kashmir truely heaven on earth
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kashmir truely heaven on earth
so what is the big dealKashmir is known for many things.
The name literally means “Paradise on Earth” and anyone who visits will agree
it is exactly that.
History
Srinigar, sheltered from the harsh weather of India and
famous for its intricately crafted houseboats on Dal Lake, was once the summer abode of ancient royalty. Nowadays, you can stay in a beautiful houseboat, experience the delicious local cuisine and fresh produce, visit the palaces that once hosted emperors, kings and maharajas.
Religion
Just a quick Kashmir tour and you will notice that places
of worship for all types of faith co-exist peacefully. The population of Kashmir is an ecletic and peaceful mix of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians, which is apparent in the friendly and hospitable demeanour of the locals towards foreigners.
Cashmere
Kashmir produces an astounding array of silk and cashmere
shawls, scarves and rugs, exported all over the world. Cashmere in the West, even in designer stores, is usually low-grade cashmere that does not specify the proportion, type and quality of wool. True quality cashmere is the de-haired fine undercoat from the chin of the cashmere goat. In Srinigar, you can be certain of purchasing top quality pure cashmere for a fraction of the price back home.
Most importantly - adventure! & living
Kashmir is heaven for all outdoor sports lovers. In summer,
trekking, horseriding, wakeboarding and kitesurfing are perfect in the temperate climate of 25-30°C. In the winter, Gulmarg rules as King. Diverse and extreme terrain, endless powder snowfall and bluebird days... this is a winter playground for all skiers and snowboarders, particularly those who want to take the path less traveled into backcountry and off-piste terrain. Add to this the highest gondola in the world and you’ll understand the meaning of “Paradise on Earth”.
Danger???
Of course, there is also the perception that Kashmir
is dangerous. Most foreign Governments have issued warnings against visiting Kashmir, largely based on the contentious issue of ownership between India and Pakistan. Most foreign Governments have issued warnings against visiting Kashmir.
and what is the reality of gulmarg and kashmir
At K-line, we’re the first to put our hands up for anything exciting. But we’re also safe, rational and educated folks. If Kashmir was dangerous, we’d never put ourselves at risk by firstly visiting Gulmarg and then setting up K-line.
Ceasefire
Since the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in 2003,
the political situation has stabalised dramatically. China controls the northeast, Pakistan controls the northwest and India controls Kashmir, where Gulmarg is located.
Tourism
Kashmir has become quite safe over the past several years,
as evidenced by the 15% yearly increase in foreign tourists over the past 7 years – a total increase of 166% since 2002! Gulmarg is high in the mountains, thousands of feet above the capital of Srinigar. Even during the previous conflict of a decade ago, it was calm, peaceful and very much sheltered and unaffected. Today, it has become more of a safe, fun tourist destination than ever.
Foreigners
When we first visited Kashmir in 2007, we were stunned by
the sheer number of foreign tourists (American, Chinese, Japanese, British, Indian) staying in houseboats and exploring Srinigar. When we arrived in Gulmarg, the hotels were full of foreign skiers from Australia, Europe, UK, US and India. Don’t rule out Gulmarg as a family holiday destination either, you will see children of all ages from all over the world on the small slopes and even skiing down from the gondola. You can be assured that this diversity reflects Gulmarg as the perfect snow destination.
Travel warnings
As for the travel warnings, we’ve found that foreign
Governments are overly conservative in rating tourist destinations – among the list of places to be avoided are Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, India, Dubai and China. In fact, given the security measures that arose in response to the terrorist attacks in New York and the bombings in London, it could be argued that UK and US are unsafe countries to visit. In reality, most places, with the exception of war torn countries, are safe to visit.
Answer
So to answer your question; all the hype about Kashmir is
completely true... except for the part that it is too dangerous to visit. So come carve some lines with us!
the legendary dal lake in kashmir's capital, srinagar
Beauty through the lense
The palace on Dal Lake
The palace on Dal Lake
view from that palace on dal lake, kashmir
The multicultural landscape
A serene white Mosque in Srinagar
A serene white Mosque in Srinagar
life on dal lake
Life in the slow lane
A relaxing life on the water, Dal Lake
A relaxing life on the water, Dal Lake
gulmarg backcountry, the shark fin
The adventure starts here
The Shark Fin off Mt. Apherwat, Gulmarg
The Shark Fin off Mt. Apherwat, Gulmarg
silk rugs in kashimir
The art of weaving
A blind man weaving a silk rug
A blind man weaving a silk rug
