"Paradise on Earth" !!!

"Gar Firdaus Ba Ru-e-Zameen Ast... Hami ast O, Hami ast O, Hami ast "..... The Persian quotaion by the famous Persian poet  Jami, holds so true for this piece of land on earth....Kashmir.... which literally means "If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this."

Kashmir valley lies between the Great himalayas and the Pir-Panjal mountain range in the Northernmost part of India.

Nature has lavishly endowed Kashmir with immense natural beauty and I was lucky to witness this beauty with a very Special person in my life, my Husband Avisek.

We went there during the middle of March, 2012 for a week long trip. This time is the onset of Spring season and the recession of Winter season in the valley.... So we could find both  peach, almond blossoms on the trees and snow in the mountains ....  :-)

But  Kashmir valley has its unique beauties in each season.... You find the whole valley coverd in a white carpet of snow in the winter ( Dec-Feb), The blooming of beautiful flowers in Spring ( Mid-March to May). The valley turns lush green in the summers ( June- Aug), and then it turns red in Autumn ( Oct-Nov) when beautiful leaves of Chinar turns red.

So the point is, Kashmir's natural beauty can be enjoyed in every season and basically you can visit at any time without much worries. Season changes are so distinguishable and beautiful in Kashmir which you cannot realize by staying in Metro cities...

A Shikara in the middle of beautiful Dal lake, Srinagar

Amazing wooden carving in a House-boat

Rows of Houseboats in Dal Lake

A Kashmiri boy selling handicraft items in his shikara

A wonderful hotel on the banks of  Dal lake

Snow-clad mountains on the way to Gulmarg

Gulmarg is a hill station and a very popular Skiing destination. It is also known as the 'Heartland of Winter Sports in India' . It also has the highest green Golf resort in the World ( in summers).

Cable-Car ride- Gondola at Gulmarg

Gulmarg is also famous for its one of the highest cable car in the world,locally known as Gondola, reaching 3,979 metres above MSL.

Mystical sky

Snow, snow everywhere!!

This is me... enjoying my first Snow experience

This Gulmarg Skii Resort

Picturesque Pahalgam

Pine forest in Betaab valley, Pahalgam

Beautiful village on the foothills of the mighty Mountains

On the way to Aru valley, Pahalgam

Willow trees on both sides of the road to Pahalgam

Huge Chinar trees in Mughal Gardens of Srinagar

Peach Blossoms... onset of Spring!!

At Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar

Beautiful Tulip Garden of Srinagar... A 'must' visit...

On the way to Sonmarg

Roaring Indus River... Sonmarg

A sleepy village on the way to Sonmarg

A collage of beautiful flowers