmarg. It lies in the second phase of the Gondola cable car ride from Gulmarg and reaching the peak is dependent on the weather conditions.
The beautiful summit remains covered with snow for most of the year and the snow-clad slopes are among the best ones for snowboarding and skiing in India. Another noteworthy point is that the Line of Control (LOC) is only a few kilometers from this peak.
Gondola Cable Car
Seven Springs: Seven Natural Water Outlets
Known for its seven natural outlets of water, the Seven Springs offer a majestic view of both Srinagar and Gulmarg valleys from the top. The famous Gondola cable car ride takes you from Gulmarg to the Seven Springs in Kongdori. This is one of the best ways to enjoy natural views and adventure in Gulmarg.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is a scenic hill station in the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory of India. The scenic mountain valleys in Pahalgam are a popular tourist destination which looks like heaven on Earth. These are like silent valleys in the wilderness of the Mighty Himalayas present in the Indian Territory. The Pahalgam Valleys are an important trekking route to Amarnath and Mount Kailash pilgrimage. These scenic mountain valleys are with prominence with 8,000-ft above the mean sea level. They are with snow during the winter and alpine meadows during the summer. They are an eye-soothing place that one must visit once in a lifetime. Pahalgam is a tourist-friendly place in Kashmir. Its locals are the guide to go trekking trails in the Pahalgam Valley. Its mountain valleys are the best place to visit by honeymooners, adventure seekers, nature lovers, and Himalayan tour takers in India. This place has one of the best tourist facilities and amenitie
This is a scenic valley in Pahalgam, which got its name after the Bollywood film shooting the Betaab. Since then, this place has had many tourists arrivals throughout the peak season. Earlier, this valley was lesser known to the tourists as Hagoon Valley. They are like a silent valley, where you cannot find any places with modernization. The conifers forest covers this valley with exotic greenery looks. This is followed by the streams from Lidder River flowing down-streams of this valley. You can also see the Lidder River while trekking to reach Betaab Valley in Pahalgam. Its hiking and trekking routes are with moderate difficulties.
Yet, once you reach this valley, you will feel you are in a paradise. You can breathe fresh air, hear the sound of water streams, and see the lush green conifers forest alongside the mountain valley. In-between the valley, there are lush green meadows to walk along with streams of waters here and there. You can see many hangul, and musk deer in this valley. One can see them while hiking in this valley. It is the best place to camp and does night stargazing. The adventure seekers can try their trail routes during the summer season. Yet, you will be on the lap of Mother Nature throughout your hike in this scenic mountain valley.
Betaab Valley.
Betaab valley is situated at a distance of 15 kilometers from Pahalgam in Anantnag district in India's northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley got its name from the Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh hit debut film Betaab. The Valley is towards northeast of Pahalgam and falls between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi and is en route Amarnath Temple Yatra. The valley surrounded by lush green meadows, snow clad mountains and covered with dense vegetation.
Chandanwari.
Chandanwari, situated in the outskirts of Pahalgam, is a place of immense religious and tourist significance. It is the commencement point of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is an important pilgrimage held in the Hindu month of Sawan.
Blessed with ethereal natural beauty, this place has always been a delightful destination for visitors coming to the Kashmir valley. Undulating terrains and sparse greenery dominate the topography of this small and scenic hamlet.
The gushing Sheshnag River traverses this region and makes its landscape all the more enchanting. While driving to this place from Pahalgam, visitors are greeted with stunning vistas of snow-capped peaks and the Lidder River flowing through the vale. Chandanwari offers ample of opportunities for engaging activities like trekking, hiking, pony ride, palanquin ride and snow sledging.
The Aru valley is noted for its scenic meadows.[4][5] It is popular among the tourists for its peaceful environment and scenic beauty.
The village is a base camp for trekkers to the Kolahoi Glacier, the Tarsar-Marsar lakes and the Katrinag valley. It is also a base for the treks to Lidderwat, the Vishansar-Kishansar lakes and Kangan.[6][1] The Kolahoi is the largest glacier in the Kashmir Valley, and is located near Mt. Kolahoi (5425m), the highest peak in the Valley. A number of hotels, restaurants and huts are available for boarding and lodging.
There are about 20 alpine lakes, peaks and meadows around the Aru Valley. In the winters, when Aru receives heavy snowfall, skiing and heliskiing are practiced. Other popular tourist activities include fishing of trout in the Lidder river, trekking, hiking, horse riding, sightseeing and photography
Baisaran Valley
Often dubbed as 'Mini Switzerland' because of its long dark meadows resembling the ones in Switzerland, Baisaran is an eye-catching meadow, located just 5 km away from Pahalgam. The dense pine forest that gives the green carpet look to the meadow provides a contrasting hue to snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains. A major tourist place to visit in Pahalgam, a voyage to the meadow is truly a treat for the senses. Additionally, Baisaran is also an ideal campsite for trekkers who want to move further up to Tulian Lake. Accessible through ponies from Pahalgam, this off-beaten track of Jammu and Kashmir tourism offers panoramic sights of the town and Lidder Valley.