Kashmir: Firdaus bar rue zamin

In late 17th Century, The Mughal Emperor, Jahangir discovered the striking beauty of Kashmir and said, "Gar firdaus bar rue zamin ast, hami asto, hami asto, hami ast." He meant, If there's a paradise anywhere on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here.  Since then, this "Paradise on earth" has been the interest of millions of travelers around the globe.

The dreamy mountains, craggy terrain, inclined meadows, frenzied river and placid lake kept me astounded, remembering the quote of Jahangir with a tranquil gaze at the nature.

For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.

The Best time to visit:

Kashmir is affected by two times of the year, the winter and the summer. Eventually this was the only state in India with two capitals- Jammu(winter capital) and Srinagar(summer capital). Recently, Jammu and Kashmir is divided into three Union Territories- Jammu, Kasmir and Ladakh. The summer marks the season of apples with lesser snow, whereas the winter brings the heavenly-icy beauty back to this place. Nevertheless, you can choose either time- this place will never fail to amaze you with its own charm.

The Travel Guide for the peeper:

Kashmir is subjected to political turmoil for its Indo-Pakistan-China border and some may consider it risky to visit this place. Yet, Kashmir is absolutely safe for tourists from around the globe for its extremely friendly people and Indian government's safety measures. Let's have a quick peek through the best tourist places in here:

Srinagar

Dal Lake: The most important and celebrated lake in Srinagar, for its carved wooden Houseboats, vibrant Shikaras and beautiful floating gardens. It even has a floating market, as one of the centers of attraction. 

Sonmarg: Situated in the Himalayan mountain range, it has the highest altitude lake, Godsar, known for its stunning scenic beauty. The place gets completely covered with snow and serves as the best trekking spot in the winters.

Gulmarg: It is the "Heart land of the winter sports in India" and is considered as Asia's seventh best skiing destination. Watching Gulmarg from 10,000 feet is undoubtedly a surreal experience. It is considered to be one of the Asia's highest and longest cable car plans.

Hazratbal Masjid: The silvery white Hazratbal Mosque is revered for housing a relic, the Prophet’s hair. Situated near the Dal lake, it happens to be the only domed mosque in Srinagar.

Mughal Gardens in Srinagar gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the magnificence of Mughal Planning and Architecture while maintaining the precise touch of nature.

Pahelgam

At an altitude of 7,200 feet, Pahelgam is the most popular tourist destination. Trekking and trout fishing are the most popular summer activities in the valley.

"At this place I kept staring at the mountains from my hotel balcony and realised the beauty that the mountains possess and my never ending fantasies for them."

Chandanwari: Located 16 kilometres from Pahelgam, it has the best quality Sandalwood and shelters several poisonous snakes. It is believed that the sandal woods are actually guarded by the reptiles. Chandanwari happens to be the starting point of the 32 kilometres trekking to the holy cave of Sri Amarnath. 

Kolahoi Glacier: Situated 26 kilometres north to Pahelgam, surely not meant for the fainthearted, the only way to reach this place is through an arduous trek. But the breathtaking views at 18,000 feet makes the journey worth the effort.

Aru Valley: 12 kilometres form Pahelgam, this place serves as the base camp for trekking to Kolahoi Glacier with mesmerizing green meadow, lakes and mighty mountains, the village lies in the left bank of the river Aru. It's a common place for trekking and skiing in the winters.

Betaab Valley: Situated 15 kilometres from Pahelgam, the valley got it's name from the bollywood movie "Betaab" that was filmed in this beautiful destination with lush meadow, snow-clad mountains and dense vegetation.

Cuisine:

Kashmir is primarily famous for its non vegetarian cuisines with Rogan Josh as the signature dish with Wazwan as the multi-course meal, preparation of which is considered as a point of pride in Kashmiri culture. Don't forget to end the meal with Kahwah, the Kahmiri green tea.

Kashmir, the Paradise on Earth is indeed a place which has something to offer everyone- be it the natural beauty, the delicious cuisine, the friendly people or tonnes of memories...