Page 33 - Seniorstoday June2023
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to visitors and tourists. The natural beauty Shopping arcades and malls have come up
of Kashmir was always unmatched but where small shanties used to be. Yes, there
infrastructure and facilities were lacking. are no cinema halls, but hotels have come
Development has been taken up in a big up everywhere catering to all categories of
way. Srinagar is even slated to soon become tourists. Taxis are available to add to the
a Smart City and these days all the main convenience. In earlier days tourists had to
roads are being redone for one of the G20 take the government buses to go to Gulmarg
meetings which is to be held here sometime or Pahalgam in absence of their own
soon. conveyance. Plenty of houseboats are also
Since my last visit a few decades ago a lot available to suit different pockets. Spending
has changed for the better. The countryside at least one night on a houseboat is part
is changing…… among the fields, fancy big of almost everyone’s itinerary. Couple of
bungalows have been built, where there decades ago staying on a houseboat was a
were smaller houses. luxury few could afford and it was limited
to few rich and famous or to foreigners.
Today all the houseboats are well furnished
with walnut wood furniture, Kashmiri
carpets, typical curtains and bed covers
made of hand embroidered patterns in
crewel work, running hot water, bathtubs
and flush toilets. On request, guests can
order a delicious Kashmiri meal and enjoy
it on the boat itself with soulful but modern
Modern countryside Kashmiri music playing in the background.
People seem more educated and aware, A shikara ride on the Dal or Nageen
even the women. Girls are seen riding two Lake is a must. There are enough shikaras
wheelers, driving cars and going to the bank to cater to everyone. On the Dal Lake
independently. Boulevard alone, there are at least 20
shikhara stands and each one properly
numbered and classified. Tourists and their
baggage are transported to their houseboats
in an organised manner, earlier it used to be
Kashmiri Ladies Shikara
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #48 | JUNE 2023 33
