Why Kashmir? This was the question I got asked several times in relation to my recent trip. I am sure that the question would have been quite different had it been any other part on earth.
Coming from the common man such a question is not completely unwarranted (about 2 hours after we passed Anantnag on June the 5th, 2016, there was a shoot out along the very highway we drove through), but indeed reflects the ignorance that the vast majority of Indians from the rest of the country and indeed from the rest of the world have about this valley ensconced within the outer and inner Himalayas.
Kashmir is unique - to say the least. Geographically Kashmir forms the crown of India. Culturally it should be called the pride of India.
Why is Kashmir unique? The Valley of Kashmir lies esconced in between two mountain ranges of the middle and greater Himalayas. The Pir Panjal range which lies to its south is the largest and southern most range of the middle Himalayas and the Zanskar range to its North is part of the Greater Himalayas. The river Jhelum begins in the Verinag spring and traverses Srinagar and the rest of the valley before flowing onto Pakistan and later joining the mighty Chenab.
But this alone is not enough of a why to visit the mighty land of the gentle Kashmiris.
Coming from the common man such a question is not completely unwarranted (about 2 hours after we passed Anantnag on June the 5th, 2016, there was a shoot out along the very highway we drove through), but indeed reflects the ignorance that the vast majority of Indians from the rest of the country and indeed from the rest of the world have about this valley ensconced within the outer and inner Himalayas.
Kashmir is unique - to say the least. Geographically Kashmir forms the crown of India. Culturally it should be called the pride of India.
Why is Kashmir unique? The Valley of Kashmir lies esconced in between two mountain ranges of the middle and greater Himalayas. The Pir Panjal range which lies to its south is the largest and southern most range of the middle Himalayas and the Zanskar range to its North is part of the Greater Himalayas. The river Jhelum begins in the Verinag spring and traverses Srinagar and the rest of the valley before flowing onto Pakistan and later joining the mighty Chenab.
But this alone is not enough of a why to visit the mighty land of the gentle Kashmiris.
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| Dal Lake |
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| Gardens in Srinagar |
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| Intricate Mughal ceiling work |
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| Hazratbal mosque |
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| Coconut vendor |
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| Gondola |
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| Buying ornaments from gondola sellers |
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| Houseboats on Dal Lake |
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| Gulmarg |
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| Old Gulmarg church |
