Srinagar Is Much More Than Just Houseboats!

Everyone will agree! Being in Srinagar feel like utopia come alive, right? It has been ages that Jhelum River kept living on its promise and fostering the paradise-like-place, Jammu & Kashmir and Srinagar holds the responsibility like a first child of the state. When I landed on the Srinagar Airport which is a well-established international airport, I got awestruck by its first sight and hence “love at first sight proved”.

Those gigantic forested mountains were challenging my limits to eye around them because they were extremely mystic and limitless. The lush forestry living amidst the mountains allured me to know about them. I assure you that the same instinct will fill-up your veins when you stare at them. This was just one tiny teaser of a full-fledged movie that I was going to watch live.

Majorly, most of you might have got acquainted with Srinagar’s famous places like Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, but how many of you know the ground scratch of Srinagar. Well, it’s absolutely heart-pounding and some facts really amazed me. Really, nature is unpredictable and every minute it is changing and make us just keep guessing!

Scroll down for what made me say that “this Srinagar was completely unknown to me”!

I didn’t know Gurez was this beauty!

The serene ambience around the Gurez Valley made me feel like I am experiencing heaven on earth and as they say “The Heaven” belongs to Jammu & Kashmir, yes! They say it rightly so. Being a girl, It’s obvious that people see you with frowned eyes when you adventure with a bike ride in the jungles of Gurez Valley and meeting the habitats of it. What I really loved the most is the immaculate water of Kishanganga River flowing against Habba Khatoon peak which even makes me go gaga with its “backstory” thing. Do you know the peak’s name is after the famous Kashmiri poet “Haba Khatoon”? Another thing that made me eternally blessed is meeting the Peer Baba and his story. Well, for that you have to visit the beautiful Gurez Valley. 

The unpredictable Warwan Valley kept me amazed!

One of the remotest valleys of Jammu & Kashmir, it is situated in Kishtwar District. The valley is served by the Warwan River which is the emergence of the confluence of Barkot and Gumbar streams. It was a bit frightening to cross Margan Top to reach the valley. The constant staring at the river struck me the fact that this is the loyal witness of place since ages. Spending time here got me confused with nature’s “code of conduct”. I mean the variation in nature will also feed you up with abundant questions. I also suggest you to live in this place once in your life.

Doodhpathri experience went like never before!

Just 42 kilometres away from Srinagar, this place is a divine place! Doodhpathri is situated in Budgam District of Jammu & Kashmir. What really made me blown away was the story behind the name of the Doodhpathri Hill Station in Budgam District of Jammu & Kashmir. Locals say that the famous saint Sheikh ul Alam Sheikh Noor Din Noorani was once searching for water and dug for the same but instead of water, the dig resulted into milk and since then it is known as Doodhpathri or Valley of Milk. The endless beauty of silver-shining streams and lush green grass has the ability to make you fall in love with it. What really slowed me down were the multicolour flowers all over.

Not Only Just Srinagar But Around The Srinagar!

Most of you know that the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir is the perfect escape to dwell into eternity. But, there are just hand-full of people who know about these valleys and hill stations that are not only equipped with nature’s best spells but also holds a whole lot of intriguing stories to keep you “aww-inspired”. So, are you planning to give your first visit to these places?

،گر فردوس بر روئے زمین است

ہمیں است! ہمیں است و ہمیں است! ۔‎

(If there is a heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here)