In the south central asia of world map, a beautiful country is located named INDIA and on top of its map in the north is located the most beautiful state of the world "Jammu and Kashmir", You have to see it to believe it.
Let me take you on a road trip to Kashmir via Jammu which is around 300 KM and i am writing this based on my personal experience, so hop into my car and let's go.
ohhh sorry, lets play the song "Paradise by Coldplay" on the way to start with.
So we start our journey from Jammu to Kashmir via NH1, when we start our journey on the beautiful highway there are many beautiful landscapes which are truly breathtaking
after almost 4 hrs journey we reach a place known as Patnitop which is almost at a distance of 110 KM of Jammu. it is a beautiful destination and a perfect getaway for the locals of Jammu to get some respite from heat in the summers and to see the live snowfall in the winters, the amazing smell of meadows and pine trees will drive you crazy once you enter the Patnitop. You should atleast stay a night over there and enjoy the weather and if by chance it is monsoon when you are travelling, you will fall in love with the place.
So moving on, now after few miles there will be an area called Batote where you have to and have to eat "RAJMA CHAWAL along with desi ghee and anardana chutnee" which will definitely fill your tummy till your mouth and you will be gastronomic but no matter what you have to try it because taste like that can only be relished there.
Moving on from batote, looking at the marvelous landscape and admiring what nature has given us, you will cross a town called Banihal at the end of which is "JAWAHAR TUNNEL" on the other side of which is Kashmir and this end is Jammu, so basically Jammu and Kashmir is separated by a tunnel which is approx 3 KM long, so once you cross that amazing tunnel, you are in "KASHMIR" the paradise on earth.
So now we have entered KASHMIR, the official language of Kashmir is kashmiri and the people of Kashmir are also known as kashmiri's, the average temprature in the valley is around 25* C in summers and in winters it sometimes goes in minus also.
As soon as you cross the Jawahar tunnel, you should take a halt for 20-30 mins at the titanic view point
So Tea/Coffee and Maggi atleast is must at this place and if there is a bit of drizzle, it will become an unforgettable site.
Moving on you will reach on a place called "Anantnag" this place will offer you the famous Kashmir willow Cricket bats(People of the countries which play cricket, would be aware of bats), Moving some more miles towards Srinagar city, you will reach pampore which produces saffron and the specialty of the place is that the saffron grows in that stretch only even when it doesnot have any change in climatic conditions and topography.
Saffron has several names-Zafran, Kesar, Kang, Kang Posh etc. Kang posh, the flowers of Saffron is a symbol of freshness and purity. The vast stretches of saffron fields give the impression of a newly wedded bride draped in a saffron shawl taking a nap. Kashmir is known as the valley of flowers. Among several varieties of flowers grown here, saffron has its own importance and utility.
Moving 15 kms ahead of pampore, you will reach the Srinagar city also known as Valley where you will get to see so many place, garden, temple ad mosques and the Famous "DAL LAKE" where a stay on a house boat is must and taking a ride on the Shikara is an awesome feeling which you will cherish till the last day of your life.
The adjoining road of Dal lake is called as boulevard road, on which while walking you will be saying a famous quote/poem by 13th century poet Amir Khusro
"Gar Firdaus bar rue zameen asto, Hameen asto hameen asto hameen asto (If there is any heaven on earth, its here its here its here...)
Naseeb ae jannat unhi ko hai jo hue hai supurd o khaak, Maine Jinda rehte magar jannat ko dekha hai, Haa maine Jannat ko dekha hai... Dilkash dilnashee us najaare ko dekha hai, Maine lehro pe tairte ik shikare ko dekha hai, Us hawa me thi khushbu kahi koi, Yu hi nahi maine bahaaro ko dekha hai... Kisi ko kahi padhte namaaj maine dekha hai, Shankrachary pe navaajte sheesh maine dekha hai, Dekhi hai masumiyat bhari muskan aisi kisne, Yaha ruhaniyat aur insaniyat ko jawaan hote dekha hai... Haa Maine Jannat ko dekha hai...( the luck to see heaven is confined to those who are born/bury here, yes i have seen heaven on earth, seen the most awesome and beautiful landscapes, i have seen a boat on Dal water and have also felt a mild fragrance in air, some were reading the Namaz and some were offering their prayers in the hills of shankracharya temple, have seen such innocent smile, yes i have seen heaven, yes i have seen heaven).
and there are many places you can visit in Srinagar which will given you such memories and peace of mind that you will never ever forget it, writing down few places which are must visit, if you like this story will take you on journey to those places also.
Gulmarg , Pahalgam, Sonmarg, adu valley, shankracharey, hazratbal, Tulip garden, Chasmashahi, Pari mahal and many more.
Bye and lots of love
Lakshya