Kashmir Hot Travel

Top Ten Attractions in the Kashmir Region

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Kashmir is one of India’s most beautiful places to visit. It has been said by some to be a place everyone needs to visit before they die. It is located on the ranges of the Himalayan. Kashmir is a cold desert region. Kashmir is perfect for those on their honeymoon or looking for a place that has natural beauty. Kashmir has many sights to offer to tourists. This article discusses ten attractions in the Kashmir region.

The Tomb of Christ is a site that some historians believe was the final resting place of Jesus Christ, there is the Nubhra Valley, Kunchit, Sheshnaag Lake, the first view of Kashmir, Wular Lake, Skikara Rides, Amarnath Yatra is a holy sacred place in India, Mughal Gardens which is a group of gardens built by mughals that are designed in an islamic style, Hazratbal, Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, which is a garden that is popular for the large variety of tulips, and Nishat Garden. This garden is the biggest , beautiful garden in Kashmir. Kahsmir is a must see if going to India to sight see. The beauty is simply breathtaking. Ice capped mountains, gardens with wide varietys of flowers, and the beautiful culture of India.

Finding Accomodations in the Kashmir Region

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the hardest details of travel is finding the right accommodations for your needs. The majority of the accommodations in the Kashmir region are found in Srinagar and Jammu. Travellers have many options there to suit their wishes and budgets. When choosing between luxury hotels, guesthouses and everything in between you should consider your wishes in lodgings, as well as your budget.

There is a variety of five star hotels available for example the Hotel Grand Palace which began its life as a royal palace for the Maharajas, or the Hotel Hari Niwas Palace another former palace for the Maharajas. Jammu also offers a variety of three and four star hotels for those that love elegance, but also have a budget in mind.

Guest houses are a nice option if you are looking for charm within a budget and Srinagar has a variety of styles houseboats, a ranch, regular guest houses, inns and specialty hotels that offer that little something more. The houseboat guest houses are a unique lodging experience, haggle on the price and be picky on your location.

The most economic lodging options are campgrounds and hostels. These are obviously less than elegant, but a more realistic experience.

Things to do in the Kashmir Region

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Jammu and Kashmir, a state in northern India, is known for its scenic splendor. Visitors from many countries come for the skiing and mountaineering adventures in the snowy high altitudes. They also enjoy the region’s native culture and spicy cuisine. Kashmir historically is famous for its goat wool products, although exports have declined in modern times.

The Kashmir Valley with its clear lakes and lush gardens has been dubbed “Heaven on Earth.” Dal Lake, one of the most popular tourism destinations, is the site of Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, and is known for its houseboats. Jammu, the winter capital, has interesting temples.

Amarnath cave, an historic Hindu shrine, is a frequently visited site, as is the golden-walled Raghunath Temple. What is considered the highest gondola on earth is at Gulmarg, which also offers golfing in stunning surroundings. An unique mountain excursion is at Zanskar, where visitors in winter are challenged by the so-called Frozen River Trek.

Among historic attractions are Bahu Fort on the Tawi River and Mubarak Palace. The Dogra Art Museum is noted for its native miniature paintings.

Visitors arrive in Jammu and Kashmir by plane and train and get about the region by rail, bus, taxi and rental SUV.

Kashmiri art

www.kashmirhotravel.com — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Since its beginnings, the Kashmir region has been a source of great works of art. The arts of the area reflect the culture and spirituality of the people who live there, as well as important historical events. Everything from the smallest handicrafts to the largest paintings reveals another perspective on the region. Today, a wireless internet connection will let you view many of these pieces of work. Of course, nothing beats the real thing.”The Arts of Kashmir,” a 2007 exhibit at the New York branch of the Asia Society, introduced the history of Kashmir art to a new generation in the West. This exhibit started with the origins of art in the traditions of indigenous peoples, usually portraying Hindu deities. For example, the collection included a “life-size bronze mask of the god Vishnu from the fifth century A.D.” A typical 7th-century piece was the limestone sculpture of the mother goddess Indrani, which was loaned from Srinagar’s Sri Pratap Singh Museum (a wonderful destination for art lovers traveling to Kashmir today).Of course, not every piece of art is in a museum. Traditional shawls, made from wool, pashmina (the hair of the ibex, found in the Ladakh highlands), or shatoosh (a rare material collected from the throat of the Tibetan antelope), have their own beauty. You can examine some examples at KashmirArt.com. Also on display at the site are papier mache pieces, decorated in Persian motifs of birds and flowers; crewel embroidery, referring to chain stitch done on a white background but with designs that don’t cover the entire surface; namdas, a variety of wool mattress originating in the 11th century during the time of King Akbar; and many more.Kashmiri artists of note in the 20th century include Ghulam Rasool Santosh and Manohar Kaul. Kaul’s work is on display in India’s National Gallery of Modern Art, along with many other artists from around the country. There are three NGMA sites in India, located in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

Take in the historic majesty of Leh, Ladakh

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:00:29 +0000

Although Leh’s glory days are past, the magic of the Himalayas still lives on in this Kashmir town. Beginning in at least the 10^th century AD, the kingdom of Ladakh was an important trading-post for travelers between Tibet and Kashmir. Ever since the 17^th century, the site has been dominated by the royal Leh Palace, where the king of Ladahk made his home. Today, the nine-story ruins are open to visitors, who can enjoy an amazing view from the top of the building.Today, the Ladakh kingdom has been divided into the two districts of Leh and Kargil, with Leh being the largest district in India. Besides Leh Palace, there are plenty of other sites that continue to attract visitors from around the globeboth tourists and adventurous mountaineers, who swarm the mountain peaks between mid-May and mid-October. The Suru and Zanskar valleys are the site of the most difficult climbs, which may take up to three weeks to complete safely and may include crossing the Suru river. The Stok-Khangri Massif is also a popular temptation for thrill-seekers.Visitors with a strong endurance may also be interested in visiting some of the Buddhist monasteries which lie along the Ladakh pilgrimage trail. These sites are located within the center of Ladakh, called Zanskar, and are only accessible for four months of the year. This is due to an impressive amount of snowfall, which shuts down all access passes. You are welcome to make the trek if possiblethe city of Padum is popular among tourists for its 8^th century Buddhist rock monument, along with the Starrimo Monastery, and the Stongdey Monastery in the north is also a common destination.Those inclined toward interesting inclines will also want to investigate the Magnetic Hill, which can be reached by car. If you park your vehicle on the hill, it will be “pulled upward” of its own accord at speeds of around 20 km/hr.

Stay in a shikhara and see Kashmir in a whole new way

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:10 +0000

Visit any of Kashmir’s luxurious lakes and you’re sure to see exotically-ornamented houseboats, known as “shikharas,” ringing the shore. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, these boats are an affordable alternative to land housing for many Indians. They range in size from small open fishing boats to larger “floating hotels” with 3 or more bedrooms. The finest examples are found on Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, and the Jhelum River in the city of Srinagar. Here, you’ll find a unique and enticing accommodation experience, which includes a dining area with full pantry, lounge, and a balcony where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and lakes.HouseboatsKashmir.com is one site which makes it easy to book a shikhara vacation. The best part about staying on a houseboat, of course, is that you can go to sleep in one location and wake up in another. To this end, HouseboatsKashmir has a special photography tour, “Capturing the Himalayan Vale”, which takes visitors from the markets of Hazratbal to the shrine of Jama Masjid, the Shankaracharya temple and the ruins of the Pari Mahal hilltop palace. For those looking to stay in more stable (land-based) locations, HouseboatsKashmir also books a Himalayan Jeep Safari, a skiing tour through Gulmarg, and a pilgrimage tour which alternates between houseboats, camping, and even the Sonamarg Nature Resort.When booking your houseboat stay, you can decide how much you want to “rough it” by selecting the appropriate class of houseboats. The boats are graded on a 5-level scale by the Department of Tourism, including Deluxe, A-class, B-class, C-class, and D-class. Obviously, Deluxe is the most luxurious. For those looking for a unique Kashmir stay, any level will fit the bill.

Srinagar, Indian capital and “city of wealth”

admin — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:00:27 +0000

What’s in a name? A lot, when you’re referring to Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In Sanskrit, “sri” is “wealth” and “nagar” is “city”, giving the most common reading of the name. However, “sri” can can also refer to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, as well as to the sun itself. This name captures the glowing beauty and abundance of the city, which prides itself on its tourist economy dating back the 19^th century, when only 200 tourist passes a year were issued by the government. Even then, the city was one of the most popular sites.Srinagar is also known as the “Land of Lakes”, which signifies its main tourist attraction. Straddling a length of the 480-mile Jhelum River, the city does indeed host several lakes. The Dal Lake is the best known, as well as the second largest in the state. Causeways subdivide the larger body of water into four parts: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin Lake. Wular Lake is about 40 kilometers away and is the largest body in the state. Tourists flock there to see the remains of King Zain-Ul-Abidin’s island, which was built in the 1400s.Other attractions in the city showcase its spiritual side. The Temple of Shankaracharya, for example, is known far and wide across India as the site where the philosopher Sri Shankaracharya stayed when he visited Kashmir. The temple’s construction is equally impressiveit’s balanced on a hilltop plinth and made of smoothed rocks.The Dachigam National Park is the best site to see the plants and animals of Jammu and Kashmir. The rare Kashmiri Hangul Stag lives within the confines of the park, along with more familiar but still exotic creatures like leopards and Himalayan brown bears. Dachigam is also a favorite among bird-watchers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism

Ski the Himalayas and remember it forever

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:00:05 +0000

For winter sporting enthusiasts, the Himalaya Mountains are the Holy Grail of locations. Besides the two largest peaks in the world, Mount Everest and K2, the region features a unique environment where grasslands and savannas give way to sub-tropical forests and then snowy peaks. In addition, the mountains have developed their own mythology, with numerous reports of the Yeti and associations with the mystical city of Shangri-La. With all of this mystique surrounding it, it’s no surprise that skiers and mountaineers can’t wait to take to the peaks.At Kashmir Alpine Winter Adventures, doing so just got a whole lot easier. You can schedule your accommodations at a variety of hotels close to the Gulmarg Ski Resort, which features one of the highest gondola/ski-lifts in the world. Hotel options range from the luxurious Highland Park Hotel to the small, 6 room Rosewood Hut. In addition, you can rent or purchase gear and hire dependable, affordable guides that will cater to your experience level. You can even schedule Jeep transportation from the airport to Srinagar and then to Gulmarg, as well as for any additional attractions you may be interested in seeing (such as the Mughal Gardens or Pahalgam).The months of mid-January to mid-March are the best times to visit Gulmarg, with January having less snowfall of higher quality, and February having the most snow, albeit with higher temperatures. While beginners are encouraged to stay within the inner ranges of the gondola, which are patrolled by a professionally-trained patrol team, the backcountry is open to experienced sportsmen and -women. If you’re planning on touring these outer regions, it’s recommended that you let the patrol team know, as well as hire a guide. With accommodations for all levels of experience, Kashmir Alpine Winter Adventures is definitely a vacation you’ll remember.

Make the Amarnath pilgrimage

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:35:43 +0000

Every summer during the Hindu holy month of Shraavana (July-August), followers of the Hindu faith make the trek from the city of Pahalgam to the sacred Amarnath Cave Temple. Since many tourists already find themselves in Pahalgam due to its beautiful hotels, majestic mountains, and skiing during the winter, the Amarnath pilgrimage has also caught on with visitors. However, it’s important to remember that the pilgrimage and the destination are both important parts of the Hindu religion. The Amarnath Temple itself is believed to be over 5,000 years old, and appears in many ancient writings like those of Aryaraja (34 BCE 17 CE), who summered at the site.The cave is considered to be the home of Shiva on Earth, and contains an ancient ice lingam which Aryaraja also mentioned. The lingam has begun melting in recent years, for which many blame global warming. The pilgrimage has remained steady despite recent difficulties. Making the full journey from Pahalgam to Amarnath (45 km) takes four days. During the night, pilgrims camp at the sites of Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, reaching the cave early in the morning on the fourth day. They are allowed to enter the cave, but only for a short time due to the heavy demand of the festival months. Afterwards, the pilgrims return to Pancharni and either head back toward Pahalgam or take a different route through Zojibal.Being in the presence of the cave is a sobering experience for any spiritual person, with the Shivalinga a reminder of how the Hindu religion has survived for so many millennia. The trip is well worth it for any admirer of peace and beauty, no matter what their affiliation. If you are a tourist, be sure to check with local authorities before making the journey.