Kashmir Diaries Rather Srinagar!!
Dear Readers, I know its been a while that I shared something with you all. Nope, I am not absconding nor a cry baby this month 😋. April/May were very hectic and today I write to share with you all one of my adventures. The Leobond usually plans for leaves twice a year - one in April and other one in Dec end, this has been a ruotine for the past 12 years most of the times usually. I truly believe that life is too short to live as there are too many memories to capture in the camera of heart.
Kashmir has been in my wishlist for a long time and somehow the plan materialised this time in April. In this part 1 of the series, Leobond will mostly share glimses of our 1st half in Sonmarg. 20th early morning flight with friends who are more than a family and a gang of 7 embarked onto this beautiful Jannant. The 1st view before landing skipped my heartbeats and the beauty below me was breath taking, dont you agree?
Rather than checking in the hotel, we started off by going to the Dal Lake.
Every Indian I am sure will know about Shikara rides and one thing which I really found different there was life of living in a water body than land is different. Never thought about it and you will see boat vendors coming to your Shikara to sell KAHWA - the staple drink of Kashmir, the gorgeous jewellery, willow tree based wodden items and what not. You also have small eateries on boats and the mesmerising House boats and Meena Bazar were the main attractions. I realised that the artisans in India have still not reached across India, the one that I saw in Srinagar was so rare and has not even reached Delhi. This triggered me thinking - Do I want to do something to change? What do you think??
The Leobond yearned for some silence but thats where I pacified myself to enjoy the moment and not get overwhelmed. The mere gaze of the Meena Bazar triggered my adrenalin and I am a huge fan of Indian art work and when I saw the shawl designs on the Saris, I could not stop myself at stopping at one of the boats - Trust me the very thought that came to my mind was - We are a mine of talent in India but this was folks is really hidden - unexplored due to several reasons and the unrest also that we had in Kashmir for a quite a long time. I am adding this pic so that when Ditya grows big she knows this was her 1st trip as a 1 year old to heaven. She is the apple of her parents eye and the centre of attraction for the entire journey. Doesnt she look a Kashmiri 😆?
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Our next destination, was the place which is a spot of Romance - I am sure every Indian's heart starts beating after listening to Silsila's song - Dekha ek khwab to ye silsile huye, trust me you will want to have that moment in this place.
After a long time, being near to nature was nothing less than serene. Har laher pe zindagi ka ye ehsaas kabile taarif hai. Teri lehron ke kal kal mein agar khud ko talash lun to zindagi aur mutmayeen ho jaye.In the evening on the dal lake the open markets and the shops and the lights around are worth spending penny and the wooden souveniers are worth the spend. Btw, the nide ride in a shikara on the Dal will really make you relive the melody of life.
In the next episode, will share our next destination - Sonmarg and its glimpses. Till then stay happy and blessed.
Love,
Leobond