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Kashmir - a paradise on earth

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The Farsi poet once said - Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast in the context of Kashmir. It translates as - if there were a paradise on earth, it is here! Truly blessed by mother nature - its gorgeous landscapes, glacial fed rivers, valleys, snow capped or rocky mountains, little streamlets, abundance of flora are a treat to the eyes and the soul. Why then would we ever want to wash our hands off it. No way! This time around - May 2024, we decided to cover offbeat Kashmir as we had visited the regular tourist spots back in 2004/05. The holiday was an extension after P's conference. We had over 10 days with us. We roped in a friend this time who was keen on visiting Kashmir on condition that we accompany her. For the plan P contacted a Himalayan Travel Expert Kiki Mathawan ( www.travelthehimalayas.com/kiki ) and explained what we had in mind. He was quick to revert with a detailed itinerary which included 'offbeat Kashmir' and a customize
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Udaipur, a dream etched in stone and reflected in shimmering waters

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  Our 50th year of existence called for a celebration. P had decided that it had to be the beautiful city of Udaipur - a historic city which welcomed tourists. We did not have any other recommendations and so relented The thought of a trip to a city known for palaces and temples was exciting yet we needed some adventure to draw us there. It was then decided to begin the journey with a safari visit to Jawai - a leopard hotspot. Sunset while on the evening safari  Posing (to ward off boredom while waiting for the leopard to make an appearance) While we flew to Udaipur (in the interest of time) and drove for nearly 2.5 hours to Jawai Bera, we later learnt that we could have taken an overnight train to Jawai or any of the other 2 stations - each of which was only 10-20kms from Jawai Bera - the leopard sanctuary. While I call it a sanctuary, it is NOT because it is not designated as such by the Wildlife department. The guide - Rituraj (interestingly a Zoology + Bschool grad from Maharashtra
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