Srinagar & Gulmarg :-"Solo Winter Backpacker Tour-2013" .

Mt Apharwat in Gulmarg.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Srinagar & Gulmarg

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Posted by Rudolph.Andrew.Furtado at 2:56 AM 4 comments:

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The road from Jammu to Srinagar .

Notice the long conveyor belt type traffic.

Approaching "Jawahar Tunnel".

Notice the snow capped mountains and snow along the sides of the roads.

Inside the 2.5 Km long "JAWAHAR TUNNEL".

Tendency of Traffic Jams inside the tunnel.

Our "S.U.V " approaching Anantnag on our journey to Srinagar.

Dangerous drive through mountainous roads.

"Saffron Fields" while approaching Srinagar.

Kashmir is famous for Saffron.

Total "SRINAGAR BANDH" except a few tourist sites.

All the shops were closed barring a chemist shop and a few roadside eateries.

Dal Lake .Boulevard.

The first 'Shikara Boarding point" on Dal Lake embankment.

On the Shikara.

Dal Lake boulevard as seen from Shikara.

Boathouses on Dal River.

Shikara oarsman in typical Kasmiri attire.

My first Shikara ride on Dal Lake.

Village town of Tangmarg at the base of Gulmarg.

Tangmarg is the town from where taxi's are available for Gulmarg.Notice the dirty melted ice on the side-walks akin to garbage.

Gulmarg, the Switzerland of India.

With Mr Ahmed.Khan my guide in Gulmarg.

Ghulam.Hassan, a local tourist ski instructor teaching me basic skiing.

Skiing in Gulmarg.

First skiing lessons in my life.

"Been to Gulmarg, Seen Gulmarg and done skiing in Gulmarg !

Small puddles as the snow melts in Gulmarg with the onset of summer.

"GULMARG GONDOLA".

Inside the "GONDOLA" on the first stage to "KANGDOOR SKI SLOPES".

Tourists and skiers at "Kangdoor ski slopes".

At "Kangdoor", the first stage stop of the "Gondola Cable car".

A "Ski School" conducted training courses at "Kangdoor ".

On the 2nd stage "GONDOLA" from "Kangdoor Ski Slopes" to "Mt Apharwat".

Travelling by "GONDOLA" to the highest point on planet earth in my lifetime.

Ice desert as seen from Mt Apharwat in Gulmarg.

Leaving my footprints on the snow of Mt Apharwat

Hope the footprints are not mistaken to be of the "YETI" !?

The highest point in my life. On a rock on Mount Apharwat .

Frozen ice all round the mountain.

On Mt Apharwat. The highest point in my life-time of trekking and hiking tours.

"GULMARG GONDOLA". Inauguration Plaque and sign board.

The Taxi vans from Tangmarg to Gulmarg.

Notice the thick snow on the sides of the road.

Stray well fed dogs in the tourist locality of Dal Lake.

Notice the beautiful houseboats on Dal Lake.

"Lake View Police Golf Course" facing Dal Lake.

"Botanical Garden"

"Tulip Nursury" opposite the "Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip" garden.

"Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden", largest in Asia.

The tulips are just planted and will bloom in April.

"J & K Govt" tourist huts near Raj Bhavan..

Most expensive tourist cottages in Srinagar.

At the "Eternal Spring" of "CHASHM SHAHI" garden.

"CHASME SHAHI GARDEN".

Literature on "Pari Mahal".

At "Pari Mahal".

Notice the melting snowcaps on the mountains surrounding "Pari Mahal".

At "Pari Mahal".

"Dal Lake" is in the bacground.A fanastic view of Srinagar & Dal Lake from this highest point in the city.

I had the longest walk of my life approx 10 Kms along Dal Lake road.

A unforgettable trek from "Diamond guesthose" to "Pari Mahal" and back. A lifetime to remember.

Shikara rower Mr Abdul.Hamid who took me on a 3 hour tour of Dal Lake.

A 3 hour guided tour of Dal Lake was the ultimate experience.Although a seafarer with 23 years of sailing below my belt i was never ever bored by the Shikara ride. Something different compared to normal sailing on ships, boats or canoes.

Approaching the famouse "HOUSE BOATS" of Dal Lake.

Dal Lake is synonymous with "House-Boats", Shikara rides and the Meena Bazaar Floating market.

Local Kashmiri Mr Farouq.Wani showing me a "House-Boat" on Dal Lake.

Classic boathouse accomodation.

A one nights stay in a boat-house is essential for any tourists visiting Srinagar. As for me i spent a lifetime living on ships and boats and hence house-boats is not a fascination.

A "5-Star Houseboat" accommodation on Dal Lake.

There are numerous "House-Boats" catering to various class of tourists from the cheap economy class to the billionaire class.

"DUTY FREE" on Dal Lake ! Sipping a beer can on Dal Lake.

The Hawker Shikara's sell all types of goods and eatables to tourists including beer.Remember, it was a total "SRINAGAR BANDH" .Tourism is the life-line economy of Kashmir and Srinagar.

A "Flower Seller" Shikara double-banking with "Shikara Arif"..

Shikara hawkers ply their wares to tourists, unique in Dal Lake.

Flower hawker on Shikara.

At "NEHRU PARK" , a small artificial island on Dal Lake.

A tourist recreation park with boat rides and water skiing.

Shikara's on Dal Lake.

Visiting Srinagar and not having a "Shikara Tour" on Dal Lake is akin to going to Agra and not seeing the Taj Mahal.

A classic tour of "Dal Lake" on Shikara "Arif".

The "Shikara" is something unique to only the "Dal Lake".As a sea-farer(Marine Engineer) i have travelled on all types of mechanized as well as manually operated boats. The 'Shikara" on Dal Lake is a unique experience.

"Tourist Shikara boats" approaching the "FLOATING MARKET" on Dal Lake.

"Kashmiri Carpet shop" in "Floating Market" on Dal Lake.

Purchased my small house carpet from this shop. Only the "FLOATING MARKET SHOPS" were open in Entire Srinagar as they cater to tourists.

"FLOATING MARKET" on Dal Lake.

All shops closed in Srinagar. Stray dogs are common on Srinagar streets.

Surprising, i didn't spot any stray cats but numerous dogs , especially along Dal Lake boulevard.

"DIAMOND GUEST HOUSE", undergoing extension renovations.

My tourist accomodation in Srinagar, "DIAMOND GUEST HOUSE".It was undergoing renovation when i resided.The "Green Gate" is the entrance to this small "Bungalow Guesthouse".If visiting Srinagar a stay in "Diamongd Guesthouse" is adviced as its conveniently located and moderately priced.

"Renovated "Diamond Guesthouse" in 2017.

Over the years was later in touch with Mr Tariq.Wagnoo the owner of "Diamond Guesthouse" and in 2017 he sent me the latest photo of "Diamond guesthouse" with its elegant front gate and construction of additional floors on the main hotel structure.Having personally stayed in that guesthouse during a turbulent episode in Srinagar in 2013 i personally recommend tourists to this very economic and homely guesthouse.

In my room in "Diamond Guest House" .

Very soon it will be "SKIING Time" in Gulmarg in Kashmir.If wanting to visit Kashmir and want a safe family house or boathouse then contact Mr Tariq Wangnoo at whose guesthouse i resided in 2013. Contact :- Diamond Guesthouse .Tariq.Wangnoo :- mob 09419519509.

"DIAMOND GUEST " is situated on the opposite of the "BARBAR SHAH BRIDGE" sign board.

My residence in Srinagar at "Diamond Guest House".

Famous "Chinar Bagh" near Dal Lake.

My accomodation at "Diamond Guest house" was walking distance to Dal Lake across "Chinar Garden".

Cricket is a very popular sport in Srinagar.

Young boys playing cricket in the Srinagar Golf course.

A pair of ducks on the Dal Lake.

Beautiful and scenic natural beauty of the "Dal Lake".Notice the thick weed that pollutes Dal lake and also reduces its depth.Dangerous for "SWIMMING".

Seafarer/Blogger /Tourist Rudolph.A.Furtadop at Dal Lake.

Local "Kashmir Police" on duty at "Dal Lake".

"Kashmir Bandh". Only the tourist areas were open and tourist vehicle traffic allowed.

"Vegetable Seller" on the Dal Lake.

Notice the dark green weeds in the water.

A Kasmiri Carpet being dried on "Dal Lake" main road.

The "Srinagar Bandh" had made the roads desolate and a rare sight of a "Kashmiri Carpet" being dried on the main and busy "Dal Lake" road/

Cleaning the "Dal Lake" from weeds.

A boatman removing the dense weed growth in Dal Lake.

"Sultani Arifen" Photo point on Dal Lake.

A "Sitting" and "Observation Deck" built near Dal Lake embankment.

Kashmiri artisans selling their wares near "Dal Lake".

"Tata Innova Van" our tourist taxi from Srinagar to Jammu.

On the way to Jammu from Srinagar.

On the road to Jammu from Srinagar.

Seafarer/Blogger/Tourist Rudolph.A.Furtado

Jammu City near the main City Bus-stop.

Bustling and crowded Jammu City.

Cyberlink was the cybercafe i visited.

"JAYANTI TRAVELS" in Jammu.

Departure to Manali from Jammu by bus.

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Rudolph.Andrew.Furtado: Have circumnavigated the entire Globe at least twice through sea and ocean travel during my 23 years(1983 -2006) employment on ships in the Mercantile Merchant Navy as a "Marine Engineer Officer".Post premature retirement at age 46 from the Merchant Navy have been travelling across the Globe at my own expense and have visited 97 Country's to date. A "LEVEL 6" contributor to "Tripadvisor" travel site under the pseudonym "Mumbairiders" having written 889 reviews and receiving 522 helpful votes from "Tripadviser" readers as on December 2022.. Have produced over 1200 video's on youtube on my name rudolphfurtado.. A campaigner to "LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING IN INDIA" through my notional sports game on "Facebook" titled "Mittoo alias mittoo the poppat" in memory of my late 22 year old pet Alexandrine parakeet "Mittoo". Had 2 pet Long hair Persian cats "Matahari" and "Matata" and sadly "Matahari" expired in August 2020 and "Tomcat Matata" in November 2022..My cat's hilarious gimmicks prevented this bachelor from the sickness of "Writers Block".Now i am into "Animal Philanthropy" and wildlife awareness. My " Facebook" link :- https://www.facebook.com/rudolph.furtado

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