Pari
Mahal
Pari
Mahal boasts of a well planned and is just a five-minute drive
from Chashmashahi. The place also houses a Buddhist monastery of
the olden times, converted later to a school of astrology. This
ancient monument retains a dream-like quality, illuminated at
nights and placed on the very edge of a mountain casting its
reflection in the waters of the Dal Lake with a well-laid spacious
garden in front.
Harwan
Garden
Located in
Srinagar district. A beautiful garden, Harwan is a popular picnic
spot. A beautiful canal, fed from a lake just behind the garden,
passes through its centre. The canal is bordered with blossoming
flowerbeds and chinar trees. Kashmir Harwan Garden does not have
the usual terraces, artificial fountains, etc; It has been
Purposefully kept devoid of these man-made things.
J&K
: Place to See
Charar-e-Sharief
Chrar-e-Sharief is a shrine revered by both Muslims and Hindus
dedicated to Sheikh Nooruddin, who was arguably the greatest
mystic-saint of Kashmir. The Islamic militants burned it down in
1995 at the behest of Pakistan. An example of the composite
culture of Kashmir, the Sheikh was born as Nund Reshi or
Sahazanand in 1377. His tale is full of wonders. His ancestors
migrated from Kishtwar to the Valley. His father, Salar Sanz, who
was a pious man, was influenced by the spiritual teachings of the
Sufi Saint, Yasman Reshi, who arranged his marriage to Sadra Maji.
It is said that for three days, the infant Nund refused to be
breast-fed until on the third day, a Yogini (a well-known female
saint), Lal Ded entered the house and fed the child her own milk.
After that, she left the house prophesizing that the infant would
be her spiritual heir.
While personifying the Hindu-Muslim culture of the Valley, Nund,
was later named as Naruddin meaning 'the light of faith'. He fully
believed in the immanence and transcendence of God and hoped for a
society based on moral values and preached against indulgence. It
is said that all his life he wore a coarse pheran and within two
days of his death in 1438 at Charar, nine lakh people are said to
have gathered at the Shrine, including the King, Sultan Zainul
Abdin. The saint is known to have preached against communal hatred
and in one of his teachings, he wrote: "We belong to the same
parents. Then why this difference? Let Hindus and Muslims together
worship God alone. We came to this world like partners. We should
have shared our joys and sorrows together."
Hazratbal
Mosque
Situated in
a village on the western shores of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat
Bagh, it is a pristine white marble edifice casting its reflection
in the waters of the lake. It is revered for the fact that it
houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad, which is displayed to the
public on religious occasions. Fairs are held on such occasions.
People throng to the place every Friday to offer their prayers.
Unlike the other mosques in Srinagar, which have a pagoda like
roof, Hazratbal is the only mosque to have a domed roof mosque in
Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs.
Gardens
Mugal Gardan
Impressed
with abundant natural beauty, Mughals loved this place so much
that they have contributed many beautiful gardens to the city of
Srinagar. Well-planned and vast, these gardens are home to a
variety of flora and delightful water systems. They retain
something of the elaborately planned Persian gardens and are
mostly terraced to suit the environs of the mountainous slopes.
Monuments
Jammu & Kashmir has
a good share of Indian historical and archaeological legacy. There
has been a very unique and glorious tradition of the people of the
State of preaching and worshipping of each other's religions and
pilgrimage centres. There are well-renowned Hindu shrines
co-existing with the equally famous Muslim pilgrimage centres that
are held in highest esteem by the people of every faith. Buddhism,
which is still followed in the Ladakh region of the State, has its
origin in the valley and was preached and disseminated by the
Kashmiri scholars in its earlier days. There are some wonderful
examples of this communal harmony in pilgrimage centres like the
one at Hari Parbat where monuments of all three religions - a
temple, mosque and gurudwara are standing side by side. Some of
the important shrines and monuments of the region have been
covered below:
Jami Masjid
Situated in the
heart of the old city of Srinagar, this huge mosque is visited by
thousands of people who congregate here for the Friday prayers.
The largest mosque in
Kashmir,
it is built around a courtyard with 370 wooden pillars to support
it. Originally built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400, and enlarged by
his son, Zain-ul- Abidin, it is a typical example of Indo-Saracenic
architecture. Destroyed thrice by fire in 1479, 1620 and 1674
respectively and rebuilt each time, the mosque of today was
repaired during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh. The principal
features of the mosque are the four minars and eight wooden
columns as support
Shankaracharya
Temple
Believed to have
been built at the auspicious site of Takht-e-Sulaiman, the sacred
temple of Shankaracharya occupies the top of the
hills in the southeast of Srinagar. Dating back to 250 BC, it is
believed that it was the place where the great philosopher and
saint Shankaracharya stayed when he visited Kashmir
ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma. It was then that this
place came to be known by his name instead of its former name
Gopadri, an earlier edifice built on the same site by king
Lalitaditya in the 6th century AD. Built on a high octagonal
plinth and approached by a flight of steps, it has sidewalls that
once bore inscriptions and the main surviving shrine consists of a
circular cell. A modern ceiling covers the inner sanctum and an
inscription in Persian traces its origin to the reign of Emperor
Shah Jehan. The original ceiling was dome- shaped and the brick
roof is not more than a century old.
Khanqah of Shah Hamadan
Situated on the
banks of the River Jhelum, it is the first mosque ever built in
Srinagar. The Shah Hamadan whose full name was Mir
Sayed Ali Hamadni built the original mosque in 1395. Shah-i-Hamdan
came from
Persia in the 13th
century and was responsible for the spread of Islam in Kashmir.
Khanqah-i-Mualla was the place where he used to offer prayers. The
Khanqah is a wooden structure whose chief aesthetic feature is its
beautifully carved eaves and hanging bells. The interiors are
richly carved and painted, and the antique chandeliers give it an
air of magnificence.
Hari Parbat Fort & Temple of Sharika Devi
Built in the 18th
century, atop the Sharika Hill, Atta Mohammed Khan constructed the
fort from 1776 though the surrounding wall was built by Akbar in
the 16th century and is much older. It has two gates, the Kathi
and Sangin Darwaza. The Kathi is the main entrance with Persian
commemorative inscriptions surrounding it while the Sangin is more
ornate with sculptured windows on either side. Mow used as an
arsenal, the fort contains a temple revered for its image of the
Goddess Sharika, a form of Durga.
Makhdoom Sahib
The shrine,
situated to the south of Hari Parbat, is dedicated to Makhdoom
Sahib or Hazrat Sultan and is revered by Muslims and Hindus alike.
Chhatti Padshahi Gurudwara
Situated just
outside the southern gate of Hari Parbat fort, Chatti Padshahi is
one of the most important Sikh Gurudwaras in Kashmir. It is
dedicated to the sixth guru of Sikhism who stopped here to preach
occasionally while he was traveling through
Kashmir.
Martand
The most memorable
and beautiful work of Emperor Lalitaditya of Surya (meaning
'solar') dynasty is the construction of spacious Martand temple
dedicated to the Sun god, Bhaskar. The style of the construction
of the temple and the skill of the makers are rare in the history
of the world. Now, in ruins, it is still appreciable for its
design, beauty and art. Martand temple is a mirror of the art and
skill of Kashmiri Hindus. In its backdrop are the snow-capped
mountains and it is built with strong and square limestone. Its
pillars have a Greek pattern that lends gorgeousness to this
edifice.
Kheer Bhawani
Situated at
Tullamulla in the
Srinagar district, this spring is the most sacred place for Hindus
in Kashmir. Hindus must abstain from meat on the days when they
visit Kheer Bhavani or the milk goddess and offer her sugar, milk,
rice and flowers. An annual festival is held here in May or June
when a number of devotees visit the place to offer prayers and
seek the blessings of the deity. The beautiful spring of clear
water overshadowed by splendid shady trees and full of sacred fish
adds an ethereal beauty to the
place.
Awantipur
29 km from
Srinagar, the famous Awantipur temples are believed
to have been built in honor of God Mahadev by Awanti Varman. The
temples, although in ruins, are of great archaeological interest.
King Avantivarman founded the city in the 9th century. There are
two main temples, one of which is Shiva-Avantishvara, which is
larger and marked by massive walls some half a mile beneath the
town on the outskirts of village Jaubror. Reduced to ruins now,
the place almost lost its previous grandeur and has been reduced
to ruins, though it is still visited by the devout. The sculptured
reliefs principally found on the walls of the entrance and the
flank walls of the stairs depict men and women in the acts of
drinking, lovemaking and other such merriments. The base is either
a plain square block with the upper edge rounded off or is
elaborately molded. Half a mile up is Avantisvami-Vishnu, a
better-preserved temple.
Excursions
The Indian state of
Jammu and Kashmir is a saga of nature complete with rugged
mountains, blossoming valleys and pristine forests. Often referred
to as the Switzerland of the East, Kashmir owes its natural beauty
to the rugged mountains, which restrict mobility however,
especially during the winters, when the mountain ranges are
covered with a thick blanket of snow. Here, we are presenting some
popular excursion points of the region.
Wular Lake
One of Asia's
largest fresh water lakes, Wular Lake changes character with every
few miles. There are the calm waters of Manasbal Lake, a bird
watcher's paradise, sporting Shikaras that take you on a ride
through the tranquil waters. To the right of the Wular Lake, is a
delightfully laid out Mughal Garden and one may also see old women
picking water chestnuts and deftly navigating the weeds in
flat-bottomed skiffs.
Achabal
The erstwhile
pleasure retreat of Empress Nur Jehan, Achabal is situated at a
height of 1,677 m. 58 km from Srinagar; it has a fine garden laid
in the Mughal (Persian) style and oozes with its own charm and
character. Kashmir sports the best of the Mughal gardens of India
and perhaps, Achabal is the best. Fringed by stately Chinar trees,
it is situated at the foot of a hill and is a visual treat with
its stepped terraces, formal elegance, ornamental shrubs,
sparkling fountains and falling water.
Daksum
Amidst the
breathtaking splendor of the springs at Kokarnag, Daksum is tucked
away in a densely forested gorge with the Bringhi River passing
through its heart. At an altitude of 2438 m, Daksum is a walker's
paradise with coniferous trees, gurgling brooks, the music of
flute of the shepherds tending their flock and the grassy meadows
where sheep are taken to pasture. It has everything to rejuvenate
the visitors with its bracing mountain air, solitude, densely clad
hills and snow-covered mountains in the backdrop that lend to the
Daksum's mystique and make it a perfect retreat.
Kokernag
Situated in the
heart of Bringhi valley, Kokernag is situated at an altitude of
2,020 m. 70 km from Srinagar, Kokernag is set amidst sprawling
gardens with its air full of fragrance that owes itself to the
thousands of flowers blooming in the region. The Kokernag Spring
bubbles at seven places at the foot of the forested mountain and
its water is famous for its medicinal and digestive properties.
Yusmarg
47 km from
Srinagar, Yusmarg is a vast grassy meadow fringed by forests of
pine with awesome and stately snow clad mountains in the backdrop.
A favorite picnic spot, it boasts of walks of every sort, from a
leisure stroll amidst the flower-strewn meadows to the mighty
river of Dudh Ganga foaming white and crashes its way over the
rocks. It has a beautiful lake called Nilnag, which is cradled by
hills. There are several peaks nearby such as Tatta Kutti and Sang
Safed and Charari- Sharief, the Shrine of Kashmir's patron saint
Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund Reshi is a short distance from here.
Aharbal
The roaring
waterfall of Aharbal crashes down a narrow gorge and is the
highlight of the place. Several picnic spots surround the area and
an excellent trekking point; it has delightful walks of varying
lengths all over the hillsides. One of the most interesting treks
is the high-altitude lake of Kounsernag at 13,500 ft above sea
level has its starting point in Aharbal.
Verinag
80 km from Srinagar, situated at an altitude of
1,876 m, Verinag boasts of a spring, which is believed to be the
chief source of the River Jhelum. Mughal Emperor Jahangir started
the construction of the octagonal base of the spring and the
arcade around it, which was completed during the reign of his son,
Shah Jahan. To the east of the stream, lie the remains of a Mughal
pavilion and baths.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg is a hill resort of repute, not only for its beauty and
prime location but also as being the highest natural golf course
of the world, situated at an altitude of 2890 m. Hub of activity
from mid-December to March, Gulmarg is an enviable winter sports
resort with all the equipment and training facilities available
for skiing, tobo-ganning, ski-bobbing and paragliding along with a
T-bar lift, a chair lift and three modern ski-lifts.
53 km from Srinagar, Gulmarg is known as the meadow of flowers and
was once a favorite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who collected 21
different varieties of wild flowers from here. It is the best Ski
resort in the country and maintains the high-quality service. It
also holds a position as one of the highest lift served Ski
resorts in the world. It is the first place to offer heli-skiing
in Asia, where a helicopter takes one to the chosen peak from
where one can choose one's own descent route. Sledges and snow
cycles are also popular here during winters and trekking
opportunities here are numerous.
The 18-hole Gulmarg Golf Club is in existence for 100 years and
was established by Sir Neville Chamberlain. The Clubhouse, with
its sloping roof, has a rare character. Golfing holidays here
during summers are popular in this lush green bowl covered with a
variety of alpine flowers with snow fed streams and rivulets
passing through it.
Apharwat Lake is frozen until mid-June and even after that, one
can see ice floating in the river. For the more adventurous
trekkers, climbing straight up the boulder-strewn slope of the
ridge and descending on the other side to the path is a thrilling
exercise. For those who love horse riding, Alpather Lake makes an
exciting excursion for a day, starting early morning and returning
late evening
Pahalgam
Famous for scenic beauty, the jewel of the Liddar valley, Pahalgam
is situated in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Set at 2130 m above sea level, surrounded by the great Himalayas,
it is positioned on the banks of the Liddar River. The alpine
weather conditions create pleasant and mild weather conditions in
summers from April to June, while winters from November to
February are cold and experience heavy snowfall. The rainy seasons
of July and August see a huge entourage of pilgrims who come here
to visit the holy cave of Amarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva, as
Pahalgam is the starting point of the famous Amarnath Yatra.
The mention of Pahalgam is found in the regions ruled by the
Mughals in the medieval period. Local Hindu kings later ruled over
it as a part of the Kingdom of Kashmir until this princely state
annexed into India, after independence. The natural beauty of
Pahalgam and the luxuriant Liddar valley attracts the tourists.
There are number of picnic spots on the shores of River Liddar,
flowing near Pahalgam. Pahalgam is also a part of Asia's only
saffron growing area; the saffron plants are in full bloom in
November. Pahalgam offers quite a few hiking and trekking trails,
which one can explore riding on horseback. The snow capped peaks
in the backdrop and lush green pine forests soothe the eyes of the
travelers. The Liddar River is popular among travelers interested
in angling and trout fishing. Virgin pine forests, clear mountain
streams, and meadows of wildflowers mark Pahalgam as part of the
paradisiacal beauty of Kashmir.
Sonamarg
Sonamarg means a meadow of gold. A tranquil valley set amongst
glaciers and placid lakes, it has flower-laden meadows, panoramic
views of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks and a number of trekking
and hiking trails. Situated in the western part of the state of
Jammu and Kashmir, it is set an altitude of 2740 m above sea level
and is surrounded by the Himalayas. 80 km Srinagar, Sonamarg has
alpine weather conditions with mild and pleasant summers from
April to June and chilly winters from November to February
accompanied by heavy snowfall. Surrounded by some of the highest
mountain ranges of the world, the sparkling snowcapped mountains
reflect the golden rays of the sun to give Sonamarg its name. One
can see magnificent views of snow-clad ranges and attractive
meadows enroute while going to Sonamarg from Srinagar. Wonders of
the nature abound in Sonamarg in its quiet meadows and
flower-carpeted fields.
Hiking and trekking Sonamarg and the areas attract the
adventure-seeking tourists. A spur of the Thajiwas Range covered
with pine, fir, and birch trees divides the Sonamarg valley and
has a number of camping sites nearby. On the other side of the
spur, are a number of waterfalls and the captivating Thajiwas
glacier. There are trekking routes from Sonamarg to the Himalayan
lakes of Vishansar at an altitude of 4080 m above sea level,
Krishansar at an altitude of 3810 m above sea level and Gangabal
at an altitude of 3658 m above sea level. The trek to Gadsar Lake
with its abundant snow trout and the frozen Satsar Lakesurrounded
by alpine flowers and trees, trekking to Baltal, which 15 km from
Sonamarg is a delight. Situated at the foot of the Zojila pss, it
the gateway to the land of Ladakh.
Srinagar
The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is a
scintillating hill resort located ideally in the Kashmir valley.
Lovely lakes and roomy houseboats, dry fruits, Chinar trees and
traditional Kashmiri handicrafts are the highlights of the region.
Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, was so astounded by the beauty of
Srinagar that he exclaimed 'Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin
asto, hamin asto, hamin asto', which means 'If there is a heaven
on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here'. Jhelum River flows
through Srinagar, the city of natural wealth and is often referred
to as the land of lakes and gardens owing to the abundance of
both.
Dal Lake has become an icon of Srinagar but there are several
other lakes on its eastern side, Nagin Lake being the most famous
one. A ride on the 'Shikaras' or the floating gardens is a delight
in itself and the backdrop of the sunset infuses a magical charm
to the panoramic views of the lake. The favorite of Mughals,
Srinagar has many well laid out Mughal styled gardens such as
Chashme Shahi or the Royal Spring, Shalimar Bagh or the Garden of
Love and the Nishat Bagh or the Pleasure Garden, on the far
eastern side of the Dal Lake. The waterworks in the gardens add to
their rich greenish beauty. While animal lovers would like an
excursion to the Dachigam National Park, the wildlife reserve 22
km from Srinagar, skiing in winters attract the adventure lovers
to Srinagar but it is living in the beautiful houseboats on the
Dal Lake, which is to be missed by none.
Trekking
Trekking forms an integral part of the adventure sports
flourishing in the hilly tracts of Jammu and Kashmir. However,
Ladakh takes away the prize of being a trekker's paradise despite
of its harsh weather conditions and snowfall. It is only recently
that adventure tourism has got its long-due attention from the
tourism industry but now, a considerable part of the tourists who
visit Kashmir like to trek, if just to glimpse at its matchless
natural beauty. The major trekking regions in the Kashmir Valley
are: -
Amarnath Yatra
A long trek, equally that is popular among both the trekkers and
the pilgrims is the Amarnath trek that takes one to the naturally
formed shrine of Lord Amarnath, one of the holiest pilgrimage spot
for Hindus. As many accidents have occurred here in the past, all
the stages of the yatra is carefully controlled by the Indian
authorities. The first stage of the trek is to Chandanwadi, the
second to Sheshnag and the third over the Mahagunas Pass to
Panchtami. However, many pilgrims visit the cave from Panchtami
and return to Sheshnag the same day, walking back to Pahalgam on
the fifth day.
Gulmarg Trekking
An excellent base for trekking in the northern Pir Panjal Range,
one can see Nanga Parbat from here from several viewpoints. One
such viewpoint is Khilanmarg to the west of Gulmarg. From a
distance, the Pir Panjal appears to be rounded but while trekking
one realizes that it seem quite equal in steepness to those of the
main Himalayas. To the south of Gulmarg is a pleasant trek of the
walk up the Ferozepur Nala and beyond to the hamlets of Danwas,
Tejjan, and to Samaidan. One needs a guide for trekking here as
many stock trails intersect the route. The walk from Gulmarg to
Tosamaidan is considered to be three stages long. One may return
by way of Riyar and Khag villages or continue south toward Sunset
Peak and then walk into the foothills along the Romushi Nala to
Yusmarg.
Sonamarg Trekking
Sonamarg is the starting point of a major trek passing several
mountain lakes that include Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar
and Gangabal. One trek even leads all the way to the Amarnath
Cave.
Thajiwas Trek
A popular short walk from Sonamarg, which is a major highlight of
the place in the summers, is the 4-km route to Thajiwas, a small
valley at the foot of the Sonamarg glacier. It leads up to the
Shakhdar hill that overlooks the glacier from the northeast.
Climbing the steep slope leading up to the glacier can prove to be
dangerous and one may hire opt for ponies for the trip. In early
summer, one may also spot the nomadic groups of Gujar passing
through Sonamarg on their way to the alpine meadows for the
summer.
Trek From Sonamarg To The Valley Via
Gangabal Lake
To the west of Sonamarg, is a fine trek where one crosses the
Nichinai pass to Gangabal Lake. Accompanied by a guide, the
starting point of the trek is the bridge in Shitkari village,
where the road crosses the Sind River. One starts across the right
bank of the river to the lakes called Krishan Sar and Vishan Sar,
all the way to Gangabal Lake near Haramukh, which is the highest
peak in the vicinity of the Kashmir valley.
Skiing
Skiing in Jammu and Kashmir is a thrilling and exciting experience
for any adventure enthusiast. The Ski Club of India was
established in Gulmarg in 1927, which is now considered as the ski
paradise of India. Just 50 km from Srinagar, situated at an
altitude of 2,730 m, Gulmarg changes its scenery from a flowery
meadow to that pf a small ski resort in winters. Ski-lovers from
all over the country flock to the place because it is the only
ski-resort in the mighty Himalayas where you can ski with a
magnificent view of the Karakorams and also the cheapest one in
the whole world to learn skiing. Gulmarg provides an altitude
difference of over 1,500 m with lengths of more than 10 km.
However, only a ski-mountaineer can reach these higher slopes. The
beginners may hire any of the four ski lifts or a chairlift.
Here, the latest Austrian and French equipment is available on
hire and the ski school known as the Indian Institute of Skiing
and Mountaineering, which conducts 10 day and 21-day short ski
courses for beginners and advanced skiers. The best season for
skiing is mid-December to mid-April and the road is kept open to
Gulmarg with the help of powerful German machines throughout the
winter. There are cross-country runs apart from downhill skiing
and there are delightful excursions to the shrine of Baba Reshi
through the 'powder chute'. Heli-skiing is the recent addition to
the place and there are numerous possibilities of finding new
tracks throughout the winter season. A look for a helicopter is
even more majestic.
There are other places apart from Gulmarg, where one may find the
pleasure of skiing including Srinagar. Ski tours from Pahalgam to
Sonamarg through high mountain passes are not only demanding but
also exciting. Wardwan Valley of Ladakh also attracts some
ski-enthusiasts during the season.
Aero Sports
India is fast emerging as a major aero-sports destination because
of its long Himalayan range that offers opportunities for
activities like Para Sailing, Para Gliding, Hot Air Ballooning,
and Para Jumping. Though, it will still take some time for the
state of Jammu and Kashmir to gain popularity as a hand-gliding
landmark, yet the location of a flat valley surrounded by high
mountains is an ideal terrain for hang-gliding. The best places to
try hand gliding are the meadows at the foot of mountains such as
Yusmarg, Gulmarg and Sonamarg and one may go to the Suru and
Zanskar valleys for hot air ballooning.
Paragliding is the latest aero sport to take the world by storm
and its origin dates back to as late as 1940s, when an aviation
pioneer, Dr. Francis Rogallo filed for a patent for his flexible
Delta Kite. But it was not until the early 1980s that parachutes
were foot-launched regularly from hills. Since then this sport has
been rapidly expanding. Thousands of people all over the world
have found this sport convenient, sheer fun and a safe medium of
soaring in the air. With a vision to make India the leader in
paragliding, over the past three to four years, many training
courses were organized by several organizations such as Indian
Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering. A sizeable number of
people have been trained as pilots now and are capable of flying
solo. Sansar in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most interesting
spot that offers a bag full of wonders when the pilots take off
for the flights.
Golf
Kashmir Valley offers verdant golf courses at Srinagar and
Gulmarg, where one can play golf all through the summer,
stretching from April to November. Bordered by trees of Chinar and
Pine, one may play for longer hours here than in the plains
because of the lower temperatures and invigorating climate.
The golf course at Gulmarg is one of the prettiest ones. Located
as high as 3730 metres above sea level, it is the highest green
golf course anywhere in the world. Hardly any stretch of the
course is flat, which is full of the land slopes and inclines
along the complete area of the course, which has a par of 72. The
place has rarefied atmosphere, which carries the ball further, and
the turf, since it lies buried six to eight feet under snow for
five months of the year, is soft. The greens have a combination of
moss and a high variety of grass and natural slopes, which are
fast to play on.
The Kashmir Golf Club at Srinagar is spread over 52 sprawling
acres of lush land. Its president, the noted politician Dr. Farooq
Abdullah, is himself a keen golfer. With well laid out bunkers and
hazards, interspersed between Chinars and Pine trees, is a
professional 18-hole course and has been the venue of many
tournaments. The course has common fairways and a par of 70.
Stretching across an expense of 300 acres near the famous Cheshma
Shahi at Srinagar, The Royal Springs Golf Course was designed and
laid out by the World-renowned Golf architect, Robert Trent Jones
Jr. II, who has been known to design about 500 courses all over
the World, including the cities of Bangkok and China. Overlooking
the famous Dal Lake, it is set in a natural environment created
against the dramatic backdrop of Zabarwan hills. Course at a par
of 72 offer a challenge to all levels of players. The fairways are
turfed with cool weather grass of different Shades. The trees
bordering it are Rye, Kentucky blue and tall frescoes that lend a
touch of color throughout the golfing season.
River Rafting
The valley of Kashmir is as famous for its rivers and lakes as it
is for its beautiful mountains. More than just an object of
beauty, the waterways offer activity-oriented leisure sports too.
While the more sedentary ones may opt for a Shikara boat ride,
which have sprung-cushion seats and chintz curtains, on the Dal
and Nagin lakes in Srinagar, the others may opt for motorboats or
go for water skiing. There are people who live in boats called
Doongas and claim to be descendants of Noah, constantly sailing on
the Jhelum River of Srinagar. One may see the old city of Srinagar
while cruising on a slow boat that can be hired from them. As one
passes under the numerous bridges spanning the Jhelum, the river
changes character as it widens and meanders past visages in the
valley.
However, it is the white water rafting on the two mountain streams
of River Indus and River Lidder that is the favorite of the
adventure enthusiasts. Rafting is a very recent sport in Kashmir.
The Indus in Ladakh, in particular, has three portions that are
ideal for this sport - a half day run for amateurs from Phey to
Niemo, a two day exciting run from Phey to Alchi on the first day
and Nurla on the second day with a choice of going further to
Khalsi. The Zanskar River, also in Ladakh, can offer professionals
six days on rapids that begin at Padum and passes through the
picturesque Zanskar valley. The best season is August to
September. Similarly, the River Lidder near Pahalgam has two short
stretches suitable for white water rafting, especially for day
trips. As the gradients are not steep, they are excellent for the
first timers.
White water canoeing also has has extensive possibilities in the
rivers of Lidder, Sindh, Drass, Suru, Indus, Zanskar, Chenab and
for the less adventurous, even the Jhelum. The high altitude lakes
of Tarsar, Marsar, Kaunsarnag, Kishensar, Vishensar and Gangabal
could also be interesting for canoeing, thought the sport has not
yet caught on here. Similarly, no one has yet tried diving in the
lakes of the valley and it will be certainly a fun to discover the
truth of the legendary city, which is believed to lie at the
bottom of Wular Lake and the popular belief that Manasbal Lake has
no bottom.
Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbing is one of the most popular adventure sports of
Jammu and Kashmir. Boasting of some of the best peaks of Himalayan
and Alpine mountain ranges, the four regions into which the
mountains can be grouped are - Kashmir, Kishtwar, Zanskar and
Ladakh. The best renowned peaks are Kolahoi at an altitude of
5,425 m above sea level, known as the Matterhorn of Kashmir;
Harmukh at an altitude of 5,148 m above sea level, whose north
face resembles Eiger; Tattakuti at an altitude of 4,742 m above
sea level; Sunset at an altitude of 4,745 m above sea level, the
highest peak in the Pir Panjal range, and numerous other mall
peaks in Sonamarg and Pahalgam.
Kishtwar presents small but challenging Himalayan peaks with great
technical difficulty and involve weeklong trekking to the base
camps. The popular peaks in this region are Sickle Moon at an
altitude of 6,575 m above sea level; Eiger at an altitude of 6,001
m above sea level; Brammah-I at an altitude of 6,416 m above sea
level; Brammah's Wife at an altitude of 5,297 m above sea level;
Crooked Finger at an altitude of 5,630 m above sea level; Flat Top
at an altitude of 6,100 m above sea level; Cathedral at an
altitude of 5,370 m above sea level; Barnaj-I at an altitude of
6,100 m above sea level; Barnaj-II at an altitude of 6,290 m above
sea level; Arjuna at an altitude of 6,200 m above sea level;
Agyasol at an altitude of 6,200 m above sea level; and Shivling at
an altitude of 6,000 m above sea level.
Tourist Industry
Tourism is one of
the major industries of the State. This industry provides
employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly Hoteliers,
house boat owners, transporters, travel-agencies, traders, guides,
porters, pony men, boatmen, handicrafts and small scale industry
units and many others earn their livelihood because of this
industry. Private and public sector agencies provide necessary
facilities to the tourists and every year the number of tourists
increases.
Fishing
It is a sport very
much liked by tourists. Mahaseer fish is found in the river Jhelum
near Sumbal, Sopore, and Baramulla bridge. Trout fish is found in
Harvan Hatchery and Achhabal Hatchery. Common carp is found in the
river Jhelum and its tributaries. The Wullar lake, the Dal lake,
the Manasabal lake and the Anchar lake are other fishing spots.
Hunting
The hills and
mountains of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are known for Big
Game. Markhoor, Brown Bear, Leopard, and Barasingha are mostly
found in Kanag, Baltistan, Pirpanjal and in the Middle and Inner
Himalayas.
