Nestling in the lap of the dazzling snow capped Himalayas, the Kashmir valley is undoubtedly a jewel in India’s crwon. An inspiration for so much art, music and poetry, Kashmir is an emerald valley, cradled in the Himalayas, under crystalline blue skies, and against the backdrop of snow capped mountains.
Along both banks of the Jhelum, in the heart of the Kashmir valley, is Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Mughal imprint is visible in the many beautiful gardens, waterways and handcrafted souvenirs of the city.
Stretching like a lunar landscape, high in the remote regions of the Karakoram mountains, the plateau of Ladakh- wild, vast and barren – has a compelling charm and beauty of its own. Awesome snow covered mountains tower above frighteningly close, terrifying gorges that descend almost vertically to snake-like rivers thousands of feet below.
Startling patches of greenery break the bleak landscape – wherever there is water at the base of a glacier or in a river valley. Here one is likely to find Ladakh’s famous apricot orchards or giant cabbage heads; as also radish, potatoes and turnips growing to giant sizes because of longer daylight and strong intensity of ultra violet rays.
While crossing the extensive plains one is traveling through the highest plains in the world lying above 2700 m. Here the land scape assumes fantastic and bizarre shapes, a result of nature's erosion factor. Surrealistic colours splash off rocks ranging from rust, gold, pink and yellow.
In this quaint civilization, sheltered from the winds of change, timelessness prevails. Nestling amongst the rugged rocks and towering granite, surrounded by cultivated patches that look like pure jade, are ancient lamasaries carved into the hillside. Their interiors are resplendent with priceless antiques and an incense filled atmosphere throbbing with haunting chants of incessant prayer and music, where butter lamps burn night and day.
Like a forgotten moment in time, Ladakh - with its villages carved out of the veritable mountain side, stupas reaching the sky, dominating monasteries virtually hanging from cliffs and crags, their stone walls inscribed with ancient texts, standing in a wild unspoilt country side has the appeal of the rediscovered past. |
