Dras, Kargil, India
Dras was the town we chose to spend our first ever high altitude night in. It turned out to be so much more than just an “altitude acclimatisation” stopover on the way to Ladakh. Read more at Why visit Dras?.
Zoji la, Kashmir, India
Zoji la, the pass that connects Srinagar to Ladakh. It starts right after Baltal and runs for around 13 km. It remains closed in the winter months, when it is covered in snow. Read more on the Himalayan Passes at Mountain passes we crossed.
View from Zoji la, Kashmir, India
This is the view from Zoji la, the first mountain pass that leads the way from the lush green valleys of Kashmir to the cold desert of Ladakh. The tiny specks of settlement seen at the bottom are the tents at the base camp of Baltal. This is specially set up only during the Amarnath yatra. Read our story on Amarnath Yatra: Trek on a Pilgrimage.
Aerial view of Srinagar, Kashmir, India
The view en route the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar. This is the only spot from where you can take a picture. Shankaracharya temple affords excellent panoramic views of the entire city and its surroundings.
Gulmarg blooms, Kashmir, India
It was late July when we visited Gulmarg, and got a rare chance to see Gulmarg without the snow. The lush green meadows are covered with flowers and a variety of butterflies fluttering around them.
Boulevard Road, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of J&K and Dal Lake is its most popular attraction. It provides tourist accommodation in the form of house boats, which are parked in the lake in huge numbers. The street along this section of the Dal Lake is known as the Boulevard street and makes for a pleasant walk in the evening in front of the sun setting into the lake.
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Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of J&K. Hazratbal is its most important and also the biggest and the holiest shrine in Kashmir. The reason for its impotance is a holy box which the Muslims believe houses the hair of Prophet Mohammad. They throng here in large numbers especially on Fridays to offer Namaz. Its a beautiful structure in white, along the Dal Lake, surrounding which are old houses and markets of Srinagar.
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Life and sights around Dal lake in Srinagar
People of the valley: Kashmir
Kids of the hills
Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
A day in Kokernag, Kashmir
Dal lake, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
Happy days are here to stay
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Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
People of the valley: Kashmir
Girl from Lolab valley in Kashmir, India
Saw this girl entering her house, while walking around in the Lolab valley in Kashmir. When I took the camera out to take her picture, she stopped and posed. This is actually a pretty rare sight in Kashmir: A female with the head not covered!
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Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
People of the valley: Kashmir
Kids of the hills
Khumriyal in Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
The entire village came to visit us. Along with the staff they were all eager to cater to our needs. The kids wanted to play with us (and the camera!). The women particularly told us to let them know if we needed anything!
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Rolling fields of Lolab valley, Kashmir, India
Lolab, is a virgin valley in northern Kashmir near Kupwara. All shades of green, mysterious caves (folklore takes them all the way to Russia!) and warm hospitable people minus the throngs of tourists, Lolab has it all! Read full stories on : Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
India - Kalaroos village folks, Lolab Valley, Kashmir
It’s very rare that a car of tourists drives by these village roads. And everybody is curiously peeping out of their windows!
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Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
People of the valley: Kashmir
Villagers of Lolab valley, Kashmir
Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
India - Women from Kupwara, Lolab Valley, Kashmir
Women set out to start work in the fields. Firewood is still a major source of fuel in the houses in rural Kashmir. Women make several trips in the day collecting wood for daily use in the kitchen. Around August, they also start stocking wood for the winter months. Initially surprised at seeing us, they soon became pally and were amused that we wanted to click their pictures. But they were relaxed and actually enjoyed being photographed.
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Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
People of the valley: Kashmir
Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
Rolling fields of Lolab valley, Kashmir, India
Lolab, is a virgin valley in northern Kashmir near Kupwara. All shades of green, mysterious caves (folklore takes them all the way to Russia!) and warm hospitable people minus the throngs of tourists, Lolab has it all! Read full stories on : Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
Villages of Lolab valley, Kashmir, India
This is a typical summer time in the tiny villages in the beautiful Lolab Valley. Internal strife had kept it off the tourist map till recent. But now, it is waiting to receive people with warm hearts and open arms. Read full stories on : Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
Kupwara the unexplored, Kashmir, India
Kupwara, a northern district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is as virgin as it gets. Being very close to India’s most disputed border, Kupwara unfortunately ignites a lot of fear. But things are changing now. The place is studded with natural beauty and warm, hospitable locals minus the throngs of tourists. The tourism department of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is encouraging visitors to give this place a try. This is an idyllic summer scene in rural Kashmir. Wooden houses with tinned roofs surrounded by rice fields. And Himalayas over the horizon! In the lower valleys of the Himalayas, like the Kashmir valley, wood is abundant. The entire valley is actually a beautiful forest. A land so fertile, a saying goes, sow iron and you might just get an iron tree! Read full stories on : Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
Lolab Valley, Kashmir, India
Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
Kaiyan Bowl, Kashmir, India
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Reshwari picnic spot in Kupwara, Kashmir, India
Reshwari is a border village in the Kupwara district of northern Kashmir. This is the stream that flows by the tourist bungalow in Reshwari. Local kids come here everyday in the summer for their after school swim. Read more on northern Kashmir at Lolab Valley: Kashmir Unexplored
Sarbal, Kashmir, India
Sarbal has been popularised as "the last village of India". It is in fact the last village in Kashmir before the Zoji la that leads to Ladakh.
A precarious looking wooden bridge connects Sarbal to the motor-able road.
A tributary of the river Indus flows through here. It apparently goes all the way into Pakistan.
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Kids of the hills
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Sonmarg, Kashmir, India
A stream near Thajiwas Glacier
Gujjar kids from Rajouri district, Sonmarg, Kashmir, India
We met these Gujjar kids on our way to the Thajiwas Glacier in Sonmarg. Gujjars are a nomadic tribe of shepherds who move up to the greener pastures in the hills in the summer. Come winter, they move down to the plains with their entire households and flocks.
Due to this lifestyle, the kids usually miss out on conventional schooling. These kids had attended a nomadic school and as proof, they recited to us the alphabet, numbers and also some song and dance. They were happy to receive chocolates as their award.
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Gujjar kids from Rajouri district, Sonamarg, Kashmir, India
We met these Gujjar kids on our way to the Thajiwas Glacier in Sonmarg. Gujjars are a nomadic tribe of shepherds who move up to the greener pastures in the hills in the summer. Come winter, they move down to the plains with their entire households and flocks.
Due to this lifestyle, the kids usually miss out on conventional schooling. These kids had attended a nomadic school and as proof, they recited to us the alphabet, numbers and also some song and dance. They were happy to receive chocolates as their reward. Read full story on Kids of the hills
Yahoo Picture of the Day on 17th December 2013 in UK | Germany | Spain | France | Italy | South Africa | UAE Read full story on Kids of the hillsPortraitkidschildren playingGujjarnomadic tribeKashmirSonamargIndia
Gujjar kid from Rajouri district, Sonamarg, Kashmir, India
Sonmarg, Kashmir, India
Portraitkidschildren playingGujjarnomadic tribeKashmirSonamargIndia
Helicopter used by devotees for the Amarnath yatra, India
Route via Baltal to Amarnath, Kashmir, India
The route to Amarnath via Baltal is a straight path, with a steady ascent of 14 km to the Amarnath cave.
Though this journey takes just a day, the continuous climb makes it extremely strenuous.
For its variety and beauty, we highly recommend the route via Pahalgam for the Amarnath yatra.
Market outside the Amarnath cave, Kashmir, India
A buzzing market around the actual cave area of Amarnath belies its height of almost 13800 feet.
On one side of a long queue that leads to the holy cave of Amarnath, is row of “sadhus” who have set shop.
Sadhu at Amarnath in Kashmir, India
A series of sadhus like this one greet you while standing in the queue to get into the holy cave at Amarnath. Rudrakshas, photos as well as some some currency is up for grabs. Read more at Amarnath yatra: Trek on a pilgrimage
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Entrance to the holy Amarnath cave, Kashmir, India
A buzzing market around the actual cave area of Amarnath belies its height of almost 13800 feet. The locals have set up shops where you can buy the prasad and deposit your luggage (bags or gadgets are not allowed inside the cave). They also provide hot water if one wants to bathe before darshan. Or a bed for a short nap. Read more at Amarnath yatra: Trek on a pilgrimage
Amarnath, Kashmir, India
These are the scenes around holy cave at Amarnath. Altitude is around 3888m above sea level.
Sadhu at Amarnath, Kashmir, India
Any form of nicotine and alcohol is banned on the Amarnath yatra. Of course these rules do not apply to the sadhus! Sadhus being the exclusive source of cigarettes on the Amarnath yatra, they would be mobbed post dinner at the campsites. Specially by young guys. Addiction after all has a place in a person’s life, it appears! Read more at Amarnath yatra: Trek on a pilgrimage
Vendors near the Amarnath cave, Kashmir, India
A buzzing market around the actual cave area of Amarnath belies its height of almost 13800 feet. High claims of selling the “purest saffron” are made. Needless to say, their claims of purity should be taken with generous doses of salt!
Panchatarini en route Amarnath, Kashmir, India
Panchatarini is the second night halt of the Amarnath yatra. This is also the disembarkation point for the devotees who prefer the helicopters.
After Pachatarini a short ascent took us to the site of the “holy cave” of Amarnath.
Four means of transport for the Amarnath yatra, India
Helicopter, horse, a palkhi or your own two feet are all the options now available for reaching the holy cave at Amaranth at a height of almost 4000 meters.
Amarnath yatra is the annual pilgrimage that devotees undertake in honour of Lord Shiva.
Lavish lunch at Poshpathri, Amarnath yatra, Kashmir, India
This is the food stall (bhandara) at Poshpathri, right after crossing the highest point of the Amarnath yatra.
The variety served here could put a wedding party to shame! To be served it all at nearly 14000 feet, is kind of bizarre!
Food stalls at Poshpathri en route Amarnath, Kashmir, India
On the Amarnath yatra, food is provided by the devotee volunteers. Such organisations come from all over India and run food stalls (bhandaras) throughout the period of the Amarnath yatra, serving food from breakfast to dinner – for free. Read more at Amarnath yatra: Trek on a pilgrimage
Sadhu rests en route Amarnath, Kashmir, India
Amarnath yatra was our introduction to the ways and lives of sadhus - the holy men.
At campsites we stayed in simple albeit warm tents, with mattresses and blankets. This basic accommodation was too much of a luxury for them. They slept in the open air “sadhu shelters”.
Seeing them, was a study in cutting things down to the basics.
Amarnath, Kashmir, India
Meet Chunnilal, a brave young sadhu, who did the Amarnath yatra barefoot!
The many conversations we had with him was our first real contact with a sadhu. We gained a lot of insight into the kind of life they lead. His ultimate dream was to spend his life in Vrindavan, where according to him, God has his true presence!
Amarnath, Kashmir, India
The feet bore the brunt of Chunnilal's barefoot Amarnath yatra.
This was the second time the sadhu Chunnilal did the Amarnath yatra without any footwear.
The first time was quite tough. But this second time, he said he felt very comfortable. Also, there wasn't much snow this time. That made it easier for him.
Amarnath, Kashmir, India
The Amarnath yatra was our introduction to the ways and lives of the sadhus. Every once in a while, we would see the sadhus take a break. A break always involved a round of their favourite smoke. (No, we didn’t dare ask what exactly was in it!)
Mahagunas top, peak of the Amarnath yatra, India
Mahagunas Top at a height of around 4200 meter is the top most point of the Amarnath yatra. The only signs of life on Mahagunas Top were the tents of the Indian Army. This altitude combined with the remoteness of the location, being there was an intense experience.
