Twenty five Senior Citizen members of the Senior Citizens’ Forum, who planned to go to Kashmir in end May last, formed G25.
When our flight landed at Srinagar, our group had a surprise view of a huge battalion of BSF and CISF jawans and commandos at the Airport. The drive to the Hotel at Srinagar by Traveller Coach was through areas and roads, which were absolutely neat and clean. The route was all spruced up for the visit of the G20 delegates. In fact, one of the members in our Group remarked that Srinagar can very well win one of the top positions of cleanest city in the country.The local representative of the Travel Agent was there to receive us at the Srinagar Airport and he remained our constant companion throughout the trip till we boarded the plane for Delhi.
First, we went to the Botanical Garden before reaching the Hotel. There were a few members in the Group, who had difficulty in walking even from the point of getting out of the Traveller Tempo to the Garden. They opted to take coffee at a dhaba there. Then later in the day, we decided to go to Dal Lake to enjoy the Shikara ride. Rain God did not show mercy that He should not spoil our programme on the first day at least. There was heavy rain and strong wind; so much so that one Shikara toppled in the Lake but luckily, there was no human tragedy. So the Shikara plan was abandoned and we got back to the Hotel.
Tambola, you know, is a favourite game and there was a Tambola session in one of the rooms.The second day began with heading towards Sonmarg passing through Ganderbal. We reached Sonmarg at 1 P.M. There was a very heavy presence of trucks and tourist vehicles. The human presence was trying to match the gift of Nature, which is given to the Kashmir Valley. There was slight rain. After a short break, the Group had to proceed further to ‘Zero Point’. Some other tourists opted to hire a pony to go to the Glacier but our Group decided not to venture it as the ride was a bit risky for the senior citizens. After the day’s long journey back and forth, the Group retired to the Hotel.
On the 3rd day, we were to go to Pahalgam. On the way, the group was taken to a dry fruit market and the Sun Temple and taking lunch at a Restaurant. It was a newly built Hotel at Pahalgam, where the Travel Agent had fixed accommodation. The approach road to the Hotel was yet to be laid, on account of which we had to walk up that short distance. Tambola before dinner at the Hotel gave us the soothing relief. In fact, tambola remained a regular feature on all days of the trip.
There was hot water crisis on the 4th morning in the Hotel. The Hotel management failed miserably to meet this crisis. After breakfast, we went to Chandanwari where most of us walked on the snow and enjoyed sledging. The next destination was Betaab Valley. They say that the shooting of the film ‘Betaab’ was done there many years back and thereafter, the valley was given the name ‘Betaab Valley’. The place had too many tourists. One had to walk up to a final point. The local people had arrangement for transport to the final point but charging a rather hefty amount. Thereafter, we visited Aru Valley, which is also famous for shooting of films, and then we returned to the Hotel.
On day 5, we left Pahalgam to reach Srinagar. The roads throughout the Kashmir Valley trip were satisfactory but due to high security in the State and some construction project going on, our vehicles had to face traffic hold-up of at least 100 odd minutes. Rain stood in the way of our plan to visit the Nishaat Garden and Shikara ride in the Dal Lake. Our stock of Tambola tickets, which we carried from Delhi, was completely used and at Pahalgam Hotel, we had to miss the Tambola session. While Pahalgam market was not conversant with tambola tickets, we could buy these only at Srinagar.
On the final day, the Group was divided in two parts. One Group went to Gulmarg, where ‘gandola’ tickets had been sold out and our members had to be content with sight seeing only. The other Group visited the Gardens at Srinagar and had Shikara ride in the Dal Lake. Both the Groups joined together at the Srinagar airport for taking flight back to Delhi. On the whole, it was a good vacation trip barring inconvenience due to high security in the State and at times inclement weather.
by V.K. Gauba (40562161)
