Golden Triangle Tour Of India

The Famous Golden Triangle Tour of India

Delhi-Agra-Jaipur

The Golden Triangle tour of India is possibly the most popular travel route in India for first-time travelers. For people who are in a fix to select an appropriate itinerary for India, the Golden Triangle Tour comes as a perfect option as this route will take you to witness the three most incredible and ancient cities of India. In a short span, the Golden Triangle Tour of India will give you the essence of Incredible India. This route is an amalgamation of the diverse cultural exhibitions, majestic architectural marvels, intriguing history, delectable cuisines, fascinating wildlife, and affectionate locals.

THE FAMOUS GOLDEN TRIANGLE TOUR OF INDIA

Explore the bustling markets, magnificent monuments, and colonial past of hectic Delhi and travel on to Agra to witness the symbol of eternal love- Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the most recognizable structures on the planet. Enroute Jaipur explore Fatephur Sikri, the “Deserted City” of red sandstone. In the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, Rajasthan capital’s visit hilltop forts and glorious palaces as you explore India’s royal past. Through The Golden Triangle Tour you will witness the essence of British, Rajputana and Mughal royalty.

Suggested itinerary for the Golden Triangle Tour of India:

RED FORT, DELHI

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN DELHI

Namaste! Welcome to the Capital of India. You will be welcomed by our representatives on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to let you overcome jet lag. In the evening you may explore the colorful and lively markets of Delhi. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 02: DELHI CITY TOUR

Good Morning! After breakfast you will be going for a full day sightseeing tour of the capital city of India starting with old Delhi founded as Shahjahanabad. You will visit the majestic Red Fort, a marvel in red sandstone, Jama Masjid, the largest and most splendid mosque in India, both built by Emperor Shah Jahan, Rajghat- the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where he was cremated. Post lunch the sightseeing continues to explore the best tourist attractions of New Delhi including a drive past through the Indian President’s House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) towards India gate built to honour and pay a tribute to the Indian soldiers, then visit Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar; built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty and the beautiful Lotus Temple. In the evening take a cycle rickshaw ride through the bustling and colourful bazaar of Chandani Chowk for shopping or to taste some tantalizing North Indian cuisines.
Afterwards return to the hotel for a pleasant overnight stay.

DAY 03: DELHI TO AGRA VIA SIKANDARA

After breakfast check out the hotel and proceed towards Agra. On the way To Agra stop over at Sikandra to see the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar, a marvelous mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar, spectacularly designed structure of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Once you reach Agra check in the hotel and leave for Agra Sightseeing with a visit to Agra Fort built in 1576 AD by great Mughal Emperor Akbar, structured and designed with red stoned barricaded; here you will find the splendid Pearl Mosque and various other classic example of art: Jahangir Mahal, Moti Masjid, Macchhi Bhawan, Nagina Masjid, Diwan-i-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-e-Am, and Meena Bazaar. Later visit the Tomb of Itamad-ud-Daula, 35 kms from Agra, built by Empress Noorjahan daughter of Shahjahan, this monument a tribute to her great father. After sightseeing return to the hotel for a pleasant overnight stay.

TAJ MAHAL, AGRA

DAY 04: AGRA TO JAIPUR VIA FATEHPUR SIKRI

Today morning after breakfast check out the hotel and visit world’s most popular and beautiful monument: Taj Mahal, a Symbol Of eternal love And UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being one of the 7 wonders of the world, this historical masterpiece is an illustration of the fusion of diverse architectural styles. Later proceed towards the Pink City, Jaipur. Enroute Jaipur stop over at Fatehpur Sikri, the old deserted town of the Mughal kingdom, built in red sandstone in honour of Saint Salim Chisti who blessed birth of 3 sons to Emperor Akbar. Afterwards continue drive towards Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur check In at the hotel and have a pleasant night stay at Hotel.

DAY 05: JAIPUR CITY TOUR

NAHARGARH FORT, JAIPUR

Today morning after breakfast explore the Pink City with an excursion to the splendid Amber Fort, situated just outside the city, built in the 15th Century by Rajput King Man Singh. Visit Jal Mahal or water palace that is situated in the midst of the beautiful Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur City. Continue your sightseeing by visiting the regal City Palace – present residence of the royal family of Jaipur, the palace is a miraculous portrayal of the real Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Then visit the incredible Jantar Mantar, which was innovated and constructed by Jaipur King Swai Jai Singh. Amongst the 5 observatories built by him, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is one of them. Later visit the splendid Hawa Mahal, also known ‘Palace of Winds’ was built with a concept for the woman of royal families to speculate the royal ceremonies and festivals being hidden from the public eyes. After sightseeing have a pleasant night stay at your Hotel.

DAY 06: JAIPUR TO DELHI

Have your morning breakfast and drive back to Delhi. Reaching Delhi you will be transferred to Delhi airport for departure. Hope you return with an extra baggage – a bag full of unforgettable memories.

 Ideal Time to Visit:

The best time to visit India and to experience the Golden Triangle Tour is from October to March as this is the time when the weather is pleasant and favorable while the   temperature makes it ideal for sightseeing, city breaks and other outdoor activities. This period also covers the entire winter season and the commencement of the summer season.

The Golden Triangle Tour of India is an amazing experience and a highly recommended tour if you travelling India for the first time!

October 4, 2020October 5, 2020 by Aawara Yunus Categories: Travel Leave a comment

Day 2 – Srinagar to Dodhpathri and Gulmarg.

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020 by Aawara Yunus Categories: Travel Leave a comment

Why India should be your next holiday destination!

India, with its mystical charm, ancient traditions, delicious cuisines, mesmerizing landscape, fascinating wildlife, and great hospitality has always managed to enthrall travelers from across the globe. Every corner of India will offer you something unique. A trip to India will be full of surprises and unforgettable memories but one thing’s for sure; you won’t return home quite the same after the roller coaster ride of this incredible country.

There are plenty of reasons to pack your bags and head to India each more compelling than the other.

People

Happy Kids

There’s a saying in India, “Athithi Devo Bhava”, which means “the guest is God.” Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home and go out of their way to help them. India is very well known for the hospitality and warmth of its local people. It’s the people of India who will further make your experience a memorable one with their everlasting smiling faces. Getting invited to a local’s home for a traditional meal, having tea on a roadside tea stall, simply wandering around the bazaars, or witnessing children play on the street will leave the essence of the locals to your soul.

Culture

Truck Art

Just like its vast geographical area, India has an enormous and diverse culture. India’s diverse culture and heritage can be witnessed through its verities of cuisines, vivid Languages, colorful clothing, exclusive lifestyle, etc. as you move from one region to another. Most tourists consider visiting India as they want to experience the various cultures and traditions which are often unique whereas for many first-time visitors some customs may come as a culture shock. India weddings are a blend of extravagant events, flashy outfits, mouthwatering cuisines, vibrant cultural events lasting over the course of a few days, lots and lots of singing and dancing, etc. It’s a dream for many to witness the chaos of a Fat Indian Wedding.

History

Hawa Mahal

With one of the oldest civilizations in the world, this historical gem attracts history lovers from all over the world. Be it the red fort of Delhi or the caves of Ajanta Ellora in Aurangabad, every monument has a great historical significance attached to it. India is home to a number of royal palaces and forts belonging to kings who ruled India in different eras. Many royal palaces are now converted into the world’s best hotels and luxurious resorts. Travelers can book suits in these royal palaces to experience the royalty and lavish lifestyle of Indian Kings.

Food

Firni and Malpua

If we leave all the historical monuments aside, India is also very famous for its delicious and varied food. But frankly speaking, not all people will be fond of Indian food, and may take some time to adjust as ‘ being spicy’ is one of the key ingredients. But for those who love it, Food alone is enough reason for attracting them towards India. Although mainly India is vegetarian you can still enjoy many Mughlai, Persian and Arabic delicacies like Biryani, Shawarma, Laal Maas to name a few. Street food is the heart of Indian food lovers with a vast variety ranging from Pani Puri to Masala Dosa and cutting chai to nimbu pani.  Also, the sweets in India are quite tempting and people having sweet tooth can munch upon a lot of sweets like Rosugulla from Kolkata to Ghewar from Rajasthan.

Architecture

Chand Baori

Another good reason to visit India is to witness its fascinating architectural marvels. An exceptionally beautiful and architecturally diverse country, India has an abundance of majestic forts, royal palaces, elegant mosques, Spiritual temples, Historical monuments, and ancient ruins. Till today all these architectural wonders stand tall conveying the proud stories to all the visitors. Having UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites in its kitty, India is surely a treasure for history buffs and art lovers.

Spirituality

Buddhist Prayer Flags

Since ancient times, India is known as the center of spirituality. Some of the prominent religions in the world were originated in India. Over the years India has become a hub for travelers to travel in order to get spiritual awakening and peace. With a large number of temples, ashrams, and shrines India attracts travelers from all corners of the world. Many people visit India in order to have a peaceful and pleasant environment by indulging in various activities like Yoga, Meditation, etc. Yoga is an integral part of India’s spiritual world and is a very popular activity throughout the world. You can visit several ashrams where you can get in-depth knowledge about Yoga, Meditation, and other spiritual activities. Visiting India is a very inspiring and rewarding experience for one’s inner self.

Wildlife

Langur

Apart from having a diverse culture, India is also rich in its flora and fauna. Beyond India’s chaotic cities and Bustling bazaars, animal lovers can discover many species of wild animals, birds, and reptiles by visiting some famous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. India has more than a hundred national parks, covering over 15,600 square miles of protected land. Many of the country’s wildlife sanctuaries once were hunting reserves of the maharajas, and more than 50 have been designated as tiger reserves. According to the last available census, done in 2014 by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), India is home to 2,226 tigers, 70 percent of which reside within tiger reserves. India also offers different types of safaris like wildlife safaris in which you can witness wild animals like tigers, deers, and many others in the wild or desert safaris sitting on the back of a camel enjoying the dunes.

Fairs & Festivals

Makar Sankranti is celebrated by flying colourful kites.

It would not be wrong to say that festivals are synonyms of India. India is home to some of the most dominant religions across the world and hence it also becomes the heart of the celebrations of some major festivals like Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Baisakhi to name a few. Every festival in India irrespective of which religion it belongs is celebrated with full zeal and gusto. It would be a great experience if you could witness and participate in any of these festivals on your visit to India.

Shopping

Bazaar at Ajmer Daragah

India is a shopper’s paradise. India is famous for some ethnic wear, colorful clothes, dazzling handicrafts, souvenirs, distinctive jewelry, and a lot more. It doesn’t matter if you are on a tight budget or you want to spend a lot, Indian markets will offer you stuffs according to your taste, liking, style, and most importantly friendly for your pocket. You can enter any bazaar or street market in India and you will be greeted with some appealing and irresistible stuff bewitching your senses.

Adventure

Khardung La Pass

For adventure lovers, India can be a great destination as it offers various adventurous activities like river rafting, paragliding, bungee jumping, deep-sea underwater diving, and forest camping available in different parts of the country. Adventure seekers can enjoy a lot of thrilling experiences to quench their adrenaline thirst.  Over the past couple of years, Motorcycle rides across the country have gained some peek popularity among both domestic and foreign tourists.

Searching for more reasons to visit India?

Why not visit this beautiful country yourself and witness it to tell the whole world that how amazing is India and why it should it be your next travel destination.

October 3, 2020October 3, 2020 by Aawara Yunus Categories: Travel Leave a comment

River Rafting in Ladakh.

Watch a short video of our rafting experience in Ladakh.

 

River Rafting in Ladakh is a combination of  both thrill and exhibition of alluring landscape. Bouncing on the freezing rapids of the Indus river surrounded by mighty barren mountains makes the rafting experience in Ladakh a unique one.The majority of travelers visit Leh to take on the treacherous roads or to witness the beauty of the place but If you want a bit more adventure you must definitely go rafting.

Rafting trips are organized by a many tour operators in Leh. With the help of the owner of our guest house we managed to get a package of 700 Rupees per person including pick up and drop.

If you are planning to take a camera make sure it’s waterproof.I used a Garmin Virb which according to me is one the best action cam available. The guides are qualified and all the safety measures are taken.

At one point our raft crashed into a large wave throwing me out into the cold river. Fortunately, I was holding the rope tight, which avoided any further unfortunate accident.

Just before falling into the freezing river.

Read my next blog to read about our excursion to World’s highest motorable road –  The Mighty Khardung La.

 

June 15, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: roadtrip, Travel, travelblog, wanderer, wanderlustTags: Adventure, adventure in ladakh, adventure in leh, bike ride to leh, ladakh on royal enfield, leh, River Rafting, River Rafting in Ladakh, River Rafting in leh 1 Comment

DAY 6 – First day in Ladakh!

Finally, we were in Leh, the prime destination of our trip. Luckily we even got a decent guest house to stay at a reasonable price. It was the sixth day into our expedition to Ladakh. Getting up early was an exception for that day as it was allocated for rest and some sightseeing. Extremely tired and deprived of sleep, we were lying in our rooms like lazy crocodiles. Suddenly I woke up to the noise of a landing aircraft. The airport was very close to our guest house and you could clearly hear the aircrafts taking off and landing. Struggling to leave the bed, somehow we all were up around 11. Quickly getting ready, we left our guest house to spend some leisure time in Ladakh.

Ready for Leh!

Getting on our mud-spattered and dusty motorcycles we headed towards the main bazaar. It was afternoon and the fierce heat of the sun was unbearable. Dying of hunger we went to a small eatery in the main bazaar to have some food.  After gobbling some delicious Chole Bhature we advanced towards Shanti Stupa, one of the most eminent places in Leh.

Sitting proudly on a hilltop in Leh,  Shanti Stupa is a white domed Buddhist stupa located 5 kilometers from Leh on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. Situated at a height of 3,609 meters (11,841 ft), this magnificent stupa can be reached by a motorable road or on foot by climbing a series of 500 steep steps.Unaware about the motorable road that leads to the hilltop, we parked our motorcycles at the foothill and took up the challenging task of climbing the stairs.

Under the scorching sun we started to climb those countless steps. As we started to ascend higher, the view became more stunning. Climbing at a slow pace we took a couple of breaks to catch our breath before reaching the top.

Our friend taking rest after giving up to the back-breaking climb.

The Stunning view as we climbed higher.

Nearly after 20 minutes of making strenuous efforts we finally reached the hilltop. There was a quaint little restaurant on the top. We ordered tea to get refreshed and to celebrate our victory of climbing to the Shanti Stupa. 

Energizing tea on the hilltop.

The Shanti Stupa was built to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. The feel of that place was very unusual. The atmosphere was filled with peace and tranquility.

The Beautiful Stupa

The panoramic view of the city from the top was totally mind boggling.

The panoramic view from the top makes it a popular tourist attraction.

While getting down.

It took us close to 15 minutes to get down. The steps were steep and we had to be extra careful while getting down.

It was 4 pm when we reached down. We were exhausted. Starting our motorcycles we left towards our guest house. On the way to our guest house we saw a small fort. “Zorawar Fort” was written on the main entrance. Parking our motorcycles we went inside the fort.

Motorcycles parked outside Zorawar Fort.

It was sunset when we left the fort. We went to a restaurant called LAMAYURU to have dinner. The only reason to eat there was free Wi-Fi, otherwise the food was mediocre. Post dinner we directly went to our guest house. After a brief chat session we took off to our respective beds. The next day was going to be packed with fun and thrill. Adventure awaits till the next day.

Read my next blog to know about the thrilling and deadly experience we had on our second day in Leh.

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: roadtrip, Travel, travelblog, wanderlustTags: bike ride to leh, ladakh bike ride, ladakh blog, ladakh on royal enfield, leh ladakh bike trip, leh ladakh bike trip blog, leh ladakh road trip, shanti stupa in leh 2 Comments

Dras to Leh via Kargil War Memorial.

The calendar showed 15th August, it was the morning of Independence day. We had decided to celebrate this big day at the historical Kargil War Memorial. An army personnel whom we met just before entering Dras told us that the ceremony of the Independence day would start at 8 in the morning. Getting up early had been the most difficult task on our trip after arrangement of luggage on our motorcycles. Fortunately, due to the incessant ringing of the alarm we got up around 7, realizing the need to rush without further wasting any time in order reach Kargil War Memorial on time. I ran towards the bathroom to take bath only to realize that the water was freezing cold. Thankfully because of the cold water none of us dared to bathe which saved a lot of our precious time.

Two of our group members were too lazy to join us for the Independence Day ceremony and decided to sleep for some more time. Leaving them and our luggage at the hotel we left for  the Kargil War Memorial. Our excitement level was at its peak. Parking our motorcycles on the opposite, side we finally entered that Historical place. The entrance was grand with KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL written at the top in big fonts. We were welcomed with a smile by a soldier standing at the gate.

Also known as Vijay path, the memorial is located in the foothills of the Tololing Hill, on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway 1D. It was built in the honour of the soldiers and officers who sacrificed their lives fighting bravely during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. I wondered how Indian soldiers would have fought and endured in the extreme cold conditions at Dras, which is said to be the second coldest place in the world.

Upon entering we saw the Tricolor swaying high, with the mighty Tololing mountain range in the back making it a memorable sight. An army personnel told us that we would have to wait for some more time to watch the ceremony. He also told us some interesting stories about the war and also gave us an insight about the life of a soldier.

The prime attraction of the whole memorial is the Sandstone wall, which has the names of all the Indian army personnel, who laid their lives during the Kargil war. There’s a small gallery displaying various photographs of the soldiers who fought the war, photos of soldiers celebrating the victory after the war, letters written by soldiers during the war, weapons used in the war etc.

The memorial also has a memento shop, selling caps, T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. I took a Cap with the logo of the Kargil War Memorial as a souvenir of that historical place.

It was 11 am and the ceremony had not yet started. Leh is almost 280 Kms from Dras, hence waiting more was not an option. We were already late and had to reach Leh before the sunset. Having our breakfast at the canteen in the War Memorial we again left towards our hotel. Reaching there we found those two still sleeping. Waking them up we started arranging our luggage.

Leaving our Hotel at Dras.

Alas! Around 1 pm we commenced our ride from Dras to Leh. We were far behind of our schedule. All of us knew that we would never reach Leh before sunset and riding at night would be a tough and dangerous task. We decided to cover as much distance as possible during the day without taking many breaks. Spending the night at Lamayuru was kept as an option in order to avoid riding at night. The road from Dras to Leh is winding at some patch but it is in excellent condition passing through some magnificent barren landscapes.

The sun was about to set and we had not even reached Lamayuru. Left with no other alternative we continued our expedition in the dark. The barren mountains which look scenic during the day, appeared equally spooky in the dark. Being extra cautious we were riding in a line with a minimal speed. The highway was extremely secluded at night. We rode for hours in the dark, but didn’t see a single vehicle passing through that road.

Reaching Lamayuru around 8.30 pm, we made a halt outside a gloomy place which turned out to be a hotel.The journey was not over yet, Leh is approximately 110 kms from Lamayuru. Some of us suggested to spend the night at that dreary hotel while others wanted to continue the journey. After having a prolonged discussion we finally decided to continue our ride and reach Leh.

Riding at night is uncertain and should be avoided if possible. The loud noise when you cross a bridge or mere the sound of flowing river is appalling at night. Hence it is advised to leave as early as you can in the morning so there’s not any risk involved and also you don’t miss the beautiful landscapes on your journey. After riding close to three hours in complete darkness, we eventually reached Leh at 11.30. We were releived to reach there safely and talk to our families after two days.

Not a single hotel was open when we entered into the city. Two people among us had been to Leh in 2012. They had the visiting card of a person named Mr. Khan who has a decent guest house close to the main market. Sometime around 12 we reached his guest house. With unloading of luggage from our motorcycles and carrying them to the second floor of the guest house, the tiring day came to an end.

To know how we spent our first day in the majestic Leh read my next blog!

March 31, 2016April 9, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: Travel 3 Comments

Srinagar to Dras : The Gateway to Ladakh

The morning was warm and pleasant. Sitting on the verandah of our houseboat I was awed by the beauty of Dal Lake. With Shikaras rowing all over, Dal Lake looked magnificent early in the morning. The milieu was so calm that I could clearly hear the splashing of water as the Shikaras rowed. Suddenly I realized that in some time we would leave this beautiful place and continue our journey ahead to reach our dream- Leh!

Getting ready we were all set to start our journey towards Dras. Loading all our luggage in the Shikara we left our houseboat. Reaching the shore we carried all the luggage from the Shikara and arranged them at one corner. Making two of our group members to stand near the luggage, we went to take our motorcycles from the parking spot.

Arranging our luggage on our motorcycles we left to have some breakfast. Riding for a couple of minutes we found a decent snack corner near Dal lake. Finally, after fnishing our breakfast, it was time to bid a goodbye to Srinagar.

Our plan was to complete the ride till Ladakh in 2 days. Starting from Srinagar we decided to reach Dras and stay there for the night. Next morning we would continue our journey from Dras and reach Leh by evening. The reason for staying at Dras was that you can easily get cheap and nice hotels at Dras which is hard to find in Kargil.

The only road that takes you to Dras is the Srinagar-Leh highway. The distance of Dras from Srinagar is around 150 kms, which is not very much but the risky roads and never ending traffic will surely make this journey a tough one. We all knew it was going to be a tiring day.

The Route from Srinagar to Dras.

Entering Sonamarg.

On your journey from Srinagar to Dras you’ll surely be fascinated by the stunning beauty of Kashmir. After riding a couple of hours we reached Sonamarg, a famous Hill station and tourist spot in Ganderbal district. Sonamarg which means Meadow of Gold is around 80 kms from Srinagar. The Roads connecting Srinagar and Sonamarg are truly scenic with a beautiful river running along the way. Apart from passing through some breathtaking sceneries, the roads from ” to Sonamarg was in excellent condition with very less traffic.

Ahead of Sonamarg, starts the dangerous Zojila. Riding around 9 kms from Sonamarg we reached Zoji La or Zojila pass. Running at an elevation of around 3528 meters (11575 fts), it is surely one of the toughest road you’ll be riding on your entire journey. The road looked like a thin like passing through the mountains. My hands were all sweaty  as we slowly started riding on this mighty pass. The road was rough, rugged and narrow. I tried to look straight and keep my eyes on the road as the view down was quite frightening. Absence of proper roads makes riding on Zoji La more of an off roading experience.

Zoji La

It came as a relief to complete Zoji La and enter the Dras Valley. As soon as we entered the Dras Valley,we made a halt to have something to eat as we all were too hungry.

Dras Valley.

Met these two riders from U.S at the end of Zojila pass.

The much needed break after completing Zoji La pass.

After visiting Zoji La War Memorial we finally entered Dras, the coldest place in India. We got 2 rooms for Rs.300 each to spend the night. The climate of Dras at night was too cold.

It should be kept in mind that your cell phones will not get network coverage when you reach Dras. It would become functional once you reach Leh.

Read my next blog as we celebrate independence Day at Kargil War Memorial and reach Leh, our ultimate destination.

March 17, 2016March 31, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: roadtrip, Travel, travelblogTags: bike ride to leh, kashmir, ladakh on royal enfield, roadtrip to ladakh, royal enfield, sonamarg tourism, srinagar to drass, srinagar to drass distance, srinagar to drass to kargil, srinagar to sonamarg 3 Comments

Gulmarg: Meadow of Flowers.

Enchanted by Dodhpathri we started our journey towards Gulmarg, one of the most popular tourist destination in Kashmir. Gulmarg is a magnificent hill station in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The name ‘Gulmarg’ means Meadow of Flowers. It is situated in Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2,650 m (8,694 ft), 56 km from Srinagar via Tangmarg. On our way we made a halt at Tangmarg for lunch.

Watch the entire video of Gulmarg:

The Road to Gulmarg

This heavenly Hill station is also known for the Gulmarg Gondola, which is one of the highest cable car ride in the world reaching 3,979 meters. Each one of us was very excited to experience this exhilarating cable car ride. Unfortunately till the time we reached  the ticket counter for the Gulamarg Gondola it was closed. Due to this we decided to spend the night in Gulmarg because none of us wanted to miss that gigantic cable ride. Our Kashmiri friend had some contacts there which helped us to get a decent cottage for the stay at a reasonable price. Though it was August the climate of Gulmarg was freezing at night.

The View from our Cottage.

The next day we directly went to the Gulmarg Gondola Ticket counter. The line there was quite long. The charges for first phase was 600 Rs per person which takes you to Kongdoori at 3,080 m. While the charges for second phase was 1400 Rs which takes passengers to a height of 3,950 m (12,959 ft) on the Apharwat Peak. We decided to go till the second phase of the ride. On your way up you’ll witness some breathtaking landscapes of Gulmarg with greenery spread far till you can see. Once you leave the first phase the ride becomes more thrilling. It feels like the cable car is slicing through the clouds on its way to the top of the mountain. Gondola Ride till phase 2 is highly recommended if you ever visit Gulmarg.

Gulmarg is a famous destination for various winter sports like Skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding or simply enjoying and playing in snow.

The view on your way to the top

Slicing through the clouds.

Spending some memorable time in Gulmarg we then left again for Srinagar. It was decided that we would spend the night in a house boat at Dal Lake which would be our last night in Srinagar as the next morning we would leave for Dras. From Gulmarg we first went to our Kashmiri friend’s house to collect our luggage. There we were treated with authentic Kashmiri Kawah. It was refreshing. Bidding his family a goodbye we left for Dal Lake.

Kawah!

The sun was about to set when we reached Dal Lake. The lake was beaming wearing the glow of the sun. It was surreal.

Watch the magical sunset at Dal Lake:

Our House Boat!

Post dinner we went for a late night Shikara ride. It was all dark and silent. Coming back we rushed towards our rooms as it was quite late. The next day i.e Day 4 was going to be a challenging one as we would cross the dangerous Zojila Pass to reach Dras.

 

 

Read my next blog as we cross the Deadly Zojila to reach Dras – The Gateway To Ladakh.

March 11, 2016May 17, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: roadtrip, TravelTags: gulmarg, gulmarg beauty, gulmarg blog, gulmarg gondola, gulmarg images, gulmarg tourism, gulmarg weather, kashmir diaries, meadow of flowers, srinagar to gulmarg 2 Comments

Doodhpathri : An Unexplored Wonder of Kashmir.

“AGAR FIRDAUS BAR ROO-E ZAMEEN AST, HAMEEN AST-O HAMEEN AST-O HAMEEN AST”.

It means “If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this”

Due to the tiring journey from Jammu to Srinagar, we got up a little late in the morning. After having our breakfast we were ready to explore Srinagar. But the question was where should we start from.

“We will start with Doodhpathri” our Kashmiri friend said.

We all were puzzled. None of us knew that there was a place called Doodhpathri in Kashmir.

Finally we started our ride towards Dodhpathri.

Watch the full video of Doodhpathri here:

“Doodpathri” which means Valley of Milk is situated 42 kms from Srinagar. It took us around an hour to reach this heavenly place and trust me reaching there we were enchanted by its pristine beauty. It truly was a Heaven as said by our Kashmiri friend.

Parking our motorcycles we went towards the river which is only a 5 minutes walk from the parking spot.

Doodhpathri is a charming meadow having lush green grass spread all over with a milky river flowing in between.The wooden bridge on the river adds to the overall appeal of the place.

Doodhpathri is less popular among tourists as compared to Gulmarg, Sonmarg etc, but in terms of beauty it is no less. It definitely is an unexplored gem of Kashmir. We all were mesmerised by that place. The atmosphere of Doodhpathri was so tranquil that you could  sit near the melodic river for hours. Doodhpathri is quite popular among shepherds who visit this beautiful place from different areas with their cattle’s and stay here together for days. It is a must visit place if you are in Srinagar.

Read my next blog as we continue our ride towards our next stop Gulmarg: Meadow of Flowers.

March 8, 2016May 17, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: Travel, travelblogTags: doodhpathri, doodhpathri budgam, doodhpathri from srinagar, doodhpathri images, doodhpathri in srinagar, doodhpathri kashmir, doodhpathri location, doodhpathri reviews, doodhpathri weather, heaven on earth 1 Comment

Day 1 : Jammu to Srinagar

On 11th August at the crack of dawn Ride To Ladakh began. The first patch of the ride was from Jammu to Srinagar. You’ll have to take Srinagar Jammu National Highway which is a part of National Highway 1A (India) system. The distance from Jammu to Srinagar is around 300 kms. We decided to leave around 6 in the morning. Getting up by 5, we were ready by 6 as planned but things dont always work as you want. It took us two hours to arrange our luggage on the motorcycles. Finally, after arranging the luggage we left Jammu around 8 am due to which we were behind of our scheduled time.

Beginning the journey from Jammu

For Jammu to Srinagar the highway starts from Jammu city and then passes through the Udhampur district, Ramban district, Kulgam district, Anantnag district, Pulwana district and ends in Srinagar. From Jammu the highway passes through series a of Mountains up to Qazigund which marks the start of Kashmir Valley. The roads from Jammu to Srinagar are better as compared to ones from Srinagar to Leh.

Crossing the landslide affected road

 

After covering about 40 kms you’ll reach Katra which is the base camp for the journey to Maa Vaishnodevi.

After this comes the beautiful Patnitop which is almost 110 kms from Jammu. The hilly terrain may hamper your speed on your way to Patnitop.

Travelling  a couple of kilometers you’ll  cross Rambam and Banihal which will further take you to the 2. 85 kms long Jawahar Tunnel.

Jawahar Tunnel

Just before entering Srinagar you’ll see line of tents on both side of the road selling cricket bats. These areas are famous for the Kashmiri willow bats.

Before reaching Srinagar

We reached Srinagar around 7 in the evening. The climate of Srinagar was pleasant. One of us had relatives in Srinagar who came to receive us near Dal Lake. From there they took us to their home in Badgam. Their house was like a dream place surrounded by apple trees with a garden in front and a small farm in the back.

The House where we stayed

The journey from Jammu to Srinagar was tiring. Making ourselves comfortable, we rested for sometime. After getting fresh we were presented with some tasty Kashmiri Dinner. The food was excellent. Post dinner we chatted for some time with our kashmiri friends, after which we were ready to sleep.

“Kal me tumhe jannat dikhaunga” (Tomorrow I’ll show you heaven) our Kashmiri friend said before bidding us Goodnight.

To know about the heavenly place which our Kashmiri friend was talking about read my next blog 🙂

March 6, 2016April 16, 2016 by Aawara Yunus Categories: roadtrip, TravelTags: jaamu to srinagar, jammu, jammu srinagar roadtrip, jammu to srinagar by road, jammu to srinagar distance, jammu to srinagar highway, jammu to srinagar road, jammu to srinagar road map, Roadtrip, srinagar 1 Comment