10 Days of Epic Freedom: Our Journey Through the Valleys of Kashmir

This was a trip my friend and I had been planning for months. It was not just about seeing Kashmir but experiencing it-chasing the thrill, finding the best local food, and collecting stories that one would be telling for years. We landed in Srinagar, ready for 10 days of freedom and breathtaking beauty.

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Chapter 1: The Floating Showdown on Dal Lake (Srinagar)

Our trip officially began the moment we stepped onto our houseboat on Dal Lake. It was beautiful, classic Kashmiri luxury, but the real fun started on the water.

We hired a Shikara—the little Kashmiri gondola—for a sunset ride through the floating gardens and markets. It was peaceful, until the competitive spirit kicked in.

The Great Saffron Bargain Race

A Shikara vendor pulled up selling beautifully packed saffron. My friend is always the haggler; he immediately challenged me: “Let us see who buys the best-looking box of saffron with the largest discount first!”

The next five minutes were pure chaos. We were hollering prices across the two boats, trying to outbid each other, with the poor vendors utterly confused but highly amused. I managed to get a great deal but realized later that my friend had bought a much larger and probably fake box to just ‘win’ the race. We collapsed in laughter back on the houseboat as the evening drew to a close, our realization being that the only thing better than the view of the sunset was the ridiculousness of our friendship.

Chapter 2: Lost in the Whiteout (Gulmarg)

Our next stop was Gulmarg, popularly known as the Meadow of Flowers, and there was only one reason for this visit: the Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world.

We easily made it to the first phase, which had breathtaking views of the pine forests. But we were feeling adventurous, so we bought tickets for Phase 2, which takes you up to nearly 14,000 feet.

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The Thrill of the Complete Whiteout

As we began our ascent in the Gondola cabin toward the summit, the weather took a dramatic turn. Halfway up, we were completely enveloped in a blinding fog-a total whiteout. Visibility dropped to zero, and the car started swinging slightly in the wind. We went from being cocky adventurers to suddenly gripping the railings.

My friend, trying to lighten the mood, started singing a scary Bollywood song about being lost in the mountains. We were laughing nervously for a minute, and just as suddenly, we burst above the clouds. It was one of those moments on this trip that left my mouth hanging: below us, a sea of white clouds, and above, crisp blue sky and fresh snow. The temporary terror made the view at the summit ten times more rewarding. It was a perfect metaphor for our friendship: a little bit of fear, a lot of laughter, and reaching the top together.

Chapter 3: The “Trekker, Not Rider” Disaster (Pahalgam)

Pahalgam was the serene highlight, famous for the Lidder River and stunning valleys like Betaab Valley. Hiring a pony or horse is common to explore inner valleys.

We are more walkers than riders, but our guides insisted that the horse was the only way up the steep slopes.

The Runaway Mountain Horse

Our two horses, named ‘Raja’ and ‘Sultan,’ were supposed to be led by their guides. We had barely started when the guide leading Sultan (my friend’s horse) got distracted talking to another guide. Sensing freedom, Sultan decided he was done with the slow pace.

My friend’s horse suddenly bolted—not a full gallop, but a determined, terrifying, fast trot down a narrow, rocky path! My friend, completely unprepared, was yelling, “Sultan! SULTAN! Who is Sultan?!” as he held on for dear life. The guide came sprinting after them. When they finally stopped, my friend collapsed off the horse, laughing so hard he was crying. He insisted he had successfully auditioned for a cowboy movie. For the rest of Pahalgam, we stuck to walking, realizing our mountain ‘masti’ was best kept on solid ground!

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The Farewell to Paradise

We had our last two days back in Srinagar, relishing the authentic Kashmiri Wazwan cuisine and making our last buys in souvenir shops. The last 10 days were not just a holiday but a reset button. We returned from Kashmir with our bags full of walnuts and saffron and our hearts full of stories shared: chasing the Shikara vendors, surviving the mountain whiteout, and the horse named Sultan. It was, without doubt, one of those trips for the history books.