If there
is one place in India that you must visit at least once in your lifetime is
Jammu and Kashmir. Inspite of the political volatility, Kashmir has been
attracting people from all across the world since time immemorial. Most people
from the west are attracted to Kashmir’s Leh and Ladakh and of course the
Himalayan land of Zanskar, both these areas being home to friendly and
hospitable Tibetan people who are mostly Buddhist, timeless monasteries,
beautiful snowcapped mountains and arid canyons. The alpine scenery and lovely
summers attract people from other parts of the country as well there are many
agencies that offer Kashmir vacation packages. You will come across
different types of tour options and based on what you are looking for in your
Kashmir holidays, you need to choose one.
Kashmir
is an example of flawless natural beauty and there is a lot to explore here
starting from beautiful colorful valleys to castles and mansions that are
centuries old. Let’s have a look at what Kashmir has in store to offer for the
first time visitors:
Ladakh
Ladakh is
one of those rare places in Kashmir that is not affected by the wars and
communal riots. There are numerous whitewashed stupas and beautiful gompas. The
Thikse monastery is a must visit in Ladakh and of course the very beautiful
Pangong Lake that is slowly becoming a popular tourist destination. Nubra
Valley is yet another place that is simply stunning and a must visit. Lamayuru
is a very beautiful monastery in a village known by the same name. The
Tsomoriri Lake, sand dunes at Hunder, Khartungla Pass are some of the other
places that are worth visiting in Ladakh.
Srinagar
Almost all
Kashmir tour packages consist of a tour of Srinagar, the capital of the
state. Srinagar is a beautiful city and Dal Lake with its houseboats or
shikaras is the city’s charm. Make sure you take a relaxing ride in one of
these to revive the lost romance in your relationship. You can even stay at one
of the houseboats in Srinagar. Nigeen Lake is yet another place known for its
beautiful and tranquil surrounding where you can sit and enjoy the serene
ambience of the nature. If you want to witness, the beauty of Mughal
architecture, then Pari Mahal or the palace of fairies is a must visit.
Hazratbat Shrine is a place of religious importance here. Srinagar is the home
to the largest tulip garden in Asia and hence, this is yet another place that
attracts tourists from far and wide and make sure that your Kashmir package
includes this beautiful and colorful garden. Another beautiful garden in
Kashmir is the Mughal Garden also known as the garden of love built keeping in
mind the Persian style of architecture. Located along the banks of Dal Lake, do
not forget to watch the sunset here. With the Zabarwan Mountains at its
backdrop, this place is an absolute bliss. You do not have to be religious to
visit the Sankaracharya Temple in the Kashmire valley. This temple is the
oldest in the valley and hence, has history associated with it. Visit the
temple to spend some lone time and connect to your spiritual self. The Hari
Parbat is surrounded by a mosque, a temple and a gurudwara on its three sides
and there is of course the Durrani Fort that was built in the year 1808. Also
make sure to visit the floating market where shikaras work as stalls from where
you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables of the valley. The Royal Spring
golf course is the best in the continent and is also open to all.
Amongst
other places, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam are also famous and there is a
lot more to explore. Agencies like Package.in Kashmir Tour offers you customized
Kashmir group packages and vacation packages to make your holidays
perfect.
