My first visit to Kashmir was in the year 1972. It was a school trip along with Stanley, Ratna, Ashok, Sushmita, Faiyaz, Sanyasi, Sr.Roslie, Ms.Shamim and others. Visuals of our house boat near the zero bridge are still vivid.
My second visit was just a week back. We covered a lot of "Must Visit" places including a walk thro the narrow lanes of old Srinagar. The trip was self designed as most tour agents, we realised, routinely offer a touch-and-go experience.
I must mention about the wonderful people that we met here. Right from Government officials, businessmen, shopkeepers, local tour guides... everyone was so willing to go out of their way and help. It's so difficult to match Kashmiri hospitality.
Feels good to share a few images which is just a fraction of what we shot:
Gar Firdaus rōy-e zamin ast, hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast.
(If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.)
~ Persian Couplet
7 comments:
Attaboy Vims--that was one heckuva trip!
I would love to visit Kashmir, but was scared by the security situation there. Looks like thinks have eased a bit now.
I just returned from a trip to Munnar, Kodai and Bangalore with my brother's and sister's families. Facing gruelling heat in Hyd, after a cool reprieve for a week.
Agree wholeheartedly,Vimal. Firdaus hamin ast.
Beautiful pics. Saw some more in your mail.
roy-e debnath :))
Paradise on earth !
Awesome pictures, as usual!!! A visit to Kashmir is on my list of places to visit before I die!!!
Awesome pics but how's the maahol in Kashmir?
I've heard most of them have their hearts "somewhere" else.
Gar Nostalgia-e-Kashmir -e -Firdaus rōy-e zamin ast, hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast.
(If there is a nostalgia about Kashmir the paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.)
Thanks for bringing back those memories, Vimal --- I am reminded of the song that our Kashmiri friend sang for us that lovely evening many years ago:
Guzara hua zamana, aata nahin dubara, hafeez khuda tumhara...
Amazing pictures...thanks for sharing.
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