Kashmir - A trip like no other

2020 was a year with ups and downs and challenges that I faced with stern determination to stay happy, calm and sane. It felt like hosting a fufaa-ji at an Indian wedding. You are angry and frustrated but you still can't ruin the wedding because of him. To get some sanity and peace, I decided that this year needs a special end and a visit to Kashmir seemed like a great way to do so.

So, being a meticulous planner that I am, I started carefully looking at options, travel ite.... No wait, that's a parallel life I wish I led. Here is the real story of how I "planned" for Kashmir. I booked Kashmir trip with a travel group on the last day of my Rishikesh trip that I was part of which had been organized by same group: "OnHisOwnTrip". I don't know why, but I get anxious if I end a trip and there are no more confirmed trips in sight(What's wrong with me? Do not open that box!). Confirming this trip gave me assurance that I will spend New Year in mountains (which I absolutely love), happy in nature's lap.

Now, with all set to head out to Kashmir in winters I was adamant that I will not repeat my previous travel mistakes and prepare with buying enough clothes to face cold weather. I bought 1 down jacket. Moving on, preparation also included getting a negative Covid report because such are the times we live in. Checking-In my suitcase at all time high of 14 kgs, I left for Srinagar from Bangalore Airport. As soon as I landed at Srinagar, attempts to gather and co-ordinate folks in the group started with various locations, messages, greetings popping as Whatsapp notification. I have travelled with such groups in past and was hoping that this experience would be similar. Went out of airport, met few folks (one of whom was a colleague of my flatmate, small world!) and then met our lead and captain for the trip: Sakshi. She had led us in Rishikesh as well and we shared a camaraderie and a special bond that you develop only with people with whom you have had 3am talks about life. Such was her energy, her enthusiasm, her empathy and her leadership, that everyone connected with her and we all felt part of a single group rather than having fringe groups among us.

View from Plane

We started with bus journey to our hotel, with everyone introducing themselves. Nobody had a clue how unexpectedly exciting this trip was going to be. When I reached hotel, I met Ravi, a friend from previous trip and my room mate (and my instant booking partner). We talked, joked and spoke like a day hadn't passed since we had met last. After usual chit-chat of knowing and meeting people and making small talk (about how much alcohol everyone is going to drink) we began with usual site seeing and visited the beautiful dal lake, drank Kahwa and ate yummy bakery biscuits (of course this was accompanied by clicking lot of pictures)

Dal Lake - Before and After a Snowfall

We returned to the hotel and decided to meet up after some time for our party. In all the group trips, this is something that I look forward to most. Partying on first day, gelling with people, getting to know them, their stories, their perspective on life and their alcohol capacity :D It was such a fun night and next day I could feel difference in vibes, small friendly gestures from people. With this Ice-break, we were welcomed by (one of the many) snowfall in Srinagar before starting our journey to Gulmarg.

Journey to Gulmarg felt like being part of Bollywood cinematography. With green trees covered in white snow and entire landscape looking like a Windows wallpaper, my eyes were in for some pleasant shock. Being the grown-up adults that we are, as soon as we reached Gulmarg, we started snow fighting , hitting each other with chunks of snow powder. Experiencing snow after a year, I felt amazing just by the aura of the place (and hummed "Mera Dil Pahadon mai kho gya", cliché!). With each passing day and each passing night, we were enjoying, relishing and admiring more the beauty of Kashmir, the friendship among our group and our entire trip.

Gulmarg - Journey View

Gulmarg - Destination

Further days were spent visiting all the quintessential Kashmir places, Gondola Ride, Pehalgam, Betaab and Aru Valley, Chandanwaadi and Srinagar airport(which also became a special destination). The destinations may have been conventional but our journey wasn't. We snow cycled our way downhill in Gulmarg, celebrated with a new year party in Pahalgam, sat on top of our car while going back from Aru to Pahalgam(and badly singing Tumse-Hi), Experienced a snowfall at night, and ran for our lives for 6km with our suitcase to catch our flight in time!!! (Yes 3 exclamation marks because just 1 cannot express the adventure of this)

The extended days gave us the time to know more. About ourselves, about each other, about city and its locals. These unexpected extended days in Kashmir is what made this trip special(along with some good chaat-paapdi and pasta!).