Kashmir – ‘Slow’ Second Day in Aru
Aru Valley in Kashmir rewards those who choose to slow down. Away from crowded tourist spots, the valley offers quiet landscapes, village life and moments that are best appreciated without an itinerary.
Sunrise over Kolahoi
The day started with a view of sunrise.
The warm marmalade sunlight spreading across Kolahoi mountain slopes on to the luscious Aru Valley.
@nomadic_mohit and @shradhanikkam were up and about to get the best shots.
Impressive work ethic.
A Walk Through Lidder Valley
A quiet breakfast followed by a walk to Lidder Valley, dotted with ponies and their excrement.
The winding road, silence, the tranquillity—the ability to sit without a care in the world.
Things money can buy!
A lot of quiet ensued.
The ponies and horses seemed surprised to see us at a non-touristy location, but they soon got bored of us and went back to grazing.
Wandering Through Aru Village
This was followed by a stroll through quirky Aru village, under the watchful gaze of toddlers, village folk and ponies.
The route to Aru Valley for day tourists lies opposite the Lidder River trail and begins from the main car park.
Tourism and Its Consequences
An overload of tourists and garbage has led to an explosion in the raven population in the village.
An overwhelmed sewerage system and ongoing construction abound.
Is this sustainable?
The older shops, manned by elderly gentlefolk, offer a welcome balance of tranquillity against the blaring cars.
The village school was abuzz with children enjoying their mid-day meal while ravens hovered nearby, hoping to steal a quick bite.
Time Slows Down
All the deliberate slowness resulted in overshooting the checkout time of 11:00 am.
The hotel, though vacant, played strictly by the rule book.
They overcharged us.
We paid whatever they wanted.
There was no point in haggling.
Back to Pahalgam
The road to Pahalgam was clean and pleasantly short.
We had a forgettable lunch at Paradise Hotel, followed by immediate regret for not venturing further down the road where the restaurants looked far more inviting.
The parking lot in Pahalgam was a hub of activity.
Jama Masjid, Pahalgam
We visited Jama Masjid, Pahalgam.
Its intimate wooden craftsmanship, characteristic of the region, makes it well worth a visit.
That brought our visit to Anantnag district to an end—at least for this journey.
The Road Back to Srinagar
Our grumpy cab driver took us through villages and townships towards Srinagar.
Along the way we caught glimpses of orchards, bakeries, kangris on sale and rural traffic.
For that alone, he gave us one reason to be grateful.
We reached our Srinagar hotel late in the evening.
A bit of juggling and wrestling with the air conditioner to coax it into the right temperature.
And then, sleep.
