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bird
watcher's paradise, and
as your Shikara glides through this mirror of tranquility,
you will experience yet another facet of Kashmir. Here and
there, you will hear women chanting some age-old ditty as they
pick water chestnuts, deftly navigating the weeds in
flat-bottomed skiffs.
Watlab
Watlab is actually the 'real Kashmir', and miles away from
well-traversed areas. Here, high on a hilltop is the shrine of
a Muslim mystic, Baba Shukurddin. From here, the Wular Lake
stretches away as far as the eye can see, edged by picturesque
villages around terraced breeze-rippled fields of paddy, in a
riotous burst of colour. At Watlab there is a Forest Rest
House amidst sprawling apple orchards. You can rest here to
enjoy the sheer grandeur of the spectacular countryside at
leisure. Achabal
Once the pleasure retreat of Empress Nur Jehan, Achabal (1,677
m) has a fine garden in the Mughal style, with its own special
charm and character. Achabal is 58 kms from Srinagar, via
Anantnag. It was in Kashmir that the Mughal Garden was brought
to perfection, and Achabal is one such masterpiece. Situated
at the foot of a hill with a row of majestic chinars framing
it, the Mughal garden is a visual delight with their stepped
terraces, formal elegance, ornamental shrubs, sparkling
fountains and falling water.
Daksum
Tucked away in a densely forested gorge at an altitude of 2438
m, Daksum would be completely silent but for the Bringhi river
which gushes through it. Daksum is a walker's paradise. Up the
hills which are swathed in coniferous trees, past gurgling
brooks, the simple, haunting notes of a flute will waft down
to you from where an unseen shepherd tends his flock. For in
the hills surrounding Daksum, suddenly you will find yourself
in grassy meadows where sheep are taken to pasture. The
bracing mountain air, solitude, densely clad hills and snow
covered mountains, all contribute to Daksum's mystique, making
it the perfect retreat. |
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Kokernag
Situated in the heart of Bringhi valley, Kokernag (2,020 m),
about 70 kms from Srinagar, is set amidst sprawling gardens
fragrant with the bloom of thousands of flowers. The Kokernag
spring bubbles at seven places at the foot of the forested
mountain. The water of the spring is famous for its medicinal
and digestive properties.
Yousmarg
Yousmarg is about 47 kms, a two hours drive from Srinagar.
Yousmarg is the famous picnic spot located near Srinagar.
Yousmarg is known for its green pastures, pines and firs.
Here, the grassy meadows |
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are ringed by
forests of pine, and towering beyond them are majestic snow
clad mountains. Here , you can have walks of every sort - a
leisurely walk along flower-strewn meadows or away to where a
mighty river froths and crashes its way over rocks, its mild
white foam earning it the name of Dudh Ganga. Further away, a captivating lake,
Nilnag, is cradled by hills. Nearby are the peaks of Tatta
Kutti and Sang Safed. About 13 kms from Yousmarg, a short
detour away from the Srinagar road, is Charari - Sharief, the
Shrine of Kashmir’s patron saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund
Reshi, now rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1994 which
engulfed the entire building. |
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Aharbal
The Aharbal waterfalls flows down a narrow gorge. Aharbal is
more than just a waterfall. There are several places to picnic
in the surrounding areas, as well as delightful walks of
varying lengths all over the hillsides. You can have the
trekking to the lake of Kounsernag at the height of 13,500
feet above sea level, from Aharbal.
Verinag
The Verinag Springs are located about 80 kms from Srinagar at
an altitude of 1,876 m. The spring of Verinag is believed to
be the chief source of the river Jhelum. The construction of
the octagonal base of the spring and the arcade around it was
undertaken by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and completed during
the reign of Shah Jahan. Down the stream to the east lies the
remains of a Mughal pavilion and baths. Verinag can be
approached through the link road, which turns off, from the
national highway at Lower Munda. |
