My journey to Srinagar began when we left home at 2pm. We arrived at the airport an hour later, breezed through check-ins and security, and relaxed in a cozy cafe. I sipped on a refreshing cooler, while my parents enjoyed tea, and my siblings also indulged in coolers.
Soon, we boarded the plane. With music as my solace, the flight seemed to pass by in a blink of an eye. Upon landing in Sri Nagar, we retrieved our suitcases and found our driver. The air was colder than I expected but not filled with snow like I had imagined.
We headed to Naqash residency, checked in, and briefly rested before savoring a delicious dinner.
Day 2
The second morning, eager for adventure, I learned we were visiting a glacier in Sonamang. Excited and prepared for the chill, we ate breakfast and set off.
As we drove towards Sonamang, I saw the first hints of snow that soon transformed into vast snowy landscapes. After two hours, we reached a parking lot where our driver informed us he couldn’t take us further. We had to venture to the glacier on mules, but as soon as we stepped out of the car, people swarmed us with offers. They offered us mules and leather boots, because of the high price we reluctantly agreed after some bargaining. We soon found ourselves on a thrilling 20-minute mule ride, fear turning to pure adventure. I don’t know why I found the mule ride enjoyable but as I rode I imagined how a warrior would ride the same mule. At the glacier, we leaped into the snow, creating snow angels and pelting each other with snowballs. Photos captured every joyful moment.
A stranger offered us sleds, and my siblings and I eagerly agreed. Sledging was exhilarating, but nothing compared to the mule ride. Time flew as we built a mini snowman and tossed snow for our own personal snowfall.
Hunger gnawed at us; we mounted our mules once more for another 20 minutes of excitement before hopping into a car. A shimmering river caught our eye, and we paused for breathtaking photos before finally arriving at a restaurant.
I can’t recall my meal, but the rich hot chocolate warmed my soul. Stomachs full, we returned to the hotel for an evening of games and relaxation.
Day 3:
Gulmarg’s gondola ride on a snowy mountain beckoned us. By 8 o’clock, we were ready, bags packed and eager for breakfast. The anticipation of the day ahead bubbled within us.
The meal was scrumptious, and afterward, we set out for Gulmarg by car. Upon arrival, we paused at our hotel, Apple Trees, for a quick refresh and bathroom break. Then, we hopped back in the car and drove to the gondola station.
We parked quite a distance away and had to walk the rest of the way. As we strolled along, our guide shared fascinating facts – like how the snow-covered landscape around us hid one of the largest golf-fields, visible only in summer and hot the Gondola ride was situated upon Mount Afarwat.
At last, we reached the gondola station and joined a long queue. After a 25-minute wait, we boarded a gondola and soared above the mountain like a slow-motion drone shot. The views were breathtaking – trekkers ascending the slopes looked like a scene from an epic movie.
Arriving at phase one of the gondola station, our guide informed us that, sadly, skiing and sledging were our only activity options for the day. My cousin, some family members, and I decided on skiing.
A 15-minute walk brought us to the ski area where we strapped on boots and grabbed ski poles. Our guides showed us how to maintain balance and accelerate. With this newfound knowledge, I embarked on my first ski run – it was amazing! I went for several more runs, each as thrilling as the last.
Exhausted from skiing, we stopped for some Maggi noodles and hot chocolate before heading back to the phase one gondola station.
At the phase one gondola station, we hopped on a gondola and soared back to the starting point. We snapped some photos there before returning to the parking lot, our stomachs rumbling with hunger. Desperate for food, we found a nearby dhaba that left much to be desired, but we had no choice.
After eating, we discovered our driver had abandoned us. The travel agency quickly provided a replacement, and we headed to our hotel, Apple Trees. Once there, my father cleared up the confusion while we relaxed and played games like Uno. We spent the day unwinding before enjoying dinner and drifting off to sleep.
Day 4
Day 4 was in Palagam. We set out early, fueled by breakfast and eager for the day’s main attraction: the valleys. The locals insisted we ride horses to reach them. I noticed how much larger horses were compared to mules and struggled to mount mine, but eventually succeeded.
The ride was terrifying—the narrow paths seemed one misstep away from doom—but we held on tight and reached the valley. Although not as breathtaking as expected, we took pictures before riding back down.
The descent was still nerve-wracking, but reaching the car brought relief I had never known before.
We grabbed lunch and returned to our hotel for more relaxation before dinner and bedtime. However, sleep eluded us as my siblings and I stayed up late, vomiting. Our parents suspected it was food poisoning but we didn’t really know the real reason.
Through the night, we suffered and our parents took care of us (personal thanks to my father and my mother!). As the sun climbed to its zenith, we found ourselves mended enough to embark on our journey to Srinagar, the fifth day’s main attraction awaiting our arrival. The car carried us steadily onward, and after a seemingly endless stretch of time, we finally reached Srinagar in the somewhat-warm embrace of the afternoon. There we went to Dal Lake which was our final day’s location.
Before immersing ourselves in this new lake-world, we sought out a houseboat and ventured to the lake’s edge. We requested a Shikara ride to transport us to the houseboat. My heart swelled with anticipation, hoping that this houseboat would surpass the last one – that it would be a haven of delight and adventure.
But the moment we stepped into the houseboat, the floor felt like stepping on the coldest piece of ice in existence. My father hypothesised that because it was surrounded by water, it was icy cold. Despite mats and electric blankets on the beds, the chill seeped into our bones. We had no choice but to endure it.
My father offered to move us back to our original hotel, but we decided to stay on the houseboat. Wrapped in blankets, we listened and talked to each other. We ordered food and my cousin even got some maggi for herself.
Soon enough, we adapted to the freezing cold. Dinner was served with a heater that took some of the edge off. That night, we slept soundly, grateful for the blankets that covered our freezing bod providing warmth.
In the early morning, we woke up and got into our car. The driver took us to a garden. We walked around, and my father told us stories of how he used like biology etc. After the garden we just browsed shops and visited Moonlight Bakery, where we bought some delicious walnut fudge.
Later, we headed for the airport and finally reached home a few hours later. The first three days were amazing, but I must admit that the houseboat was probably the coldest part of our trip. In summer, I think it would be better; but in winter, it was truly freezing.
In conclusion, the first three days were like being in Winter Wonderland and the other two like being Winter Worse-land. But even after those two bad days, I still take the trip to be most enjoying.