Kashmir- "The Switzerland of the East"

“If there is heaven on Earth, it is here, it is here, and it is here.”
Kashmir well known for its natural beauty and for being an issue of conflict between India and Pakistan is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Srinagar which is known to be famous for its houseboats is the capital and is the major tourist attraction all round the year, however from last few years the number of tourists rushing to this paradise have reduced but against all odds Kashmir is now once again coming to normalcy.

Kashmir has a lot to offer to its adventure loving visitors like trekking, mountaineering, skiing, paragliding, parasliding, cycling, water sports, angling, hand gliding and hot air ballooning. Houseboats are greatest attraction in Kashmir. The bewitching water-boat residences carved out of cedar wood are impressively finished with stately living rooms, drawing and dining rooms, carved wooden furniture’s, beautifully embroidered rugs and fabrics. The main idea behind the concept of a houseboat is the fact it provides a haven for those who like to spend a quite holiday, away from the noise and bustle of the cities. Most of the houseboats have all the amenities of a five star hotel. The houseboats have everything from spacious bedrooms, sun decks washrooms with the latest amenities, electricity and plumbing etc.

Srinagar, capital city of J&K, lies in close proximity to all the most beautiful valleys and monuments in Kashmir. Tourist attractions such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgham, Mughal gardens are just a few hour's drive from Srinagar. The city is home to the beautiful Dal and the Nagin lakes.
The only problem with staying in Srinagar is the fear of terrorism. Shops and restaurants start after 10am and down their shutters by 7pm. It is advisable not to venture out of your hotels before and after this time interval. Although the armed forces are a strong presence, it remains a relatively tense area.

How can i forget to tell you about Kashmiri food, even talking about Kashmiri food makes my mouth water. Kashmiri food is rich, aromatic and spicy. The flavor of Kashmiri food is due to an extensive use of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, saffron, and lots of other such spices.
It might be served as a small family meal consisting of rajma and rice or, if you're lucky enough, as a wonderful 36-course wedding feast known as Wazawan. The regular diet of native Kashmiris is rice, the most favoured variety of which is the slightly sticky one that is grown only in Kashmir.

Non-vegetarian food is a crucial part of Kashmiri cuisine and the usual daily meal consists of vegetables and meat cooked together. The pure vegetarian meal includes chaman and dum-aloo. But, interestingly, sweets are not a regular feature of a Kashmiri meal. Kahva, or Kashmiri tea, is preferred over sweets after a meal.
Apart from these, seekh kababs, tabak maz, rogan josh, Yakhni and gushtaba are a few other mouth-watering preparations you should most definitely eat in Kashmir.

Hope you like reading about Kashmir, now pack your bags and make an unforgettable trip to place called "Heaven on Earth".