Patnitop we marched forward towards our journey to Pahalgam. After Patnitop we again had to climb down the ghat around 1000 meters and entered Chenab Valley.Rivers between mountains always fascinate
right now just look at the colour of Chenab river ( light green). Again heat started to build up from here and from here our journey was terrible . Around 2-3 hours I was soaked in the sun . I had never imagined that I would felt something like this in Jammu and Kashmir 1000 m above sea level. Even in Sahyadris Maharashtra , Lonavla ( 600 m) near Mumbai is always pleasant. This was too much for me. Each each minute was going like an hour.
Chenab River
Chenab River
For around one half hour in ghats, besides the tribuatries of Chenab and Chenab, in Chenab valley, we came to a Jawahar tunnel which was around 2.5 km in length which changed complete scene .
Project Beacon :- Jawahar Tunnel in front ( 2.5 km changes everything)
After crossing this tunnel , we came from Jammu valley to Kashmir valley and temperature directly dropped from 40 to 25 which I found quite amazing . Heat completely vanished within 2.5 kms and climate became pleasant .
first view of Kashmir valley from a point called Titanic View Point.
Amazing views from here
Just see some breadth taking views from here . Imagine the below place fully covered with snow in the winter with some green Deodhar trees in between. And imagine same place covered with flowers of all colors in one month of spring. Completely green
Welcome to Kashmir”. I was just flat looking at greenery and feeling the climate.
. Lot of people were just staying here at Titanic View point enjoying the views , some feeling the climate , some having chat with each other,
enjoying the beauty and clicking pictures .” OH YES. I WILL DEFINITELY COME TO KASHMIR ONCE IN SPRING AND ONCE IN WINTER IN MY LIFETIME “. These were initial thoughts when I first saw Kashmir Valley from Titanic point.
Titanic View Point
One View from Titanic point :- Jammu – Srinagar Highway just after jawahar tunnel
Lush Green Kashmir Valley from Titanic View Point ( full zoom)
In Indian state J& K, Actual Kashmir starts from here . (Anantnag District starts from Titanic View point.)
Then after few kms we reached Qazigund, a small town, which is called Gateway to Kashmir where we have to pay the toll of rs. 70 for using this highway and in Qazigund we bought some fruits like red and yellow plums , apples which were very helpful in our yatra to Amarnath.Then again after few kms , we reached Anantnag. From Anantnag, we left Jammu Srinagar highway and diverted to road on Pahalgam. Pahalgam is 43 kms from Anantnag. From Anantnag, Lidder river follows us till Pahalgam then Chandanwadi and then Sheshnaag.
I saw many of these. But frankly speaking till now I have never seen so beautiful river in my life ( though I have not seen them from places like Gaumukh , yamnotri glacier etc.). Lush green clear mineral water flowing surrounded by green mountains having a huge natural gushing sound with village children enjoying bathing in it all the way and freedom from all worries and tension. That was the impression of Lidder river when I first saw it. I want to bath inside it.Hills and rivers fascinate
Lidder river
Lidder is the most beautiful river,
And before reaching the great and beautiful town Pahalgam,
A short legend on Amarnath Yatra which I have heard from many years
In
Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the destroyer, the lord of all five
elements, the ascetic god who meditates on a deer skin. He also wears a
garland made of human heads (Munda Mala). Legend has it that Devi
Parvati (Shiva’s wife) asked him why he wears the garland of heads. To
this he replied that every time Parvati dies, a head gets added to the
garland and hence it continues to grow. Parvathi then wanted to know the
secret of his immortality.
Shiva was reluctant to divulge the secret of his immortality to Parvati, but he had to give in to the incessant pressure exerted by his wife. Therefore they set out to a secluded place where Shiva could divulge the secret of immortality or the Amar Katha to Parvati.
It is believed that Lord Shiva first left behind Nandi (Bull) his vehicle at Pahalgam, hence the real name Bail-Gaon.
It is therefore believed that one must start from Pahalgam ( Bail-Gaon)
onwards as the lord started his yatra here. Next part of the story I
will tell you as I travel along each and every place where Lord Shiva
and Devi Parvati had been visited.Shiva was reluctant to divulge the secret of his immortality to Parvati, but he had to give in to the incessant pressure exerted by his wife. Therefore they set out to a secluded place where Shiva could divulge the secret of immortality or the Amar Katha to Parvati.
Discovery of Holy Cave
The
story narrated by people about the discovery of this holy secret cave
is of shepherd named Buta Malik . He is given the credit of
discovering this secret cave . Story goes like this, that a saint gave
Buta Malik a bag full of coal. On reaching his home when he opened the
bag , to his sheer surprise the bag was full of gold coins . This made
him overwelmed with joy. He ran to thank the Saint . But, what he found
was that the saint had disappeared. Instead, he found the holy cave and
ice shiv lingam there. He announced the discovery of this to the
Villagers. Then onwards this has become the sacred place of pilgrimage .
The ancient epics narrate an other story which goes like this. The valley of Kashmir was under water. It was a big lake. Kashyap Rishi drained the water through number of rivers and streams. In those days Bhrigu Rishi came that way on a visit to the Himalyas. He was the first to have sight of this holy Cave . When people heard of the shivling, then Amarnath for them became Shiva’s abode and a centre of pilgrimage . Since then Lakhs of devotees perform the pilgrimage through tough terrain and avail eternal happiness.
By the main ice shivling’s side are fascinating, two more ice lingams, that of Devi Parvati and of their son, Lord Ganesha .
About an hour later from Anantnag , we reached Pahalgam.The ancient epics narrate an other story which goes like this. The valley of Kashmir was under water. It was a big lake. Kashyap Rishi drained the water through number of rivers and streams. In those days Bhrigu Rishi came that way on a visit to the Himalyas. He was the first to have sight of this holy Cave . When people heard of the shivling, then Amarnath for them became Shiva’s abode and a centre of pilgrimage . Since then Lakhs of devotees perform the pilgrimage through tough terrain and avail eternal happiness.
By the main ice shivling’s side are fascinating, two more ice lingams, that of Devi Parvati and of their son, Lord Ganesha .
Pahalgam Entrance
Glimpse of beautiful Pahalgam – Lidder river,mountains, Pine trees and greenery, houses besides the Lidder river
So
on the way to main bazaar we went to the temple . It was the famous
Gauri Shankar temple of Pahlagam which also comes in its sight seeing
list.
The
vision of the temple was like colorfully lit beautiful hut with a
kalash and gopuram at the entrance. And inside Lord Shiva and Devi
Parvati were present in the form of beautiful shivalinga. Just have a
look below.
Gaurishankar Shivaling
Gaurishankar Temple
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