My first solo travel has an interesting story to tell. The idea was more about escaping the daily rut than travel itself. The daily grind of chasing deadlines, the resulting fatigue and the blistering heat of the northern plains was taking a toll on my mental and physical health. To rejuvenate frayed nerves and experience some peace, I planned a trip to Sonmarg in Kashmir. I wanted to get away from the constant stress of accomplishing tasks and adjusting to day-to-day routines. The idea was to soak in the serenity of a place, get up, close and personal with nature and experience tranquillity.
While scrolling through the internet for serene and less explored destinations, I somehow paused at Sonmarg. Having travelled to Kashmir at least thrice before and having missing this place each time, Sonmarg seemed to be the most obvious choice.
“I wanna feel sunlight on my face. I want to go where the streets have no name”, played the famous song by the band U2 on my airpods. Although traveling solo, I was determined to let music accompany me. I also planned to mingle with the locals to experience the rich and warm culture of this part of Kashmir I had missed in my trips earlier.
Having taken the early morning flight, I landed at the Srinagar airport early enough to catch the splendid first rays of the sun. It then took two-and-a-half-hours to drive from Srinagar to Sonmarg. When I finally reached, the clear golden sky and the cool, crisp air brushed against my face, making it the warmest welcome ever.
As if mystically, I had the company of a very knowledgeable and amiable driver. He added much more value to my research on Sonmarg. He constantly briefed me about places as we passed them, sharing stories about how Sonmarg had tremendous significance in the olden times as it was the gateway of the Silk Road or Silk Route which connected Kashmir and China.
Warmest hospitality
The driver coaxed me to halt at a juice shop serving apple juice. Although I had a hearty breakfast in the flight, I could not say no to apples of Kashmir. And just as my instincts told me, I hadn’t tasted such delicious apple juice anywhere else in the world! Before I could thank the driver for this elixir, he took me to a nearby cricket bat making unit. I was quite amazed to see a cricket bat taking shape out of the willow wood growing abundantly in Kashmir. The heart-warming hospitality of my driver and the few people I had already met put me at ease.
Indeed, one can hope to experience outstanding warmth from people, be it at hotels or tourist spots, throughout Kashmir.
I checked into my hotel – a cosy Sonmarg hotel made of intricate wood. There are plenty of hotels in Sonmarg that have a great view of the pristine hills. As soon as I got my welcome drink, the hearty Kahwa laden with dry fruits, I was filled with energy and ready to plunge into the serenity of Sonmarg.
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