KASHMIR - PARADISE ON EARTH

TOURIST SPOTS IN KASHMIR

1. Dal Lake 
                



Dal lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in India,  second largest lake of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (6km by 3 km in area). It is encircled by mountains on three sides. The banks of this lake are adorned by several blooming gardens and orchards. Some of the main features of this lake include five basins and numerable channels, which are well linked with each other. The lake is also visited by a number of tourists for its Shikaras and Houseboats.


2. Char Chinar




Char Chinar is an island in Dal lake. It is marked with the presence beautiful Chinar trees. It is marked with the presence of majestic Chinar trees at the four corners.

3. Chashmashahi

Chashmashahi is the smallest of the three Mughal gardens located in Kashmir. This garden offers a beautiful view of Dal Lake along with neighboring mountains. This garden has several terraces with fountains, an aqueduct and few waterfalls. The water for these fountains comes from the spring. In addition, there is a small shrine, located near to this garden, which is known as the Chasma Sahibi.


4. Shalimar Garden





Shalimar Garden is also known as the garden of love. This garden has four terraces, rising one above the other. At one point of time, the fourth terrace of this garden was especially reserved for royal ladies.There is a canal located inside the garden, which is lined with polished stones running through the centre of the garden. It is through this canal that water is supplied to the garden.


5. Nagin Lake



Nagin Lake is another lake of Kashmir valley. Situated at the foothill of the mountain Zabarwan, the lake is surrounded by number of willow and poplar trees. Bathing boats, water-skis and motor launches are all available for hire at this lake for tourists.


6. Nishat Bagh



Nishat Bagh is known as the 'garden of bliss'. It is located on the banks of the beautiful Dal Lake and is one of the largest Mughal gardens. There are ruins of some buildings that belong to Mughal period here  This garden has terraces each of which represents a different Zodiac sign. In the middle of the garden, there is a water channel flowing. Other attractions of this garden include its flowerbeds, trees and fountains.


7. Gulmarg



Gulmarg literally means meadow of flowers. Nestled with stunning peaks in the Himalayan ranges. This place is an eye catching place with picturesque surroundings, beautiful gardens with mind blogging flowers and fragrance. This is one of the best ski resorts in India as it gets heavy snowfall, especially during winter. 
It is 51 km away from Srinagar.


8. Sonmarg

Sonmarg, located at a hefty altitude of 2,740 m above sea level, literally means 'Meadow of Gold'.  Sonmarg, a town surrounded by breathtaking glaciers and serene lakes, is a snow covered beautiful flower-laden meadow in the majestic Himalayan mountain region. Sonmarg in the Kashmir valley is the gateway to Ladakh and situated just before the Zojii La pass. 

Located at 87 km from Srinagar, the place is renowned for trekking and hiking trails. The snow clad peaks in the Himalaya and the undulated hilly mountainous regions are perfectly suitable for all types of trekking expeditions. 

9. Pahalgam

Astounding for the mesmerizing natural beauty, Pahalgam valley is located at the confluence of Lidder River and the streams originating from serene Sheshnag Lake. The valley is located 96 km from Srinagar, The valley offers breathtaking panoramic views of the beautiful Himalayan Ranges. Pahalgam is the base camp for the renowned pilgrimage to Amarnath and also a famous shopping place for woolen products. It forms a part of the region in Asia where Saffron is growing. Pahalgam valley is perfectly suitable for adventurous activities like golf, horse riding, trekking and many water sports. The unexplored undulating hilly terrains and the plain valley regions are equally eye catching. 

Religious Destinations in Kashmir

1. Amarnath Yatra

Amarnath cave is a famous shrine in Hinduism dedicated to Lord Shiva. The cave is situated at an altitude of about 141 km (88 mi) from Srinagar and reached through Pahalgam town. The shrine is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. The cave is surrounded by snowy mountains. The cave itself is covered with snow most time of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. An annual pilgrimage is made to the Amarnath cave by lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of Hindu devotees on challenging mountainous terrain to see an ice stalagmite formed inside the cave.

2. Vaishno Devi

The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is situated at a height of 5,300 ft.and located inside a cave in a hill. amidst the folds of the Trikuta Bhagwati hill. This cave temple is at a distance of 61 kms from Jammu and the last 13 kms of the way have to be negotiated on foot by the the devotees. Once at the entrance to the cave, the path turns into a narrow tunnel with a cold stream named the Charan Ganga running through it. The pilgrim has to wade through this to reach the sanctum sanctorum.  In the cave there are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. 

Best Season to visit Kashmir: 

The best time to visit this beautiful destination extends from the month of March to October. This time period covers three main seasons prevailing in Kashmir, namely spring, summer and autumn.  

How to Reach Kashmir:

To reach by air, at Srinagar is the airport, which is approximately 14 km from the city of Kashmir. Daily flights to Srinagar are operated by Indian Airlines from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu and Jet Airways from Delhi and Jammu.

The nearest railhead to Srinagar is from Jammu Tawi which is approximately 305 km away. Trains from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai and other cities arrive at Jammu Tawi and so is of easy access. During peak tourism season, additional trains operate for and from this station.