My expedition to Heaven on Earth #travelogue

 My  expedition to Heaven on Earth

Kashmir is famously known as the 'Heaven on Earth,' but very few lucky people have been able to experience its unparalleled beauty. It is said that one cannot call themselves a traveller if they haven't been to this stunning destination. My childhood was filled with visits to several incredible locations, and Kashmir was one of them. Come with me on a journey to this Land of Wonders.

I was only four years old when I visited Kashmir, but a few recollections of the trip still linger in my memory.

On the first day, we were taken to the renowned Dal Lake, the heart of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. Its pure beauty left us all, including me, awe-struck. The clean water reflected the snow-capped mountains standing above the scenery of the beautiful landscape. Our boat ride across the lake took us to a grand houseboat, situated in the middle of this Kashmir gem. We were treated to a stunning view of the Dal Lake at sunset in our houseboat, a scene so beautiful it felt like out of a canvas—perfect for capturing unforgettable photos. The following day, we journeyed to Gulmarg, a destination well known for its winter sports and activities.

The two-day duration we spent there was preceded by a blanket of snow and frigid temperatures on our arrival. Nevertheless, hospitality at the hotel quickly converted cold to warmth since we were given the world-renowned Kashmiri Kahwa—a perfumed, spiced tea that was yummy to our sense organs and braced us up. We climbed snow-topped mountains, with panoramic sights of the town below. We spent our days in exciting experiences of skiing and snowboarding. On the fourth day, we took a drive to Pahalgam, a hidden paradise for nature lovers. Our tour included a trek to Mini Switzerland, a summit with panoramic sights of snow-topped peaks.

The panoramic sights were nothing short of magical. Day two at Pahalgam, we visited two valleys whose names now escape me. Although the view was pretty, it paled in comparison to the vistas from Mini Switzerland. In our exploration, we also had Kashmiri Pulao, a rice dish with scents of spices and nuts that added a nice culinary flavor to our journey. Our last day in Kashmir was spent traveling to Srinagar, where we traveled to fertile orchards and the famous Mughal gardens of Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh. The rich canopies, flower-filled with vibrant colors, and well-structured pathways were a real eye-opener as compared to what we were accustomed to, leaving us in awe of nature's beauty. Following six indelible days in Kashmir, we went to Jammu. Although less well known as a tourist destination, no trip to Kashmir is ever complete without visiting Jammu. We went to the holy Amarnath Caves and Vaishno Devi Temple, two mythic spiritual destinations, during our two-day stay. In the nights, we indulged in the unique flavor of butter tea paired with M&Ms—a balance of tradition and modernity at its best. Leaving Jammu and Kashmir after eight days was a melancholic one. I could not help but feel that there was still so much more to discover. However, I was reassured by the fact that we had extracted the maximum out of each and every moment, absorbing the panorama and the culture of this lovely nation.

Kashmir is a place that cannot be described. No picture or words can ever do it justice, and that's why we chose to visit it ourselves. I can confidently state that Kashmir is probably one of the most interesting places in India, a place that leaves an unforgettable imprint on the heart of every traveler.