Kashmir
I think the Kashmir Valley is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is something very magical about it. Staying on a houseboat is a lovely way to while away a few days. The Nagin Lake is quieter than the busier Dal Lake. If you ever get the chance to go to Srinigar you should stay on the Houseboat Moonshine. The family is lovely and welcoming and the mother is a great cook. Kashmir is still caught in a political tug-of-war between India and Pakistan and trouble does flair up so it’s worth checking on the political situation before travel.
Reflection, Nagin Lake, Kashmir
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Houses on Nagin Lake, Kashmir
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Houseboats on the Jhelum River, Kashmir
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Reflection on Nagin Lake, Kashmir
Salman Rushdie wrote his children’s book Haroun and the Sea of Stories set in a magical place which is based on Kashmir.
“He knew what he knew: that the real world was full of magic, so magical worlds could easily be real.”
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
This is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflection
Sue Ann's Balcony 
Those houseboats look quaint, Sueann. I’ve been on one in Kerala once and it was fun.
I think the ones in Kerala move around, whereas these are stationary so you have to paddle around on shikaras to get anywhere.
Yes they do move around, Sueann…Rushdie was right…magical place:) Pity they’re squabbling over it. Enjoyed the post big time.
Thanks. You should go there and check it out.
yikes…heavens no…extradition!!! 🙂 lol complications, complications 🙂 Now it’s the travel channel and blogs like yours, after I get to where I’m finally going 🙂
I think it’s writing your autobiography once you find a home surely?
Sueann, who in their right mind’s will for out 10$ to buy a book about me ? 😉 No…this ride has been too crazy. I’d rather write fiction…definitely some kind of writing or else I’ll go nuts. P.s – Love the pics and your narratives
Superb. There was real reverie in your pictures. Thanks!
Thanks for your comment!
Sueann – now living in Kerala I one day would love to go to Kashmir – everybody tells me how beautiful it is, but alas………
And yes, our houseboats move around in their sedate pace through the backwaters and across the lakes. Ideal for honeymooners. Ciao Carina
Thanks for your comment Carina. Hopefully there will be a peaceful resolution some day
yes
amazing pictures! Great place to be… No mistake why we Indians call in Heaven on earth 🙂
Well named! Thx
So are you in India for a tour or had been to India in the past?
We lived in Hyderabad for 6 months & went to Kashmir for a (cooler!) holiday for 2 weeks.
That’s cool! Do you know something? I am from Hyderabad too 🙂
Ha ha. We were living in Banjara Hills. I really liked it. Friendly people, interesting history & i loved visiting Golconda Fort. Are you still there?
I am! Currently working at Hitech City and living in Secunderabad 🙂
Ah ha! Good shopping in Secunderabad! Nice to know you.
Cheers!
Had a plan of visiting Australia for work (couple of months ago) but it inevitably got delayed by 9 months 😦
Hope to visit Sydney in March 2013! 🙂
Well be sure and email me when you come and I will show you Bondi
That’s great Sue… Much appreciated! 🙂
Great pictures, that to from Kashmir. I visited Kashmir few yrs back but missed the Nagin Lake.
Thanks!
Welcome!
Kashmir Valley is so beautiful. Do these house boats move around often to another river location? Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos!
No. they stay where they are. The British built them on the water because they weren’t allowed to own land. Everyone paddles around in shikaras which are little wooden boats to get from place to place.
Lovely post…Kashmir has always appealed to me but haven’t been yet…
Those little houseboats are cool – and what an experience to live in such an exotic place – what did you all do there – if you dont mind me asking? Side note: is the red coral situation a little freaky?
We were doing volunteer work for a year – my husband worked for Operation Eyesight (Canadian) and I did a volunteer project with the International School there.
The red algae is apparently harmless and a natural phenomenon and has mainly moved off the beaches near us. Very strange looking though. We just went to a different beach the days it was at Bondi.
I have pictures of these house boats from our last years trip to Kashmir. They are all so beautiful to look at!! lovely pictures you have here!!
Ah! Which houseboat did you stay on?
Hi I have nominated you for Beautiful Blogger Award Congratulations!
I hope you”ll enjoy it Have a look on my post!!!
http://relaxingcooking.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/the-world-is-full-of-magic/
Cheers Anto
Huge thank you. I will!
These are really magical pics, Sue Ann. Even the very name Kashmir has always sounded to me, so mesmerising.
I agree. Kashmir and Zanzibar always sounded like the most exotic and faraway places to me. Neither one let me down when I actually got there.
Love these photos. I’ve always heard about Kashmir and have dreamt of visiting. Definitely one of those far-off mysterious places. Thanks for sharing some photos about this place of mystery to me. It looks like as beautiful as I’ve always imagined it.
Thanks for your comment! I hope you make it there someday
Thank you so much for sharing all your pictures and articles.
It’s my pleasure.
wonderful houseboats!
I absolutely loved this challenge…so many ways to get reflections! Beautiful entries, Sue!! =)
Thank you!
I love these photos… the settings, the boats… beautiful.
Thanks for your comment!
Wow, beautiful images Kashmir, I love the lush vegetation! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rohan.
It’s a beautiful place. Thanks!
Edit: Images *OF Kashmir 😉
Almost got there. Wanted to but only got as far as Kathmandu. I might not ever get there so it is great to know how wonderful it would have been in words and pictures.
Oh you never know! Thanks for your comment.