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In the Heart of the Himalayas: Discovering Kashmir’s Soul
Brief:
Venturing into solo travel territory for the first time, I decided to up the ante from my Manali escapade in January. After much mental gymnastics, I settled on Kashmir for my next thrill.
With a swift scroll through go4explore’s Insta feed, I was sold! Quick call later, and boom, package booked for April 26th to May 3rd. Jannat, here we come, with bells on!
Day 1:Off to Srinagar from Hyderabad Via Delhi
Wakey wakey! Started the day with a mad dash out of Hyderabad to catch my flight from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Feeling like a travel ninja as I jet off to Delhi. ✈️🏃
Touchdown at Delhi airport around 4 pm, buzzing with excitement and just a tad nervous. First solo adventure, here I come! Feeling like a lone ranger in a sea of strangers. 🌊🤠
Mastered the Delhi metro like a pro, zooming my way to the Zing bus lounge to meet the squad. Met Shubham, my ride-or-die trip buddy, shining like a friendship beacon amidst the crowd. 🔦👫
Commandeered an electric auto like a boss and found Shubham bhai waiting with a grin wider than the Grand Canyon. 😄🚗
First question out of his mouth: “Ready to rock?” I shout back with a “Heck yeah!” and a side of jitters. Let the adventure begin! 🤘😬
Evening hunger strikes, so I tackle it head-on with a burger and a chocolate shake. Keeping those vibes high and the tummy happy! 🍔🍫
Slowly but surely, the gang gathers, and before we know it, we’re a squad of twelve, ready to conquer the world! 8 pm sharp, we hit the road on the Ram Dalal Volvo bus. 🚌👊
Around 11 pm, pit stop for dinner. Kadai paneer hits the wallet, but we’re living our best lives! 💸🍛
Back on the road, we finally reach Jammu at 10 am, greeted by our savior, Javed bhai, the captain of our journey to Srinagar in his ultra-cool traveler. 🚐😎
As we cruise from Jammu to Srinagar, Mother Nature puts on a show, reminding us why we’re wanderers at heart. 🌟🌄
Midway munchies call for piping hot aloo parathas, washed down with steaming chai. Bliss! ☕🥪
From scorching Hyderabad to the chill of Srinagar, it’s a refreshing change of pace. ❄️🌞
Quick stop for souvenirs, stocking up on saffron and dry fruits, and savoring the soul-warming kahwa. ☕🛍️
Finally, we roll into Srinagar at 8 pm, greeted by a refreshing summer rain. Go figure! 🌧️💦
Quick rinse to wash off the road dust, and it’s lights out, dreaming of the adventures awaiting us tomorrow. 💤✨
Day 2: Off to Sonmarg
The day kicked off with a quirky twist: it’s supposed to be summer in Kashmir, but we’re debating snowfalls. I chime in with, “If our karma’s good, we’ll witness snowfall too!” Lo and behold, next morning, rain turns into snowfall as we hit Sonmarg. Cue the ecstatic dance! (Feeling like karma’s BFF right now! 🕺)
Quick wardrobe change into local attire and snazzy jackets, we’re ready to soak in Sonmarg’s splendor.
With our squad of 12, we snag 2 taxis to hit up 3 points. Pricey? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely! Except Zero point, the forbidden fruit we can’t taste. 🚫🍎
Pause for impromptu photoshoots, with me busting out some SRK-inspired reels. 📸 And of course, a kahwa break to sip on serenity.
Next stop: horseback adventure! Meet our trusty steeds, Ramteli and Gangameli, the sibling duo with serious boundary issues. 🐴😂 After some “Jai Matadi” pep talk, we conquer the treacherous terrain and reach Sonmarg’s peak.
Wait for the gang, play some snowball fights, and capture memories like we’re kids again. Another round of reels, then it’s back to base to wrap up day 2.
Tragedy strikes on the way back, a sobering reminder of life’s fragility. Hearts heavy, we reach our hotel, share a somber dinner, and call it a night. Hoping for brighter days ahead. 🌟🙏
Day 3: Off to Gulmarg
The night played its soggy symphony, and in the morning, we set off for Gulmarg with fingers crossed, hoping the rain would take a hike. 🌧️
But guess what? Rain played the ultimate prank and poured down just as we were nearing Gulmarg! Roads turned into rivers, blocking our way. So, we did what any sensible (and soaked) travelers would do: we detoured to Drung waterfall! No Gondola tickets? No problemo! 💦
We frolicked in the misty marvel of Drung, snapping pics, busting out reels, sipping on kahwa, and slurping some Maggi for good measure. 📸☕🍜
Lunchtime rolled around, and we dove headfirst into the legendary wazwan buffet! Chicken kababs, mutton curry, chicken masala, pulao, roti—the works! Finger-lickin’ good, my friends. 🍗🍛
Post-feast, we strolled through an apple garden, sipping on freshly squeezed apple juice like royalty. 🍎🥤
By 6 pm, we were back in our cozy abode, but the adventure wasn’t over yet! Off to Lalchowk we went, where the sight of the Indian flag flying high gave us all the patriotic feels. 🇮🇳🙌
After some shopping and local nosh, it was back to the room for dinner followed by a spontaneous DJ dance-off! Sorry, downstairs neighbors! 🎶💃🕺
With a gentle nudge from our grumbling neighbors, we called it a night, wrapped in dreams of the day’s escapades. Until tomorrow, adventure seekers! 😴🌟
Day4: Local sightseeing and houseboat stay at Dal Lake.
Bright and early, we set off for The Hazratbal Shrine, aka Dargah Sharif, soaking in all that serene goodness. 🕌✨ Pigeon parties aplenty, enjoying their VIP spot near the divine digs. And oh, that backyard view! Lake vibes and mountains kissing the sky. 😍🕊️
Snap, snap! Picture time, then off to Shalimar Garden for a nostalgia trip through childhood greens and mountain vistas. Plus, kahwa pit stop and group pic galore! 📸🌿
Next stop: Shankaracharya temple! Two-kilometer hike and 300 steps later, we’re on top of the world—literally! Mountains, lakes, forests, and a city fit for angels. Kashmir, you’re the real Jannat! 🏔️🌅
Lord Shiva, we’re coming for you! After a peaceful darshan, we chill for a bit, soaking in the temple’s vibes. 🕉️🧘
Back down to Earth, it’s lunchtime by Dal lake, followed by a boat ride to our cozy crib. Chand sa roshan chehra reel? Check! Channeling our inner Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore, because why not? 🌜🎥
Finally, home sweet home, hosted by the one and only Javed bhai! Refreshments, lake views, and chilly vibes—it’s Kashmir in a nutshell. And let’s not forget Javed bhai’s epic dinner spread, a true taste of heaven. 🍽️🏡
Post-dinner deep talks about life under the stars, then off to dreamland, ’cause tomorrow, Pahalgam awaits! 💤🏞️
Day 5: Off to Pahalgam
Ahoy, fellow adventurers! 🚤 We hopped on another boat ride, then hit the main road for a wild 2-hour journey to Pahalgam. 🌄
Let me tell you, the views en route to Pahalgam? Pure eye candy! 🍭 We snagged a couple of taxis to hit up Aru valley, Betaab valley, and Chandanwari. And let me tell ya, folks, it was worth every bump in the road! 🚖💨
I’m talking jaw-dropping beauty that had us all feeling like we stumbled into a fairy tale. ✨ If time had its way, I’d be pitching a tent, rustling up some grub, and soaking in the nature for a good ol’ couple of days. ⛺🍳
After a snap-happy frenzy, we wrapped up the trip and headed back to the hotel. Last day blues hit hard, so naturally, we cranked up the bonfire, threw in some DJ beats, and busted out the Barati dance moves! 💃🕺
Amidst heartfelt farewells and sappy speeches about newfound friendships, one thing became crystal clear: Travel isn’t just about the places, it’s about the people. 🌍❤️
And as we woke up the next morning with heavy hearts and tired faces, reality sank in: our epic adventure was coming to an end. 😔 But hey, these memories? They’re the kind that stick with you forever. 💭
So, here’s the deal, amigos: Save those pennies, hit the road, and soak in every moment, ’cause life’s one heck of a ride! 🤑🛣️
With a bittersweet goodbye for now, but stay tuned! Next up, Vaishnodevi awaits, with a tale fit for three musketeers!
💫🏹.
Its a Nice place