Aru Valley
After spending our last week in Srinagar, which is a big city, Aru valley seemed like a pleasant change of scenery. Up in the mountains a bit East of Srinagar you find Aru valley. It’s also pretty close to Phalgam, which houses a lot more tourists and travelers than Aru valley.
Aru valley offered some impressive views, even just from our hotel we could look out upon majestic mountain ridges.
After breakfast a local guide was gonna show us one of the famous mountain tops, Green top, so we geared up for a long hike.
The steep incline of the route up the mountain side proved that neither Boye nor I was in tip top shape, but we clawed our way up to the summit.
As we started heading down again Aru village, where we had stayed in the night, could be seen far below us. It seemed positively tiny compared to the massive mountain ridges surrounding it.
Both on our way up and down we passed huts like these pictured. The locals in Aru village call these people that live up in the mountains with their animals for Gypsies. They herded flocks of different animals. Amongst other things lots of goats, which is where they get the wool to make the beautiful and smooth Pashmina shawls that Kashmir is so famous for.
On our way down we went a different route, and ended up walking along a river, in a green and lovely valley tract.
Somewhere along this river (I think the Lidder river) we set up camp and stayed the evening. We had a good time drinking and talking, and wanted to stay here overnight. Unfortunately, late in the evening it started pouring down, so we returned to the hotel. A great hike nonetheless.
The next day it was raining a lot the whole day, and it was also pretty cold, so we didn’t go for another hike.
After that we returned to Srinagar, where Omer had planned a pleasant surprise for us. We went to an all night Sufi concert.
Sufism is a special branch of Islam focusing on mysticism and contact with God through music and poetry. We were brought to the house of one of the most famous Sufi musicians in Kashmir (according to Omer). The music had very emotional tones, and the men sang passionately for hours. Many fascinating local instruments were played. A Sufi concert is quite something to experience.
While I’m out travelling I might not always find time to write, so it might be two weeks till next time I post. Have a nice weekend, and cheers from India!