Through Kashmir’s Kaleidoscope: Vikas’s Thrillophilia Review of a Family Trip to Kashmir
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, when all of us were lounging on the couch, discussing vacation ideas. “I’m tired of the same old beach resorts,” my wife sighed, flipping through the pages of a travel magazine. “Let's explore a different place this time.”
My daughter, who had been binge-watching web series on her smartphone, suddenly perked up. “What do you think about Kashmir? The mountains, the gardens, the lakes… it’s like a fantasyland!” she said.
My son, sitting cross-legged on the floor, joined in, “Kashmir? Isn’t that where all the snow is?”
“Absolutely! But that is during the winters, but in this season we can catch snow in Gulmarg!” I laughed, thinking about exploring Kashmir with my family among snow-covered peaks. “Houseboats, lakes, and maybe even horse rides to glaciers. How about it?”
My wife smiled and replied, “Sounds like the perfect place for a vacation. I love the idea!”
With that, our destination for the trip was finalised. In no time, all of us had our bags ready with winter clothing and we were off for the adventure of a lifetime.
Mughal Gardens to Tulip Blooms
After checking in to our hotel in Srinagar, we set out for a sightseeing tour. Our first stop was the stunning Mughal Gardens, starting with Nishat Bagh. I was spellbound by the location of the garden, which was set against the backdrop of Dal Lake and the towering Himalayas. The terraced lawns and peaceful ambience had us all in awe. My son dashed ahead of us in excitement, pointing at the flowers and exclaiming, "Dad, this place looks like a painting from one of my schoolbooks!"
I couldn’t help but agree.
Next was Shalimar Bagh, another gem that we enjoyed visiting during the Mughal Garden tour. My wife was particularly impressed by the massive fountains, crystal clear pools, and perfectly manicured gardens. As we walked along the pathways of the garden, my daughter was busy clicking pictures with her camera.
"The gardens look sooo dreamy..." she commented, trying to find the perfect angle for her Instagram post.
"Are you amazed already? Wait until we visit the Tulip Gardens!" our guide remarked, smiling.
After taking a stroll across Shalimar Bagh, we headed for the Tulip Gardens. Unaware of the fact that it was the late-blooming season, we were taken aback by the stunning beauty of the flowers over there. It seemed like a detailed patchwork of pinks, yellows, and reds all over the place.
"I could sit here all day," my wife sighed, relaxing on a bench and taking in the scenery. The peaceful atmosphere of the place offered an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of routine lives back home.
We ended the day with a visit to the 17th-century garden Chashme Shahi, which according to our guide, was built by the Mughal emperor for his son.
My son, curious as ever, asked, “Papa, is this also a royal garden?” I told him a bit about its history, and he nodded thoughtfully, appreciating the serene space.
Around the sunset hours, we took a leisurely walk along Dal Lake, which perfectly reflected the mountains on its calm waters. Over dinner, we talked about how fortunate we were to be exploring such a beautiful place together.
Through Snow, Meadows, and Mountains
'Kashmir is a paradise on earth, a land of enchantment, of beauty beyond words and imagination.' - Mark Twain
I realised the true worth of this quote on our way to Sonmarg. We drove through scenic valleys where we got a chance to admire the wildflowers and towering peaks in the distance. My daughter, ever the photographer, was busy clicking pictures of all that she could.
“Look at that! It’s as if nature has painted on a canvas!” she exclaimed, pointing to the Sindh River winding through the valley.
At Sonamarg, we took a pony ride toward the Thajiwas Glacier. My son was initially reluctant to climb the horse, but his nervousness faded quickly, and he was soon beaming with joy.
“I feel like one of those knights, Dad!” he shouted, enjoying the ride across the meadows, he had settled in soon after the pony had started walking. The endless, scenic landscape left us all stunned. As soon as we reached Thajiwas Glacier, a world of snow-covered peaks and rolling valleys unfolded in front of us.
After our glacier adventure, it was time to try one of the activities that I was the most excited about - a Gondola ride in Gulmarg. The cable car took us high above the valley and offered sweeping views of snow-covered slopes, expansive meadows, and distant peaks.
“Dad, this feels like we’re flying!” my son exclaimed with excitement.
Later, we also spent some time walking around the region, the fresh mountain air just hit differently. The kids were thrilled and pointed out every new sight. “Look at that, Dad! It looks so beautiful!” my son shouted, hopping with joy. We also played in the snow, making snowmen and having snow fights after reaching the gulmarg peak.
A Farewell to Paradise
On our final day of the journey, we explored the stunning Aru Valley, where our son raced ahead of us with his hands spread out, like that of a plane. According to my wife, the place could be easily termed 'Eden', and I couldn't have agreed more. Next, we visited Betaab Valley, known for its crystal-clear streams and towering pine trees, where the kids had a blast playing around with each other. Our guide also took us for a visit to Chandanwari, which is popularly known as the starting point for Amarnath Yatra. After seeing the Snow bridge, the children calmed down for a while, soaking in the majesty of the vista.
In all honesty, we were all so lost in admiring the beauty of Kashmir that we had truly forgotten that it was the last day of the trip. It was only when our kids spoke about the Shikara ride on Dal Lake that I realised it was going to be the last activity scheduled before we left.
As we shopped at Lal Chowk, my wife said, "We need to take another trip to Kashmir...soon" and I knew then that Kashmir had left not just me, but all of us wanting for more.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kashmir Reviews