If ever
a piece of land was crafted by nature to depict God’s fantasy, it definitely
has to be Kashmir. From the varied desert terrains of Hindu Kush, Karakoram and
the Himalayas to the lush green valleys carved out by the emerging rivers, the
beauty of this land is incomparable and unforeseen. As you travel along the
state, its varying textures embrace you with open arms and you know the next
surprise is just round the corner. What often astonishes you is the purity and
serenity of nature even in its busiest and most popular tourist attractions.
While
the Dal lake calmly reflect hues of the sky and the colors of lotus and water
lilies, the vast meadows of Gulmarg (Valley of Flowers) boasts of thousands of
species of flowers that blossom in abundance in laps of nature. The snowy
mountains and the glaciers of Sonamarg (Meadow of Gold) present to you another
spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. And if you have ever dreamt of
spending
idyllic moments by a riverside in a beautiful valley with undulating meadows
surrounded by thick pine forests & snow-capped mountains, then your
destination should undoubtedly be the valley of shepherds-Pahalgam. Though
Kashmiris love to swank about the house-boat where scenes of ‘Mission Kashmir’
were shot, you tend to be more interested to immerse yourself in the royal
treatment you receive inside one of those beautifully crafted floating wooden
accommodations. And if you really get tired because your travel agent didn’t
care to plan your trip according to suit your comfort, try to rejuvenate
yourself with a cup of tea by the Lidder River in Pahalgam or simply hop into a
Shikara and enjoy the tranquility of Dal Lake in Srinagar.
About the photographer:
Chayan is an Engineer by profession and working for Transfield Worley NZ
, New Plymouth, New Zealand. He believes in creative freedom and photography is purely his labour of love. His works are inspired by the nature, the people & the events around him. More results of his photographic adventure can be accessed at his flickr profile:http://www.flickr.com/photos/chayanphotography/6404184157/in/photostream
