Set
like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted
diamond, changing its hues with the seasons - always extravagantly
beautiful. Two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan
Range and the Pir Panjal, surround the landscape
from the north and south respectively. They are the source of great
rivers, which flow down into the valleys, forested with orchards
and decorated by lily-laden lakes.
The Mughals
aptly called Kashmir �Paradise on Earth� where they journeyed across the
hot plains of India, to the valley�s cool environs in summer. Here they
laid, with great love and care, Srinagar�s many formal, waterfront
gardens, now collectively known as the Mughal Gardens. Anecdotes of
four and five centuries ago describe their love for these gardens, and the
rivalries that centred around their ownership. They also patronized the
development of art & craft among the people of Kashmir, leaving behind
a heritage of exquisite artisanship among thes people and making the
handicrafts of the land prized gifts all over the world.
Kashmir is a
land where myriad holiday ideas are realised. In winter,
when snow carpets the mountains, there is skiing,
tobogganing, sledge-riding, etc. along the gentle slopes. In spring
and summer, the honey-dewed orchards, rippling lakes and blue skies
beckon every soul to sample the many delights the mountains and
valleys have to offer. Golfing at 2,700 m above the sea,
water-skiing in the lakes and angling for prized rainbow trout, or simply
drifting down the willow fringed alleys of lakes in shikaras and livi ng in gorgeous houseboats are some of the most
favoured ones.
SEASON
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In summer, daisies carpet parks and gardens all over
Kashmir
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Kashmir has
four distinct seasons, each with its own peculiar character and
distinctive charm. These are spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring, which extends roughly from March to early
May, is when a million blossoms carpet the
ground. The weather during this time can be gloriously pleasant at
23oC or chilly and windy at 6oC. This is the season
when Srinagar experiences rains, but the showers are brief.
Summer extends from May until
the end of August. Light woollens may be required to wear out of
Srinagar. In higher altitudes night temperatures drop slightly. Srinagar
at this time experiences day temperatures of
between 25oC and 35oC. At this time, the whole
valley is a mosaic of varying shades of green - rice fields, meadows,
trees, etc. and Srinagar with its lakes and waterways is a heaven after
the scorching heat of the Indian plains.
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Shalimar Gardens in
autumn |
The onset of autumn, perhaps Kashmir's
loveliest season, is towards September, when green turns to gold and then
to russet and red. The highest day temperatures in September are around
23oC and night temperatures dip to 10oC by October,
and further drop by November, when heavy woollens are
essential.
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Kashmir Valley in
winter |
Through
December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which
presents Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being
watched from beside the warmth of a fi
re is a joy that cannot be described to anyone
who has not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in
winter- these are either centrally heated or heated with
�bukharis�, a typically Kashmiri stove kept
alight with embers of wood, quite effective in the winter. |
