its been my dream for many years  to visit kashmir but somehow or the other it never materialised.due to various circumstances.but in the year 2005,october i and my family made up our minds to visit kashmir along with it vaishnovdevi mandir.so we booked our tickets and our hotels 3 months in advance. but 3 days before the date of our journey a massive earth quake took place in which many lives were lost.we were getting all sort of news that electricity had been cut off and hence there was no water as well. we just didnt know what to do. we were in two minds whether to go or not. a emergency family meeting was called to come to an decision about our trip.since we had tickets booked till delhi we decided to proceed till there and then take a decision.

we reached delhi and immediately contaced the j&k tourism office there.they were very helpfull and told us to ahead with our plans.so by an overnight train we left for jammu. we stayed for a day in jammu just so we could book a car for the entire trip.the places worth visiting in jammu is bag e bahu. which is a beautifully laid out garden with number of fountains and a lake it reminded me of brindavan gardens in bangalore but on a much smaller scale.there is also raghunathji mandir and amar singh palace.the next day we proceeded to srinagar since its about 10-12 hours journey. we had to leave quite early in the morning.i have been to quite a few hill stations but i have never seen such a busy and crowded highway.lines and lines of army trucks keep passing through out the day.and after every 100 yards there are bsf and crpf men patrolling the highway. any time your car can be stopped and checked.the jawahar tunnel is something every one should experience.its huge must about 3-4kms longand there are 2 tunells for up and down journey.its well lit inside but even though its quite eerie and frightening.especially when you sight the emergency gates at the side of the tunnel.

we reached srinagar in the evening. we hadnt booked a room at srinagar since we were aware there were number of hotels in srinagar that we could always find a room but we were wrong. being the durga puja festival in kolkata the place was teeming with bengalis and the travel agencys had done group bookings in most of the hotels.so all the hotels were full.just as were wondering what to do a local policeman came to our help.he said there was an doctor who was letting out part of his house to tourist and if were interested we could check it out.we agreed at once, went to the doctors house and fell in love with it . it was beautiful, a 2 storied house with well kept rose garden and lawn. the doctor and his wife stayed in the ground floor and the first floor had been converted into a guest house.it was like a dream vacation house.

the next day we did a local tour of the gardens. among the lot chas me sahi was the best. there was poor maintenance in the other gardens.in the evening we went on a shikara ride on the famouse dal lake.it was difficult to believe that we  were really in srinnagar and on a shikara on dal lake. the plight of the local people especially the shikara owners and the ghoda walas was sad.their income for a number of years was zero and now that the tourist were comming to srinagar again they were so happy.

the next day we went to gulmarg which is about 4 hours journey from srinagar.as soon we reached there we booked tickets on the cable car.the cable car stops at 2 points on the way . we got down at the first point.the scenery there was just breathtaking.with pristine snow covered mountains all around and green meadows below. it semed like a scene out of yash chopras films shot in switzerland.if there is a heaven on earth it is this it is this it is this.

the next day we went to sonmarg which is also about 4 hours journey from srinagar.on reaching sonmarg we went on a horse ride to a glacier point.there was no snow there but the scenery again was out of this world. we didnt want to return to the real world this seemed so unreal and fairy tale like.our srinagar trip was comming to an end.we didnt feel like returning home. especially leaving the wonderful doctors home.hope to make an trip again . just dont know when.from srinagar we proceeded to pahalgaon and vaishnovdevi mandir. but thats another story.