Our comments from Srinagar, India:
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Upon leaving USA, we were trying to figure out the perfect place to spend our one-year wedding anniversary.
And what better place to spend it than in Kashmir, or otherwise known in India as the "Paradise on Earth."
Tourism is just starting to return to Kashmir after nearly 50 years of bombing and fighting between India and
Pakistan over the region of Kashmir. So lucky for us, not too many tourists! Srinagar, the summer capital of
Jammu and Kashmir is a world away from India. First of all, 95% of the population is Muslim. Also, the majority
of the people speak Urdu (same language as in Pakistan). There was a certain exotic flair to Srinagar that attracted
us immediately. The Call to Prayer that echoes throughout the city five times a day, calls all Muslims to bow towards
Mecca and pray to Allah. The distinct clothing that Muslims wear such as the hijabs of the women and the kurtas of
the men made us feel like we were in a different country altogether. Neither of us could believe that this beautiful,
exotic place could be India! Our home for two weeks was a houseboat on Dal Lake, the main lake in Srinagar. When the
British came to Kashmir, the Maharaja (king) of the region did not allow them to own land. So instead, the British built
row after row of houseboats. It feels like a city on the lake! Each boat is a truely a work of art. They each have
their own Indian touch with gorgeously handcarved wooden railings and archways. While the interior of the boats are
decorated with lavish chandiliers and furniture that are a reminder of the British influence.
Our houseboat was called Houseboat Chicago and was run by a wonderful family who treated us well. As you can tell by the photographs, we definitely were not roughing it like we have been in the past during our trip. Yet, our royal surroundings were not breaking our budget either. Twenty dollars per day bought us a beautiful room, living room, dining room and 3 meals a day. It was definitely not what we normally pay for our stays in India, but hey, it's worth it when it comes to our anniversary! Our days passed easily as we decompressed and readied ourselves for the remainder of our trip. We did nothing except watch the lazy boats pass on by us, write in our journals or read a book on our balcony. On occasion, we would chat with some of the friendly boat vendors...it's hard not to fall in love with Kashmiri people. They are more interested in a friendly conversation than a sell. Their smiles lighten up their faces and others around them, and their laid back natures are very contagious. Sometimes we would gather up the energy to leave our balcony overlooking the lake and do some sightseeing to the small villages in the lake, mosques, and the floating market. Two weeks in Kashmir passed by so quickly that we have no idea where all the time went! But we will definitely return soon! Now it's off to Ladakh! DHTML Menu By Milonic JavaScript |