NOW that summer is here, it is time to cool and refresh your minds with the chilly experience of mountain valleys in Srinagar. This hill station is renowned for its scenic beauty and known by different names like ‘paradise on earth', the ‘city of gardens and ‘mini Switzerland' amongst others. Today, it offers to the visitor a lot of activities aside from maintaing the same charm, tradition and serenity this tourist destination is famous for. At first glance, it looks like a place that has been taken over completely by the Indian Army. After every 15 steps, tourists encounter armed personnel placed strategically for security purposes. However, the question in every tourist's mind is: how safe is the place? That question does not seem to have deterred many tourists though, with the destination retaining its top spot for tourist visits and local residents claiming that the last six years have seen a lot of effective security measures taken by the Indian government, that have made them feel safer. Here we come As soon as we landed in Srinagar I felt that this could be no less than a heaven; a dream come true. Snow-capped trees and droplets of melting ice running down those trees were a captivating sight in itself, instantly invigorated me. We had made arrangements to stay at the Hotel Grand Ashoka, which was nestled opposite Dal Lake and against the backdrop of a densely-populated forest. Having arrived there in February, the nights were cold (-2 degrees Celcius) and the mornings chilly (2-4 degrees Celcius), but having taken sufficient warm clothing and central heating soon manage to tackle the cold. With this in mind, we set out to explore this mini Switzerland. Hot spots It made sense to start by visiting Dal Lake, which is one of the most popular landmarks of Srinagar and consists of a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly moored they could be mistaken for islands and hotels on islands that looked like they could simply float away. The Dal is famous not only for its captivating beauty but for its sheer vibrance; it sustains within itself a periphery and life that is unique to the lake. The houseboat - known as the shikhara - and the community that derives its sustenance from it, have lived on the Dal for centuries. Their infrastructure is so fully established that they never even have to step on land for anything! Gliding on the shikharas is an unforgettable experience in itself, as one can observe Kingfishers, Pigeons, white flamingoes and other large, striking birds with robust bills perched on the branches of the willow trees that graze the lake. Shikhara trips range from 500 to 800 Indian rupees per ride, but the experience is well worth it. We planned to spend a day and a night on the shikhara and we rented it for 2,000 Rupees per day. A night on a houseboat was another lifetime experience. The entire interior - which includes intricate wooden carvings and Kasmiri furnishings, really deserves a lot of praise. It consisted of two bedrooms (each with attached toilets), a kitchen, a spacious dining room, one large living room and a balcony. In essence, it consisted of all the facilities that one can expect in any luxury hotel. However, you need to book the shikharas beforehand in case you are visiting the valley during the peak season. The experience was extremely relaxing and waking up early next morning, I felt like embracing the rising sun. For those easily bored of tranquil and relaxing activities, Dal lake also offers adventure enthusiasts the option of whizzing down the gorgeous lake in speedboats. We began the second day by stopping by at the various gardens Srinagar is famous for like Mughal Gardens, Nishath Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chashmashahi. Later we moved on to pay homage to the Jama Masjid of Srinagar which is situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. An important mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. The attractions of the Jama Masjid include beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture, a magnificent courtyard and a total of 370 wooden pillars. The peace and tranquility within the mosque offers stands out against the hustle and bustle of the traditional bazaars (markets) surrounding it.
