Page 40 - Seniorstoday March 2022 Issue
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Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Gulmarg – all I can you can find a semblance of some shops and
say is that these three do not even close to this a few small guest houses. What is lacking is
most beautiful part of Kashmir. The roar of more than made up by the friendly people.
mighty Kishan-Ganga River flowing across 20 km from Gurez, the awesome village of
the valley against the back drop of snow- Tilel have log wood houses which perfectly
covered mountains, makes it picture postcard add to the magnificent view of pine tree
perfect. lined mountains. The road from Gurez to
Tilel is being extended upto Drass in Kargil
region and that should really bring in more
accessibility and connectivity.
NARANAG AND THE HIGH ALTITUDE
LAKES
Naranag is one of the lesser visited places that
lies to the north Kashmir travel of Srinagar,
some 50 kms from it. Naranag is one of
the best places, in fact base for trekking or
walking in the mountains. If you are not keen
to trek – a two night’s camp at the beautiful
Gangabal Lake side with walks on the Alpine
flower carpeted meadows is just what the
doctor ordered.
People of Gurez valley are quite different
from the Kashmiris as they are mostly Dards
They speak a different language (Sheena) and
have their ancestral connection with Gilgit
valley which is not too far. Though the facial
features and clothes; traditions and customs
of the Dards are similar to Kashmiri people
of mountain region. Though Gurez is a far-
flung area, the people of the Dard race are very
hardworking. Dardi women are fair and very Naranag temple ruins show that it is a 14th
beautiful, who spend the summer in collecting century old Shiva temple. At the base are the
wood from mountains for the harsh winter; remains of ancient temples built with large
when it snows throughout. This hinders the granite blocks. The architecture styles of
visit to the valley for at least 4–6 months of the these ancient temples were inspired by both
year. foreign elements as well as indigenous temple
The trekking routes from Gurez and Tilel architectural styles. Some of the important
lead upto Gangabal and Sonamarg to its east, temples of Kashmir are found in places
and Drass, Dahanu and Zanskar to its north. like Martand, Avantipur, Pattan, Buniar,
Dawar is the administrative village where Pandrethan and Payar. Most of the temples
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