The reader (second from left) and his travel companions all ready to tackle the horse trail at Pahalgam. — Photos: K. ARIARATNAM
It had been more than five years since my wife and I treated ourselves to a well-deserved holiday.
We wanted an experience that blended adventure with a taste of local sights, sounds and culinary delights from the places we would be visiting. So our tour leader, Jason Wong and his wife, Nancy, planned a tour to northern India which included Kashmir, and the country’s Golden Triangle – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
We were joined by a sprightly group of three other couples whom we had not met before and, together with my sister-in-law, they were all in their mid-50s and early-60s. My wife, Suseela Thevi, would be turning 72 this year, while I would be 76.
As often said, there are no strangers, only friends whom we have not met. Upon meeting the other travellers for the first time at the airport, we discovered that we all wanted the same kind of experiences and adventure on our holiday.
We spent a night in Delhi after our arrival, and then got on a morning flight the next day to Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. Although we were forewarned of the low temperatures (5°C!), we were still thrilled about the winter experience.
The Mughals who ruled India for more than 300 years regarded Kashmir as an earthly paradise and visitors today can attest to this. Kashmir surpasses in beauty all that my imagination had anticipated.
Meanwhile, Gulmarg is a renowned tourist destination located 2,650m above sea levels. This is where the young and old can happily frolic in the snow.
All of us in the group threw caution to the wind and dove into action on the snow-covered landscape. We had to reach the foot of the Gulmarg Gondola Station, considered the highest in the world and located amid the backdrop of the majestic snow-capped Himalayan mountains. We had the option of trudging along on foot in the snow, or paying a small fee to get pulled on a sledge by helpers.
When told by our guide that the evergreen Bollywood movie, Bobby (which was shot in the 1960s), and the more recent Tamil hit movie, Roja, were shot in Gulmarg, I was particularly excited. I pictured all the memorable scenes in the two films and felt happy to be there.
Perhaps one of the most challenging activities that our group endured was riding horses in Pahalgam, located 7,200m above sea level. Pahalgam is a two-hour drive from Srinagar, and during our journey we saw plenty of gorgeous panoramic views of the Himalayas – it was indeed a feast for the eyes.
The reader and his wife, Suseela, riding sleds at the Gulmarg Gondola Station.
Once we got to the quaint town, we were ready to tackle the horses. We were not warned prior to getting there that almost every day, some tourists would fall off their horses and injure themselves. However, we had no choice but to do it as it was the best way to explore Pahalgam.
The full trail ran from Pahalgam to Baisaran, then to Dabyan Valley and finally to Kashmir Valley. As we were all first-time horse riders, we decided to err on the side of caution and explored Baisaran Valley only.
Riding a horse and controlling your balance on one definitely takes a lot of skill. The surface somehow felt unusual, too. We were guided by a horse trainer, but soon the group started to break away and before we knew it, we were all riding along by ourselves on the trail.
The whole experience took about three hours to complete, and we stopped every now and then to take photos of the place, as well as to have some coffee and snacks. It was a fun day, but it also felt like a never-ending ride!
My wife and I quietly chanted our “reach home safely” mantras as we gently handled the reins of our horses, with the trainer cajoling and nudging the animal along.
The trainer kept our spirits high by telling us not to worry as the horses knew how to traverse the difficult and muddy terrain. This boosted our confidence and helped us overcome the challenging terrain which had many twists and turns, as well as steep inclines and sharp bends.
When we finally and safely reached the stables, all 11 of us gently dismounted from our four-hoofed friends and thanked not just the trainer but the horses, too.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
