Visiting Heaven On Earth – Kashmir Valley – Road to Pahalgam – Part V

Pahalgam is a town  in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.  This world famous hill station is 45 km. from the District Headquarters at Anantnag and is located on the banks of the Lidder river at an altitude of 7200 ft.

After spending a day and a night in Gulmarg, we started for Pahalgam. The journey was for about 140 km but it usually takes about 3.5 hours due to the hilly terrains as also the traffic on the National Highway 1A.  I was quite amused with the name.

The driver informed us that due to the petrol bomb incident at Jammu the previous day, there was a bandh (strike) called at Anantnag district as the driver was the from the same district.  We were a little concerned but he said that he would take us through a short cut, which will cut through apple orchards and zaffran or kesar (saffron) plantations. 🙂

so why don’t you enjoy the road for a while and I will come around with more words later in the post.

 

the car then stopped at an apple orchard which also had a restaurant near by.  Visiting the apple orchard was quite a site for me as I had never seen apple trees or apples hanging from trees.  🙂

 

we bought some for the next two days. the sizes and colour of the apple were something that i have not seen in Bangalore.  All the apples that we get in Bangalore are all exported. I wondered what happens to these ones, only to notice that all of these were exported out. sigh, the price of being in a developing country!

We saw many farm land being cultivated on the sides of the highway and curiously, most of the labourers were from migrants from parts of north India.

The road finally ended at Pahalgam town at the legandary Pahalgam hotel, which is around 80 years old and is a heritage hotel. We fell in love with the place the moment we stepped inside. you would too i guess as you see the picture below.

Its located right at the side of the Lidder river (which you will find no matter where you go at Pahalgam, it is always dancing just around the corner)

by this time, we were sufficiently tea thirsty and just like a heritage hotel, we were served sumptuous high tea along with snacks at the lawn.  My Kolkata heart danced with joy!!

Let’s end it here for today. Tomorrow I will take you to Betaab Valley, Chandanwari and Aru Valley which links to the Kolhoi Glacier (sadly is depleting very fast due to rapid deforestation and global warming).

Do let me know what you thought of this series.  keep travelling!!