Of Charms and Chinars

"Heaven on earth" it is called. And it is an understatement. Welcome to the experience most people also call 'Kashmir'.

However bumpy and long a ride you may have had, you can't stop appreciating the beauty of this place. As for me, I screamed like a kid when I first saw the snow caped mountains in the distance. And that was the least i could do so as to still appear 'in my senses and civility'.  but come on! Do you have any idea what that sight can do to a person who was born and brought up in a western coastal state of India? It does some magic.

So to me, Kashmir is magical.  all magic begins with the roads winding through some beat-skipping but breathtaking landscapes. You snake through the tall mountains and deep valleys. The sight of playful rivers running down the mountains and flowing through the valley puts a fresh smile on your face. (Just in case the bumpy ride is taking it away).

As you close in on Kashmir, the beauty of everything around you gives you another kind of a high. Tall pine trees along the road and on the mountains seem to be reaching out to the sky. Clear afternoon sunlight filters through their pointed needle like leaves and splashes artfully on the green mountains. There is this peculiar quality about the bushes along the roads. They blossom. Pretty white and pink blossoms. That gives these roads a very pleasant, decorated and welcoming look. I have never seen naturally blossoming bushes on the roadside before.

As you descend into Kashmir, there are vast meadows in soothing shades of green. Now you can see the tall snow capped mountains. The sunset paints the whole landscape in gorgeous colours. The best one is how the distant White mountains slowly turn a shade of pink as the sun sets closer into them. And then they fade away into darkness. The romantic in me imagines the mountains as a blushing young girl whose cheeks cant hide the pink as her beloved closes in. And the swiftness with which both of them disappear behind a dark curtain only pushes up the romantic quotient. Yes, Kashmir can make you hopelessly romantic.

What with the silent dal lake, seemingly absorbing all the sounds, a bright moon which turns a part of the lake in shining silver, and an occasional breeze which ripples through the tranquillity. If that doesn't suit your definition of bliss, i wonder what will.

During the day, three things hit you. The fresh colours of infinitely beautiful flowers. The heavenly beauty of people who live around them. And Chinars.  These majestic trees with their uniquely shaped leaves are a treat to human eyes. Soaring as high as 25-30mts and spreading their branches far and wide, They look like a strong support systems of the valley - assuring everyone that good times will return. My only regret- i couldn't witness the famous "Atish-e-Chinar". It was obviously not the season.

So Kashmir is, in a word, heaven. Crafted by the Maker with a classy taste. Its trees are huge. Lakes -sprawling, flowers- a valley full, valleys -deep, rivers - blue, people beautiful and mountains- well, in all its glory, the Himalayas it is.

Afterthought:
So while appreciating all its grandeur, it came as a pleasant surprise when the "ghodewalla bhaiyya" (of all the people, yes!) Recited a couplet of shayari while accepting his "taqdeer". I wasn't the only one delving into deeper aspects of life after all. I guess Kashmir does that to you. Shows you how small you are and makes you appreciate the vastness. It makes you think and connect. Connect to infinity.