harshad : Kashmir 9 days Trip - Enjoyment report for Day 6

Day 6

Local Half day & House Boat

It was local Half day sight seeing at old Srinagar which was to include Sha hamadan mosque,jama masjid...Nigeen Lake,,,Hazratbal in the morning followed by shifting to Houseboat. But there was a problem. There was another bandh call at Srinagar and our visit was doubtful.

Getting up leisurely we left the hotel at about 1000 hrs after a good breakfast. Mr Firdous became our guide for the half day. We went to a bridge which is on the Jhelum river (and did not cross it) and walked on its banks on The Bund Road toward a famous Hanuman Temple (somewhere near Amira Kadal bridge) in down town Srinagar. It was a pleasant walk in Balmy sun. From Amir kadal bridge we walked to Lal Chouck (The famous place which is always in the news for separatist's protests) through Residency Road. The place was closed. The street was empty. we were worried as the name of Lal Chouck in itself gives scare to people. Heavy police presence was visible.

It was also fun to walk with the Residency road (generally a packed place) to our self, all of it. The clock tower (called Ghanta Ghar) was a nice structure and we were happy to be there. See the Map below:-

Here are some Photos

Wire Stay Bridge on Jehlum (Only Pedestrians)

One more view

Chinar Leaves

On the Bund Road

Lal Chouck a empty

Vegetable Seller with Lots of veg

Ghantaghar @ Lal Chouck

Ghantaghar - Close Up

After this trip we got in to our vehicles and moved to a showroom of Kashmiri cloths and handicrafts (as there was no other place we could go due to bandh). We spent about two hours and considerable money there and then went to Mughal Darbar on Residency Road for Lunch. The Vegetarians ordered their usual fare and we ordered famous Wazwan ( Kashmiri mega Thali of all kind of meats, generally eaten by three / four people) but a compact version of it (more about Wazwan in my daughter's blog at travel-o-graphy.blogspot.in) and we four people could really not finish the compact version of it. In the Sweet Dish we ordered Shahi Tukda which came with a different twist.

Wazwan

Wazwan including Mutton Rogan Josh and Goshtaba

Shahi Tukada with a twist

After lunch it was back to hotel to pack bags for one night stay at House boat and one night stay at Pahalgam.

Our Houseboat Golden Apple / Minivet (Generally most houseboats are a pair of two houseboats with a deck between them) were moored at Nehru Island (not opposite Boulevard Road) which to us appeared a little disappointment but Mr Firdous was sure we won't be disappointed. at about 1500 we reached Ghat (can't remember the number but all boarding / alighting points on Boulevard road are numbered) where a big boat was sent by the houseboat to pick the 10 of us.

Heading for House Boat

We took the boat and through a boat based market having Kashmiri handicraft, Tea shops, restaurants, etc we reached Minivet and wow, we were impressed. It was a beautiful houseboat made of Cedar wood, so are all the houseboats) with beautifully carved walls and roof. It has three bedrooms, one two bed, one three bed and one four bed.

After a good cup of tea we all embarked on Dal lake Shikara ride. Let the Photographs do the balance talking.