GULMARG OR PATH OF FLOWERS BUT THE THORNS OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY HAS MARRED THIS ’PARADISE’ IT’S A UNION TERRITORY NOW UNDER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Himachal Pradesh or Dev bhumi or Land of Gods gamely bore the brunt of the influx of tourists due to the terrorist activities in Kashmir ( now down due to strict government measures ) and parts of it are still pristine. it’s predominantly Hindu population has been joined by Buddhists from Tibet , Jews from Israel and whoever cares to make their home here .
Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, two popular destinations for tourists but whereas Himachal is flooded with tourists Kashmir, which was the hub of terrorist activities for the last thirty years and now no longer a state but a union territory, is limping back to normalcy. Obviously it’s pristine beauty is still maintained with tourists still chary of visiting an unfriendly state. A hotbed of Islamic diktats, Pakistani infiltration and militant activities Kashmir has been in the cross hairs of two nations and who wants to be a victim to a stray bullet or two. But now that it is a union territory and under the firm grip of the government at the centre, the tourists can look forward to once again visiting the fabled beauty of a land about which once was said ,If there is paradise on earth it is here , it is here , it is here!
KASHMIR
STILL WATERS RUN DEEP . BETAAB VALLEY STREAM IN KASHMIR
GLACIER FED STREAMS
FLOWER FILLED SHIKARAS OR CRAFTS WERE THE MOTIF IN MANY A 60’s &70’s BOLLYWOOD MOVIE
PARI MAHAL OR THE PALACE OF FAIRIES ; PALACES AND FORTS ABOUND INDIA
KASOLJEWS IN KASOL Monastery in Himachal PALACES FORTS BRITISH RAJ RELICS , THESE MONKEYS HAVE SEEN IT ALL !
Himachal , on the other hand, has been welcoming , not only to tourists , but anyone who chooses to make a home here , whether it is the Buddhists who fled their home in Tibet because the Chinese were not so easygoing or affable or the Jews from Israel who fled from their incessant war with the Moslems ! Himachal is a haven of refuge for them and they can lose themselves in the weed capital of the state, Kasol.
But, this influx of people has had its downside ; garbage, litter, traffic jams and overcrowding in towns! No wonder even the monkeys look angry at this intrusion of their space ! And tourists have to find further and further reaches of the mountains to get away from it all .
FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS !😂
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS ONE MORE WAY TO MAKE A LIVINGYOU CAN PLAY DRESS UP IN A HIMACHALI COSTUME AND HOLD A FURRY RABBIT WHOSE FUR IS USED TO MAKE SHAWLS ( DONT’T WORRY, ONLY SHAVED, NOT KILLED HIS JOB IS TO BLOW HIS WHISTLE AND WAVE TO ALL THE PASSERBYS AND CARS FLYING BY TO COME INTO HIS PARLOUR !😳WHY ARE WE DRESSED UP IN THIS BRIDAL FINERY ! SISSU, AFTER THE ATAL TUNNEL , ON THE WAY TO LADAKHTHE OWNER AND CHEF CAN COMPETE WITH ANY MICHELIN CHEFATAL TUNNEL , AT THE HEIGHT OF 10,000 ft, and 9 kms long THE MENU ITEMS ARE AT ODDS WITH IT’S APPEARANCECRISPY CHILLI CHICKEN😋Anjeer ( fig ) & feta cheese Shammi kebab – Feta stuffed fig & apple galette with green apple chutney TROUT ! CHURROS, BEST IN THE WORLDFRESHWATER TROUT FROM THE GLACIAL SPRINGS OF HIMALAYA
This Hindu state, replete with cultures from all over the world has been hospitable to all and sundry and has been paying a price for it, just like Hindustan which has welcomed religions and cultures from all over world , inviting them to share in their resources and good fortune but became a receiving end of betrayal and violence by those who sought to change the very peaceful mindset which gave them shelter!
AN INDIAN SOLDIER GUARDING THE MOST PEACEFUL OF ALL RELIGIONS ! WHAT A CONUNDRUM ! THE DAILY SABRE RATTLING AND FLEXING MUSCLES AT THE INDO- PAK BORDER, WAGAH . HUGE TURNOUT OF AN ENTHUSIATIC CROWD .BUT IT’S NO LONGER ONLY ABOUT PAKISTAN
What a conundrum! It’s like killing the holy cow that is giving you milk and sustenance! Even that the Hindus didn’t mind and did not interfere in your way of life and respected your beliefs and women ! But alas, you didn’t give them the same respect and , I guess, now nature will take its own course . For what one reaps one sows .
HIDIMBA TEMPLE , USUALLY THE HINDUS ALLOW THEIR STRUCTURES TO GO TO SEEDBUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED ( SEE NEXT PHOTO IN THE GALLERY ) FRESHLY PAINTED TEMPLE,OFFERING WATER TO TEMPLE GOERS , USUALLY THE HINDUS DON’T REALLY BOTHER WITH SUCH NICETIES BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED ! THE HOLY COW GIVES MILK AND SUSTENANCE TO A PRIMARILY VEGETARIAN SOCIETY; RED MEAT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR HOT CLIMATE .
A TREE SHADES A SNAKE .STATUE THE PEEPUL TREE AND THE SNAKE ARE BOTH SACRED; IF NOT THE VILLAGERS WOULD HAVE LONG AGO CUT THE TREE FOR FUEL AND KILLED THE SNAKE .
MONKEYS… JUST BECAUSE I LIKE THEM!
THINKING OF THE FUTURE AND IF IT INVOLVES FOOD 😂
MOTHER AND CHILD IN HIMACHAL
AT LEAST MONKEYS ARE CAREFREE IN KASHMIRWAITING TO SNATCH A COOKIE , IN ELGIN HALL, MANALI , HIMACHAL
KASHMIRI MONKEYS
CEREMONY AT THE INDIA – PAKISTAN BORDER IN WAGAH
So plan a trip to India asap before the stone wall comes down on its borders , forever preventing any foreign entity from crossing its borders again ! Very much like the Iron Curtain of Russia or the Great Wall of China .
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