Wanderlust - Kashmir
"Kashmir?" I repeated, wondering how my father came up with this choice for the family vacation. He knew how much I despised the cold. Six days later, seconds upon arrival, I was left mesmerized by the vivid, vibrant and gorgeous city of Srinagar. It was then I realized that I had made the right decision. Beauty held me in its embrace as I strolled the heritage Mughal gardens of Srinagar. The Shikara ride on the somnolent Dal Lake with its floating market was a blissful experience. In Gulmarg, I had my first experience of snow. The thrilling sled ride, slipping on ice multiple times, failed attempt at building a snowman, and snow skiing experience will forever be etched in my mind as the best memories of my life. Pahalgam and Sonmarg blessed me with the most breathtaking mountain scenery.
The hospitality and the politeness of the people of Kashmir were something that I had never experienced before. The sight of rosy-cheeked little Kashmiri girls and boys running home from school was nostalgic and delightful. The natural beauty, simplicity, and heart of the Kashmiri people are enviable. Kashmiri handicrafts, clothes, carpets, bed linen, etc are artistic masterpieces that symbolize the hard work, skill, and talent of the Kashmiri people. I cannot even get started on the Kashmiri food. My second morning in Kashmir, I smelled a divine aroma in the dining room of the beautiful houseboat I was staying in. On inspection, I was introduced to the traditional green tea consumed in Kashmir called Kahwah. Kahwah is a blend of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom laced with saffron.
I come from a city where the skylines buzz with lackluster enthusiasm and the roads spell chaos. Kashmir gave me back a heart that is renewed and revived. Kashmir is called "heaven on earth". I cannot think of a place that deserves this title more than Kashmir. It deserves that its beauty be admired and enjoyed by every living soul on this planet.
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