PAMPORE
Located 16kms from Srinagar, on the road to
Pahalgam , Pampore is the centre of Kashmir’s saffron industry, producing 90%
of the state’s saffron. Called the “golden bowl of Kashmir”, it is known for
producing the best quality saffron in the world.
By the end of October these bright flowers
are in full bloom, bathing the landscape in swathes of lovely purple. The vast
stretches give the impression of “a newly wedded bride draped in a saffron
shawl taking a nap”. It brings alive the romance of King Yusuf Shah and Zoon,
the beautiful Kashmiri poetess. According to lore, one moonlight night in
October, the king strayed into the saffron fields where he saw Zoon and fell in
love with her. They were soon wed and Zoon became Queen
Habba Khatoun.
Blossoming at dawn, the flowers quickly
wilt as the day passes. Thus entire families, including children and helpers,
fan out over the fields with baskets before sunrise, plucking the flowers. It
is a festive occasion with Kahwa or saffron tea being served as a refresher.
The flowers are then spread out on sheets and left to dry, after which the
stigma, from which the spice is derived, is separated. The J& K tourism
organized Saffron Festival, held every October, give visitors an opportunity to
witness the colourful harvesting process.
Despite the tedious process, where every
single stigma stem is carefully plucked by hand, very little saffron is
actually obtained even from vast tracts of land: 150 flowers yield barely one
gram of saffron threads, making it one of the most expensive and prized ,
spices in the world.
AVANTIPUR
Founded
by Avantivarman ( 855-883 AD) , the first king of the Utpala dynasty,
the ancient township of Avantipur is in Anantnag district , 28 kms from
Srinagar , on the road to Pahalgam. Avantivarman built 2 magnificent temple
complexes here, 500 m from one another: Avantisvamin, dedicated to Vishnu and
Avantisvara , dedicated to Siva. Forgotten over time, the temples were
rediscovered during an excavation in the early 20th century.
The massive temples were once ornately
decorated with sculptural details and even today, despite their ruinous state,
give a clear indication of their original grandeur.
In the legend associated with Amarnath
yatra which takes place in the Hindu month of Shravan, Shiva, on his journey to
Amarnath , is said to have left Nandi , his bull , at Pahalgam, which is said
to be a corruption of the original name BAilgaon ( meaning “ village of the
bull”) .
Chandanwari , 16 kms by motorable road from
Pahalgam , is the starting point of the trek to the cave shrine. Today both
Pahalgam and BAltal, near Sonamarg , serve as base towns for the yatra.
SONAMARG
ALTITUDE: 2730 M
FROM SRINAGAR: 84 KMS
The beautiful valley of Sonamarg sits at an
altitude of 2730 m , in the cleft of a sweeping wooded valley of sycamore, silver birth and pine and firs
in Ganderbal district . Meaning the “ meadown of gold “, Sonamarg is covered
with yellow crocus flowers in spring, while the view in the summer months is of
grassy meadowns and slopes dotted with spepherds’ huts . The river Sindh, a
tributary of Jhelum, meanders through the valley.
Sonamarg is 84 kms from Srinagar, on the
road to Leh just before one enters Ladakh district. The Zojila pass into Ladakh
– one of the highest motorable passes in the world is barely 10 kms from
Sonamarg , making it a popular base camp for travellers to Ladakh . The hill
station is also a strategic base for the Indian army in Kashmir. Sonamarg can
also be visited as a day trip from Srinagar. The roads are good and it should
take only a little over 2 hours to reach. The route traverses the picturesque
towns of Ganderbal (21 kms) and Kangan ( 40 kms) and the Sindh valley , offering enchanting
countryside views. Spectacular views of the Harmukh range dominate the horizon
all along the route.
Hugely popular with trekkers, the
undulating hills around Sonamarg afford options for all levels of trekking. The
4 km climb to the spectacular. Thajiwas
Glacier is the most popular with tourists. Ponies can also be hired for this trek.
There is a longer trek which runs along several mountain lakes Vishansar,
Kishansar, Gadsar , Satsar and Gangabal.
The Sindh abounds with trout and is popular
with anglers. The fast waters of the river are ideal for rafting and host competitions
that are organized by J& K Tourism annually.
In the months of July and August, Sonarmag
sees a lot of traffic from pilgrims
undertaking the Amarnath Yatra. Baltal , the more popular starting point for
the yatra, is merely 15 kms from here. During this time, expect heavier traffic
on the road from Srinagar to Sonamarg the journey make take up to 3 hours or
even more. The Baltal Thajiwas Wildlife Sanctuary close by can be visited as a
wildlife excursion.
During the summer months the main road at Sonamarg
, with its mant cafeterias and restaurants is abuzz with tourists. Sonamarg ,
however , goes into hibernation during the long winter due to heavy snowfall.
WULAR LAKE
FOR WULAR GURUS FROM SRINAGAR : 46 KMS
FOR BANDIPORE FROM SRINAGAR : 52 KMS
WULAR LAKE, spread across the districts of
Bandipore and Sopore , is the largest freshwater lake in India, estimated to
have formed due to a shift in tectonic plates. Gurur, 46 kms from Srinagar, is
the closet village to the lake and has a wonderful park atop a small hillock,
called vantage View Point, which offers the most panoramic view of the lake.
The majestic Wular stretches on as far as the eye can see, against the backdrop
of the spectacular countryside.
Fed by the Jhelum, which enters the lake
from the southeast and exits from its western shore, the lake varies in size
depending on the season, from 30 to 260 sq kms and often witness high, angry
waves and storms in the afternoon. Hence it is believed that Wular is a
corruption of the Sanskrit word “ Ullola”, meaning turbulent . Other traces
origin of the word to the Kashmiri word :”Wul” , meaning fissure or gap .It is
said that Zain Ul Abidin , the 15th century sultan of Kashmir , was
so enchanted by the beauty of this vast lake that he built an island at its
centre, known as Zaina Lank. Wular’s deepest point is referred to as Mota Khon
or the “ gulf of corpses”.
Wular Lake is listed under the National
Wetland Conservation Program as well as the Ramsion and Convention, an
international treaty that provides the framework for action and cooperation for
the conservation of wetlands.
MANASBAL LAKE
On the way from Srinagar to Wular ( 30 kms
) is the beautiful Manasbal Lake, said to be name after the famous Mansarovar
Lake in the Tibet. It is estimated to be 13 m at its deepest, making it the
deepest lake in the Valley
According to an old legend, a sage once
decided to measure its depth and dropped a string into it.The string kept on
unraveling and, frustrated by his failure, the sage decided to take a leap into
the lake to resolve the matter himself.Locals believe that the sage is still
floating in its unfathomable depths. Manasbal is most attractibe in July August
when thousands of lotuses bloom on the periphery of the lake, stunning in their
abundance and striking in their beauty, “The banks of the Manasbal are deserted
now, the gardens are in ruins……the Mughals, with their love of scenery and
genius for garden building , rarely chose a better site than the shores of this
loveliest and loneliest of all the Kashmir lakes.( CM Villiers , Gardens of the
Great Mughals) .
A Mughal Garden called Jaroka Bagh, on the
northeastern banks of the lake, overlooks the tranquil water of the lake,
though not much remains of the medieval pavilions. A few kilometers ahead is
the new Manasbal Park with its beautifully laid garden and walking paths along
the banks of the lake.
Many local and migratory birds can also be
spotted here, making the lake an absolute, delight for birdwatchers!The lake
and its peaceful environs are a treat for all tourists and nature lovers , and
a quiet shikara ride on the lake is highly recommended . J& K tourism also
organizes water skiing ,which is a favourite with most visitors.
KHEER BHAWANI
The sacred shrine of Kheer Bhawani in the
village of Tullnamula is just 28 kms from Srinagar. Built by Maharaja Pratap
Singh in 1912 and later renovated by his nephew, Maharaja Hari Singh , this
popular Hindu shrine, dedicated to goddess Ragnya Devi , stands over a sacred
spring.
The water of this unique spring is known to
change colour; occasionally turning red, light green, lemon yellow, milky white
or grey white. However, if the water turns black, it is believed to be inauspicious.
Bubbles rising out of the spring are believed to form the chakra,the mystic symbol.
Placed inside a small, marbel shrine, the
deity is beautifully decorated with bright red and yellow flowers. The large
temple compound has a number of chinar trees. Outside the complex, the road is
dotted with shops selling puja paraphernalia.
The temple’s main festival is held during
the Hindu month of Jesht (May June) . Devoteeds through to the temple to offer
prayers and prasal all day long. Accommodation is provided by the JKTDC within
the temple complex for those looking for stay.
Every year during spring, Kheer ( rice
pudding ) is offered to the Goddess, giving the temple its name
YOUSMARG
The lush green meadows of Yousmarg,
carpeted with flowers in spring and summer, make for a delightful day trip from
Srinagar, 47 kms away. It is an ideal location for lazy picnics and leisurely
strolls. It is also offer options for longer treks for those eager to explore
the region on foot.
A short, 4 km trek from Yousmarg will take
you to the placid blue Nilanag Lake, set against the backdrop of deep green
pine forests. A longer trek to the magnificent frozen lake at Sang eSafed, 10
kms from Yousmarg and back, can take up to a day. The lake remains frozen for
most part of the year and visitors should carry heavy wollen clothes with them.
Tourists unwilling to walk can hire ponies or mules at Yousmarg to explore its
beautiful environs.
It is said that Yousmarg is a corruption of
the name Roosmarg, meaning” Meadow of the Musk Deer”. However, locals believe
that the place is named after Yousa or Jesus, and means the “ Meadow of Jesus”.
There is a theory , largely propounded by a Russian writer Nicolas Notovich in
1894, that Jesus spend several years in India during his youth, popularly
referred to as “ the lost years” by scholars. It was during this time that he
is said to have halted at Yousmarg , while travelling through Kashmir.
19kms from Yousmarg, at Chrar e Sharif ( 28 kms from Srinagar) is the revered
dargah of the 14-15th century mystic saint Hazrat Sheikh Noor ud-din
, also called Alandar-e-Kashmir. The Sufi Saint , also known as Nund Rishi, is
remembered for being one of the main proponents of the Rishi order of Sufism,
and his dargah is visited by people of all faiths.
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