Patnitop

Well connected by national highways to Jammu and Srinagar, Patnitop is a hill station in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated on a plateau in the Shiwalik belt of the Himalayas and the River Chenab flows close-by.
Originally known as Patan Da Talab, meaning Pond of the Princess, during British rule, the name of this hill station gradually distorted to become Patnitop. A small part of the original pond too exists in the meadow near the youth hostel.
The whole state of Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with natural beauty and Patnitop is no exception. The beautiful meadows and breathtaking view of the mountains enchant all who visit here. The joy of Paragliding and High flying can be experienced from the take off points at Dwariyai and Natha Top till Kud (landing area). Twenty kilometres from Patnitop is Sanasar, its name synonymous with adventure tourism. Sanasar offers a range of activities like Paragliding, Camping, Trekking, Abseiling, Rock Climbing and scenic nature walks.
Reachable by road from Srinagar, Patnitop welcomes all those who wish to indulge in Skiing, during the winter months from November to February.
Best time to visit: All the year round. November to February is best for Skiing and rest of the year for scenic beauty.
Languages spoken: Dogri
Climate: Temperate climate with pleasant summers and very cold winters with snowfall
Adventure Tourism: Paragliding, Skiing, Camping, Trekking, Abseiling, Rock Climbing and scenic nature walks

Here I come

Aadmi Musafir Hai (part 2)

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Remember the song “AADMI MUSAFIR HAI AATA HAI JAATA HAI” from movie Apnapan picturized on Sudhir Dalvi and that unknown girl in the bus en-route to Srinagar. The verses contain a philosophical message but in the language of common man which was forte of Anand Bakshi Sahib. As our vehicle moved towards Srinagar it seemed to me that a dream shall be chased in a few hours but the destination was quite far away.

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Sarchhu to Leh, Pangong Lake, and Back via Kashmir

Sarchhu to Leh, Pangong Lake, and Back via Kashmir

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First town where some civilization could be seen was Upshi which is basically a check post where we did not stop. Next stop at about 30 km was Karu which basically a military establishment just before Leh. We stopped a Karu for a late lunch and some tea and then soon proceeded to Leh which took about 1-1.5 hours. On the way to Leh one can see gorgeous mountain views with Indus flowing along the road.

Next, day we went to places around Leh such as Patthar Singh Sahab Gurudwara (पत्थर सिंह साहिब गुरुद्वारा), so called Magnetic Hill, Confluence of Janskar and Indus rivers, a Kali temple and a Buddhist temple, and one of the oldest monastery near Leh. The landscape near Leh is also dry, barren but mesmerizingly beautiful. Buddhist temple have special wheels called Maney ( माने) carrying the holy mantra “Om Many Padme hum” or “ओम माणी पद्मे हूं”  which the devotees rotate.

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Raven

Paradise on Earth- Jammu and Kashmir (Part 3)

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We passed the first town enroute – Ganderbal, within an hour. It was after Ganderbal that the real beauty of the drive commenced. After Ganderbal, the snow-capped Himalayas greeted us bang on. Every turn gave us panoramic new scenes, which always seemed to better than the previous one. Complimented by the untouched beauty of the Sindh River, the landscape was picture perfect.

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Paradise on Earth-Jammu and Kashmir (Part 2)

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These floating pieces of land are used by the landowners to do some kitchen gardening and are bound to the floor of the lake through a long pole. The boatman informed us that often these floating pieces of land are stolen in the stealth of the night and the police are left with no alternative but to register a case of ‘stolen land’!

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