A Journey To The Lama's Land, Part - 13

A Journey To The Lama's Land,  Part - 13

The car started moving again. Sonmarg is very near after Jojila Pass. The beauty of the beautiful valley of Sonmarg is known all over the world. From here, everyone goes to see the snow on horseback. 

We went in search of a good Kashmiri food shop. Faizu Bhai brought us on a hotel which was apparently not looking so bright from the outside but the aroma of cooking is wafting around. We sat down on their wooden bench. Mutton Rogan Jose, Mutton Ball with Mustard, Mutton Minced, Uuuuuuffuff. Yet its taste and smell seem to stick to the tongue. After a hearty meal, no one agreed to ride a horse. After finishing the photo shoot, we headed back to Srinagar.

 

A little further on, on the left side, we saw a stream of raging currents running in a loud voice. I found out his name is Sind. The locals say Sind Nala. It is a tributary of the Jhilam River. We parked the car next to a park on the side of the road and got off to talk to this dancing beauty.

The car is running again. We are crossing the several numbers of beautiful villages on our both sides. We were passing through the valley of Kashmir, the dream land, the paradise of earth and gradually was nearing the Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu & Kashmir.  

Seeing a large apple orchard on the right, the car stopped. The garden covers a big area. The famous red apples of Kashmir were hanging in the trees. Many people were working in the garden. Apples were being picked and kept in a place made like a pandal under a tarpaulin shed and the work of plucking of apples were going on there. Different type of apple were being loaded in different box and arranged in different lots on one side. An old gentleman showed us everything, fed us a lot of apples and was trying to teach us the technique to identify the apples according to the quality. We bought a big box of apples from that orchard.

Our journey started again. After some distance, our car left the highway and drove through the alleys of the city. Faizu Bhai drove us to the main door of Shalimar Garden and parked the car. It's too crowded today. Teams from different schools came to the garden. 

We quickly took the ticket and entered the garden. This historic garden has witnessed many ancient histories. Many a times the royal cabinet meeting took place in this garden, which was built under the supervision of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Being intolerant and restless in the scorching heat of summer, the emperor's council used to come to Kashmir and spend most of the day inside the garden of Shalimar. I came to this garden before. This time it seems that there is some shortcoming in its nobility. The lack of proper maintenance was noticeable. 

There is a 400-year-old Chinar tree in this garden. Touching the trunk, it seemed as if we got the gentle touch of our old grandfather. "With so Many of words he wants to blossom like a flower with great affection." Immediately my mind filled with joy. With my infinite wonder I caressed this old grandfather of us. After spending some more time in Shalimar garden, we headed for our hotel for tonight. 

The hotel is near Nishad Bagh, there is no time today. The garden will be closed, it is better to return to the hotel's hospitality. We will return by afternoon flight on tomorrow. Sometimes my mind seems to be drowning in sadness. We started our journey from Chandigarh station in one fine morning. The journey will end at Srinagar Airport tomorrow. 

overwhelmed with emotion few of us were reminiscing about our trip with a cup of tea and snacks in our hotel room and didnot even noticed that when the silent night wrapped in a black blanket slipped into our room and grasped us thoroughly.There was a call came from the dining room. We hurried to the first floor dining room.

I Woke up very early in the next morning. On the opposite side of the hotel, through the gaps in the leaves of the chinar trees,the beam of the sun ray has barely fallen on the windows of the house. It was as if the  just woken up morning was smiling with a wet look. At this moment, the first thought came to my mind is  today I will have to return. May be the sky, clouds and winds of Srinagar will hug me with utmost passion but the working world is continuously scolding inside my heart just like an irritable teacher with a mustache of our school with a cane in his hand.  I have to go back. How much is left, how much remains unseen, how many fields, how many people remain unknown, yet there is no way. I must have to go back. A line from  Shakti Chatterjee's poem peeked into my mind, "Will you please tell me by which rule you are returning from your way and what is that rule which is always remaining in all your ways for your whole life? will you tell me or cheat?" O' this morning light, this blue sky, the air of Srinagar wrapped in soft cold sun, you all remain a witness, I will come again, I promise. I am going back to the rough working world with your affection in my heart. Don't forget me please.  

Faizu bhai's car blow horn. I got ready early and went down to eat breakfast.

Unfortunately for us, it's half past eight. It is not yet time to open the door of Nishad Bagh. The situation forced us to proceed to visit the Dal Lake. 

To our right is the vast Dal Lake. Its spread far and wide. In the morning there is a light mist over the water. I came and stood at the Shikara jetty. Decorated with colorful ornaments, the shikara shoots look like flowers in the water. By bargaining, we rented a Shikara and floated in the water of Dal Lake. The peddlers are floating in the water with many kinds of goods in small shikaras. What else are not available with them? Hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, bags, pashmina shawls, wooden dolls to decorate the house, perfume, saffron, Shilajit and even walnuts to apples. 

Nehru Park was in front of us. In the distance was a crown of white snow on the top of a hill. An unearthly environment. The diver bird was fishing by diving in the water. Many unnamed birds were flying from one side to another by fluttering their wings.  We went to see the Lotus garden. In one place  a huge island was floating in the water, varieties  of vegetables were grown there. 

Numerous floating house boats are scattered here and there. By pointing the house boats and narrating the names of famous actors and actresses who had stayed in the houseboat, where a movie had been shot, Shikarawala took us to Meena Bazaar. 

Seeing this floating lifestyle we were wondered. All the shops were floating in this market.We sat in a coffee shop and had sipped a great coffee. Some went to see shawls etc. 

After spending some time in Dal Lake, We came back to the jetty. It was almost time for the plane. Heavy traffic on airport roads. When I got on the plane after passing the safety check twice, it was almost  time to start off.

The wheels of the aircraft have started moving along the runway of Srinagar Airport. Giriraj Himalaya, a lifelong friend, can still be seen far out the window. It is very difficult to leave a friend. Still have to go. Carrying the burden of this instant separation on my heart, I waved my hand and said goodbye to His Excellency, the everlasting and incomparable friend of mine, the king of all mountains, Sri Sri Himalaya.   

THE END