DOODHPATRI
FROM SRINAGAR 47 KMS
ALTITUDE : 1600 M
Doodhpatri is yet another beautiful meadow, just 42kms from Srinagar, accessed boa Budgam and Khansahib. The relatively lesser-known place is being developed as a tourist resort. The tranquil meadow, surrounded by thick coniferous forests, provides an idyllic setting for a relaxing outing. The river Doodh Ganga, flowing through here, is abundant in trout and draws angling enthusiasts.
4kms before one gets to Doodhpatri is a vast green meadow at Parihas, from where one can choose to trek to Doodhpatri.
Closed by is the ziarat of Sheikh Noor ud-Dn (whose dargah is at Charar-e-Sharif). It is believed that the holy saint spent 12 years at this site doing ibadat (worshipping the Almighty). Every year, during the last week of August, a 3 day Urs is held, that draws people from all faith across Kashmir.
ACHABAL
FROM SRINAGAR : 62 KMS
ALTITUDE : 1700 M
13 kilometers northwest of Kokernag , is splendid garden at Achabal. It is 8 kms from Anantnag. Built by Nir Jahan, the garden called Begamabad Bagh. According to CM Stuart Villiers, gardens sprang up wherever the Mughal royal party set up their camps ( Gardens of the Great Mughals) . Renowned historian Takeo Kamiya writes, “ Till today natural spring water runs with vigour in the fountains and canals) . The profusion of sycamore trees in this Mughal garden gives it a lively appearance.
The French traveller Fracois Bernier, who visited Kashmir with Aurangzeb in 1664, records” “ The spring “ at Achabal “ gushes out of the earth with violence, as of it issued from the bottom of some well and the water is so abundant that it ought rather to be called a river than a fountain. It is excellent water, and as cold as ice. The garden is laid out in regular walks and full of fruit trees –apple, pear, plum, apricot and cherry.
MARTAN TEMPLE
FROM SRINAGAR: 64 KMS
ALTITUDE: 64M
The 8th century Martand Sun temple neat Anantnag is seen as the apogee of temple architecture in Kashmir. Built by Laitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota Dynasty, the temple stands on a plateu offering an incredible view of the valley below. The main shrine, measuring 67x 43 m , stands within a colonnaded courtyard surrounded by 84 small shrines.The imposing gateway was once carved with images of Hindu Gods, human figures and floral scrolls.
The Martand Temple is amongst the most significant sun temples in India,along with the temples at Konark and Modhera. The massive temple was reduced to ruins in an attack in the early 15th century. As a testament to the strength of the structure, it is commonly held that it took one whole year for an army of people to bring down the temple.
KOKERNAG
The sprawling garden of Kokernag , nestling beneath wooded hills, is around 70kms from Srinagar and 25 kms from Anantnag, at an altitude of 2020 m . The Kokernag spring, the largest freshwater spring in Kashmir, emerges at seven different places amidst lush, green lawns forming pools of sparkling clear water.
According to legend, a wandering sadhu had halted at this site with his bucket of water and had fallen asleep. A group of village women decided to drink the water from his bucket. However, when they pick up the bucket, a snake (nag) leaped out from inside, startling the unsuspecting women. Even more astonishingly, the snake turned into a hen ( koker) on touching the ground. It is believed that clear water gushed out wherever this koker scratched the earth with its claw.
Emperor Akbar’s court historian, Abdul Fazl, mentions that the waters of this spring have medicinal properties. Indeed, to this day, local people claim that the eaters can cure a wide range of ailments.
VERINAG
FROM SRINAGAR 80 KMS,
ALTITUDE l 1876 M
Verinag once housed an impressive Mughal garden, but is now known as the source of the river Jhelum. An octagonal tank, designed to be at the centre of a palace, was built here by Jahangir in 1620. Down the stream, one can still see ruins of palaces and hamams.
Verinag is 80 kms from Srinagar and 26kms from Anantnag, on the AnantnagVerinag link road. It is 31 kms down the steep road from the Banihal Pass.
Aldous Huxley, who was miserly with his compliments on the Mughal gardens of Kashmir, found that “ Verinag, where Jahangir enclosed the blue deep source of the Jhelum in an octagonal tank surrounded by arcades, has a strange and Jahangir , who died on this journey back to Lahire from his beloved Kashmir , expressly wished to be buried by this spring. But his wishes were disregarded by his courtiers.
Around the reservoir stand 24 pavilions. During the summers, these alcoves provided welcome refuge , with the cold waters of the spring keeping the temperature in these niches pleasantly cool.
The site is also called Nila Nag Bagh, probably because of the Shiva shrine just outside Mughal complex. After prayersm devotees often do a parikrama on the paved path around the spring and feed the fishes swimming lazily close to the surface of the water.
AHARBAL
FROM SRINAGAR: 75KMS
ALTITUDE: 2020 M
At the magnificent waterfall at Aharbal, the river Vishav crashes 24 m down in a wild tumble into a narrow gorge and can be heard long before you actually see it! This beautiful and relatively unknown destination, close to Shopian town, is only an hour and half’s drive from Srinagar. From the bridge at Kongwatan, there is a splendid view of the falls and of the gorge created by the Vishav. There is a smaller waterfall just 50 m downstream .Though only 7m in height, it too is very pretty. A popular trek to the source of Vishav River, at Kounsernag Lake (4115 m), begins here. For the les hardy there are delightful walks through forested woods and lush meadows nearby! The Gujjars bring flocks of sheep to graze in these meadows in summer.
LOLAB
At a distance of 120 kms northwest of Srinagar, through Sopore, is the spectacular Lolab Valley in Kupwara district, with its lush meadows, dense deodar forests, calm lakes, streams and fruit orchards. In autumn, the fruit trees are laden with apricot, apple, walnut, cherry and peach and the branches creak under their weight. Small wonder then, that Lolab is called the “fruit bowl of Kashmir”.
Chandigam , Varnow and Surigam in Lolab are being developed by J& K tourism as tourist destinations. Lolab is situated 51 kms from Bangus, of which only 40 kms are motorable.For the rest, visitors may climb on foot or ride up on ponies. Some other places of interest to tourists are Satbaran, a large rock with seven alcoves, and the Kalaroos Cave.
Besides its breathtaking scenery, Lolab is home to several Himalayan species of fauna like the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard and musk deer.
BANGUS
BANGUS VALLEY, 128 KMS from Srinagar, is also being developed by the Lolab Bangus Drangyar Development Autorit as an ecofriendly tourist resort. Since Bangus has remained off the tourism map up until now because of its proximity to the Line of Control, it is literally virgin territory being opened to tourists for the first time. There are also plans to develop Asia’s largest golf course here, covering an area of 300 sq kms.
The bowl shaped Bangus is covered with thick snow for 9 months of the year and according to an article in the Hindu , from an aerial view, it could be mistaken for a giant “ Bowl of powdered sugar”. But at the onset of summer in May, “ the ice gives way to a dense carpet of grasses and wild flowers , watered by the snow melt and a profusion of streams running off the glaciers that surround it “.
DRANG YARI
80 kilometers from Srinagar is Drang Yari , which is being promoted as a virgin destination, unspoiled by man and blessed by nature. It is 28 kms from Lolab and 13 kms from Bangus and can be accessed only on ponies. With its thick woods, many ice cold springs and lakes, Drang Yari is a definitely worth a visit!
AMARTNATH YATRA
Lord Shiva’s abode at Amarnath Cave is among the most revered Hindu Shrines in the country. Located at a height of 3888 m, it is at the far end of Lidder valley, 45 kms from Pahalgam and 141 kms from Srinagar. Despite the difficult and indeed perilous trek to reach the shrine, lakhs of pilgrims undertake the arduous yatra to offer prayers during the month of Shravan (July- August) when the cave is opened to devotees . Inside the cave, an ice stalagmite formed every year is worshipped as a self forming( swamymbhu) shivalinga . At its largest,, this shiva linga can easily ve over 2.2 m tall.
The traditional route to the cave a 41 km trek from Pahalgam ( 96 kms from Srinagar) , though of late, pilgrims prefer the shorter 14 km trek from Baltal ( 93 kms from Srinagar). Tents and meals are provided to pilgrims by the yatra organisers.
According to legend Shiva revealed the secret of immortality and the creation of the universe to Parvati , in this cave.
During their journey to Amarnath, Shiva left Nandi, his bull , at Pahalgam ( hence its original name, Bailgaon). At Chandanwari, he released the moon from his locks. By the banks of Sheshnag Lake, he freed the snakes from around his neck and at Mahagunas Parvat, he left his son Ganesh . Finally, at Panchtarni, he left behind the 5 elements, or panchabhoota.
After ensuring that no living being was around the cave, he whispered to Parvati the Amar Katham, the secret of immortality.
However, unknown to them, 2 pigeon eggs were lying unhatched under their seat and the unborn birds, having overheard the sacred words, became empowered by it. To this day , pilgrims occasionally sight 2 pigeons here.
