Mahabaleshwar Travel

We planned a trip to Mahabaleshwar and surrounding areas during the Commonwealth games season in Delhi. Our journey began on 11 October, when we boarded the colorful Doronto Express at 11 a.m. to reach Pune, the next morning around 7:30 a.m. We had equipped ourselves with a pack of cards and a couple of magazines to keep us occupied during the overnight train journey. My son was so excited about the train journey and flooded us with questions regarding the engine and related technical aspects.
The train journey was real fun as we engaged ourselves into activities for which we would never find time at home (playing cards, twenty questions, hogging, etc). The support staff also deserve a mention as they made us feel really special by extending their hospitality and prompt service. During the daytime, we admired the changing landscapes as the train travelled through the dusty plains of Mathura and surrounding areas to the dark and dingy ravines of Madhya Pradesh and the desert land of Rajasthan.
From Pune, we embarked on our (120 km.) road journey to Mahabaleshwar. We were greeted by bright sunshine and clear weather. The hill station is located at an altitude of 4500 ft along the Sahyadri range of Western Ghats. As we climbed up, one could observe the mountains were not very steep and they bore a reddish imprint unlike the Himalayas of Northern India. Another aspect that really struck me was the pristine forest cover extending over the hill station which was untouched by human influence. The forest cover predominantly comprised of Jamun trees spread all over the landscape.
We pampered ourselves by getting into a shopping spree in the local market at the end of our first day excursion. The market was flooded with jutebags of all hues and varieties. Also, one could find sleek Kohlapuri sandals and slippers displayed outside and I could simply not resist from picking them up. At the hotel, we savoured our taste buds by digging into exotic North Indian and Gujarati cuisine.
The next day, weather gods were generous and we visited the famous Lord Shiva and Panchganga temple located in Old Mahabaleshwar. There was an ethereal charm around this place and it made me feel so calm and serene from inside. During the next half of the day, we travelled to Panchgani. The town got its name from the five rivers flowing through it; Krishna, Koyna, Gayatri, Savitri, and Venna. The town also boasts of several shooting sites for Bollywood movies including, the commonly found cliff hanging scenes. There was a flat table top land spread across a radius of 6 km. We took a bumpy ride on a single horse carriage across the table land and it gave us quite a countryside feel. An icecream seller became our self proclaimed guide and shared with us the historical significance of the place where Pandavas had once come and left their footprints.
The very next day we checked out of our hotel after a sumptuous breakfast and started descending towards Pune. On the way, we stopped by, at an icecream factory and took a neat break, admiring the factory interiors, at the same time relishing our strawberry icecream. The cab driver made us stop again at few spots in Panchgani which offered a wonderful glimpse of the picturesque valley below (Wai and Chikli village).
Having visited the place, I would recommend this hill-station for couples wishing to spend their vacation in solitude away from the humdrum of the city. Also, recommended for families with kids as the weather is pleasantly cold, food is really hot, and there are strawberries in abundance.

Kashmir Odyssey

We visited Kashmir in May this year. Long hours had been spent in planning our itinerary and finally, we zeroed in on the Kashmir valley. Our first brush with Kashmir were the snow-capped peaks of Himalayas which were visible as we started nearing the Srinagar airport. We could view a picturesque valley which was literally (going back to the definition found in our NCERT geography textbooks) surrounded by cliffs on all sides. There was a strike on the day we reached Srinagar and the city appeared quite calm and peaceful unlike what we had heard about it. Our booking was in Butt's Cleremont Houseboats and we got a wonderful welcome from our host, Mr Gulam Butt. He devoted personal attention to make our stay comfortable. Not to be missed was the visitors gallery which showcased a number of distinguished people from the media, diplomatic relations and political background who had stayed in his houseboat.

We managed to pack in the beautiful Shalimar Gardens, Chashme-Shahi and the Pari Mahal in the daytime. This was followed by a Shikara ride in the Dal Lake arranged by Mr Butt. We could watch the skyline of Srinagar in the backdrop of the setting sun which created wonderful reflections in the tranquil waters of Dal Lake. The boatman shared some insights on the society and youth of Kashmir who had grown up in a fearful environment influenced by the politics of the land. Inspite of very high education levels, majority of the youth are unemployed which has led to rising discontent and widespread public agitation. We came across a small island in the middle which was in a bad state after it suffered a terrorist attack. Dilapidated structure stood where there was a restaurant once. I was deeply touched by the poignant tales of the boatman. At night, we were treated to a sumptuous Kashmiri meal in the houseboat. It was a great way to unwind after a long and tiring day.

The very next day, after picking some momentoes (coasters, bangles) we were off to Pahalgam by noon. As we were crossing Srinagar, we passed through the historic Lal Chowk which appeared unusually quiet and peaceful unlike what we had seen and heard on television. We saw a lot of bat factories on the way to Pahalgam. Saffron farming was visible across stretches of land.

It was almost evening when we reached Pahalgam. This valley is located alongside the Lidder river, at an altitude of 2130 metres above sea level. It is also the starting point for the Amarnath trek. I was completely spell-bound watching the landscape which offered an ideal location for shooting of a romantic Hindi movie. Early next morning, we took a pony ride to Bysaran valley. The route was quite slippery owing to heavy rains and I almost clinged to the ponyman during the entire journey praying silently along the way. Bysaran was a dream valley with lush green meadows stretching across the horizon. There was hardly any human civilization except a few shepherds and a couple of tea stalls. We had some hot maggi, toast and paranthas to complement the cold weather. It was great fun just running along the slopes. The pony ride was a real adventure as we had to cross several streams and slippery terrain downhill. But we had gained some confidence while descending so we did not feel the adrenalin rush as much as we did uphill
By the time we reached our hotel, it was almost time to bid adieu to Pahalgam and proceed to Gulmarg. We just wished that next time we would keep more days for Pahalgam so that we visit the places we missed on this trip. We had to cross Srinagar and then proceed to Gulmarg as there was no direct link between Pahalgam and Gulmarg.

Gulmarg was quite a discovery. It was a treat to watch the valley unfold beautifully before your eyes. Not to be missed is the Gondola ride to Kongdoor and subsequently, Khilanmarg. The Children's Park and the Golf Course offer a great ambience to unwind. The best part were the tiny bridges built over streams which resembled the description found in fairy tales. The kind of place which makes you feel like you are in heaven!

Scores of CRPF personnel posted outside the airport and several rounds of security check before entering the airport reminded us of the political turmoil that the place is going through. Inspite of abundant beauty, the potential for tourism has been limited by the ongoing man-made conflicts. In the days after we returned from the valley, the conflict intensified and there was curfew in the valley for several weeks altogether. I thanked God for making our travel possible so that we could appreciate the beauty around us in a peaceful environment.