Hello Folks,
It’s the second last month of the year & the peak season is about to begin. To avoid the rush & hustle bustle, my family decided to visit Kashmir. We planned a 9 day trip and the ghumakkar in me was just waiting for the journey to start off! ;)
Days flew by and now the trip’s over.We had loads of fun & here in this post I’ll be sharing the best pics of the journey! They are none other than of flowers (tulips, roses etc.) of the very famous gardens of Srinagar i.e. Mughal Gardens, Shalimar Gardens & Chashmashahi etc.
So, without any further delay, let me take you all to a world of the very beautiful flowers.
Extraordinary Rose
Flowers in Mughal Gardens
Meanwhile let me describe some of the famous gardens:
I).Shalimar Bagh: is a Mughal garden linked through a channel to the northeast of Dal Lake, on its right bank located near Srinagar city in the Jammu and Kashmir. Its other names are Shalamar Garden, Shalamar Bagh, Farah Baksh and Faiz Baksh, and the other famous shore line garden in the vicinity is Nishat Bagh. The Bagh was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan, in 1619. The Bagh is considered the high point of Mughal horticulture. It is now public park.
Gande ka phool
II). Nishat Bagh: is a Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake, close to the Srinagar city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the second largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. The largest in size is the Shalimar Bagh, which is also located on the bank of the Dal Lake. ‘Nishat Bagh’ is a Hindustani word, which means “Garden of Joy,” “Garden of Gladness” and “Garden of Delight.”
A lovely pair
III).Chashmashahi :- Shah Jehan laid the Chashmashahi or the Royal spring in Srinagar in 1632. Renowned for the spring of refreshing digestive mineral water, this terraced garden has fountains in the middle and houses multiple kinds of fruits and flowers plants. The tall trees of Chinar can also be seen here. The picnic delights and long walks in the gardens, strolling hand in hand with your partner and treating all your five senses with the unforgettable pleasures are just a modest account of the place.
Ain’t these beautiful?
IV).Pari Mahal:-
The erstwhile royal observatory, Pari Mahal boasts of a well planned and is just a five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi. The place also houses a Buddhist monastery of the olden times, converted later to a school of astrology by Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. This ancient monument retains a dream-like quality, illuminated at nights and placed on the very edge of a mountain casting its reflection in the waters of the Dal Lake with a well-laid spacious garden in front.
Twins in Shalimar Gardens
Close up
Yet another beautiful one!
A macro shot!
in Pari Mahal
A Bud
Red Rose in Pari Mahal
I <3 this one!
Chinaar leaf
Flower in the crown of India
It resemles a sunflower!
A Close up again! ;)
Fresh & Smiling!
Genda ;)
That’s it for this part.Hope you all enjoyed.Next,I’ll be writing about Gulmarg,Phalagam,Sonamarg & Katra.Don’t miss them.
For more such photos log on to my site: www.NamanIN.co.cc or visit: http://on.fb.me/snVqxU
-Naman
P.S: You are welcome to glance & appreciate the photos but please do not upload/pass them in your name.
Super pics Naman !!!! Kashmir ki yaad tazaa ho gayi :)
Last month also I was there in Kashmir. Waiting for your following parts.
Sahil
Thanks a lot Sahil Ji….I love your photolog on The Tulip Gardens! ;)
Naman, you should have called this blog a Pushpanjali (flowery tribute) to Kashmir. Close-ups of those beautiful flowers are a feast for the eyes. I wish you also included some landscapes of the gardens you visited.
However, the lay tourist has serious concerns about touring Kashmir due to the troubled conditions prevailing in that state. Could you tell us, in your subsequent posts, about the situation there, the quality of accommodation, the attitude of the locals towards tourists and other information that first time travellers would find useful.
Narayan Sir,
I just wanted to tell you that Kashmir has undergone a dramatic change into a new dawn. The people in Kashmir are very warm. I also had to think twice before visiting Kashmir, but there is nothing like it on. The people and scenery in Kashmir truly makes it a “Paradise on Earth”.
I hope you will visit Kashmir sometime soon. It is worth the visit.
Thanks
Sishir
Thanks a lot sir…
Yeah,we also had these points in our mind,but Kashmir is quite stable now.Infact,this year Kashmir recorded the maximum tourists.The people there say that,we are indeed scared of the Army!There’s no risk at all! Accommodation & hospitality is superb!
We stayed in New Green View (Dal Lake). The best time to visit it is March! ;)
Thanks a lot Sishirji for your response. It is one place I have not visited and my wife never stops blaming me for cancelling a proposed trip in the early 80’s when things were peaceful there. I have read the first part of the serial on your visit to Kashmir and you have briefly touched on that aspect in the opening paragraph. Looking forward eagerly to your next subsequent posts.
I know that things have improved but first-hand reports about the improving situation and the positive experiences there will carry more weight with ghumakkars than what is written in newspapers or shown on TV channels.
The beauty of the place and the hospitality of its people is well known. What needs to be highlighted is the return to normalcy. This will ensure that tourists will starting flocking back to the paradise on earth.
beautiful pics
Thanks Sir! :D
KITNI KHOOBSOORAT YE TASHVEER HAI…….
YE KASHMIR HAI… YE KASHMIR HAI…..
Thought of plucking some flowers from ur bouquet but am scared of the post script warning…:)
Thanks a lot sir! LOL! :P
Hi Naman,
Awesome pics and you took me back to my visits to Kashmir. Yes, the valley is beautiful and the people are very warm, i have infact written some two articles on my visit to this “paradise on earth”. The tv channels and media at large can be blamed for the kind of picture they paint of the valley, however, if a traveler chooses to keep aside his fears and visit the place he will for himself understand the charisma, magnetism and warmth the place holds.
Thanks a lot Ma’am! :)
Yeah,I agree,Media definitely has to be blamed for the current condition.
Very beautiful and classy pics Great work keep it up…………………
keep travelling and posting………………………
Thanks Vishal Ji! :)
Photographs are very nice and coverage of pictures is also very good . keep it up
Thanks a lot Uncle. ;)
Hi Naman,
Superb pics. Agree with DL about ‘Pushpanjali’.
The place seems almost irresistible.
Thanks,
Auro.
Thanks a ton Aurojit. :)