Page 38 - Seniorstoday March 2022 Issue
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description of heaven as having four rivers as Papashudan Nagor - the sin-cleansing
of wine, honey, milk, and water. Achabal is a spring!
visual treat for the eyes as it is adorned with Another beautiful garden in the near vicinity
one of the best Mughal Gardens in India. As is Verinag - named after Nila Nag, the son of
with other Kashmiri gardens, Achabal is the wise saint, Kashyap Rishi, who reclaimed
located on a hillside, with its water source at the Kashmir valley. This is also the birth place
the top. The typical chahar bagh design had of the mighty Jehlum River. The original
to be altered to fit the site’s topography, as the shape of this spring was changed by the
source of water shifted from the traditional Emperor Jahangir into the traditional Mughal
center of the square garden to the highest octagonal. Very picturesque in its settings
point of the garden. and surrounded by tall Pine trees, Jahangir
planted many Chinars and laid out the garden
with several varieties of colorful flowers and
the water duct going through the flower beds.
Thus this entire circuit covering Daksum,
Sinthan and these beautiful gardens can be a
beautiful 2 or 3 night trip.
Nearby is Kokernag is a garden made by the
local floriculture department. Koker means
‘fowl’ and nag means ‘serpent’. The spring
gushes out of the base of a thickly wooded hill
from where it divides into channels, which
resembles to the claw-foot of a hen, hence
its name. Kokernag is known for its spring DOODHPATHRI
that bubbles at seven places at the foothill Doodhpathri is a beautiful meadow with
and flows in many directions producing an emerald grass that looks like a green carpet.
image of claws of a rooster, a trait to which Just 45 kms from Srinagar, it can be an
the garden owes its name. Several Chinars excellent day trip. The name ‘doodpathri’
make the garden a great place for a relaxing means Valley of Milk and it’s a beautiful place
picnic. Several families come to the garden with grass carpet-like meadows. A flowing
around spring time for a day out. The water river ripples with the soft wind passing
of Kokernag in Kashmir is believed to have through the pine trees of the enclosures of
medicinal and digestive properties. Owing to the valley. Carry your picnic basket along
these properties only the spring is also known and have an excellent outing. Doodhpathri
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