A peek into "Piku"

By Sukanya

"Piku" as the name suggests has a typical Bengali backdrop that
depicts the relationship between an ageing father and his young
independent daughter.

Director Shoojit Sircar has cleverly woven constipation, which is
openly discussed in most house holds but never publicly, into the
fabric of the story that it flows along with the narration.

 If you have seen the movie you will agree that there are a lot of
scenes and dialogues in the movie that we can identify ourselves with.

Deepika Padukone has come a long way from her debut film "Om Shanti
Om" and has matured as an actress and Piku will definitely earn her
accolades. Her chemistry with actor Irfan Khan was a treat for the
audience even thought there were no blatant song and dance routine and
romantic dialogues. The communication between them through their eyes
reminded me of yesteryear actors like Ashok Kumar and Gurudutt.

As always Irfan Khan and Amitabh Bachchan held their characters well.
Even though Mr Bachchan went over board at times the tight script and
clever direction checked the film from becoming unnaturally loud.

The movie, which is part road film, was very Indian and a must see.

West bound !!!

By Sukanya

Lured by the television advertisements, where Mr Amitabh Bachchan        
invites travellers to spend some time in Gujarat to enjoy its
culture, music, temples and the forests, we decided to make a trip to
the state as a family vacation.

We did a lot of research and jointly decided on Gir, Somnath,
Porbandar and Dwaraka route as it will fulfill my mom’s religious
quotient and also take care of the adventurer in us with a bit of
history thrown in between.

We were advised to book online the jungle safari in Gir, a must for
all, as the queue at the booking counter at the forest reserve
stretches for miles and begins one night before the safari.

We began our journey from Mumbai to Rajkot, from there we booked a
taxi for the entire journey.

The taxi driver, as most in Rajkot, doubled up as our tourist guide as
well. He entertained us with local stories, public woes, political
situation and took us to places which we even didn’t know about. He
stopped at a local hotel serving local snack “gathia”, a very popular
snack made of gram flour, consumed with fried green chillies. It was
very hot literally and very yum too.

Constructed on the banks of the Arabian Sea, Somnath temple was very
serene and beautiful. After the darshan we lingered on there enjoying the
amazing view and the cool soothing sea breeze. There is also a museum
in the premises that tell the story of Somnath, one of the Jyotirlings.
The Museum is very informative and a must for all visitors.

The light and sound show on Somnath temple was simply amazing and also
a must for all.

Just outside the main temple premises there is Old Somnath temple
(Ahilyabai Holkar Mandir), which was reconstructed by the warrior
queen of Indore, in keeping with the region's tradition of worshipping Lord
Shiva.

After an early night, next day we started towards Gir forest
reserve, the only sanctuary in India for Asiatic lions.

Asiatic lions

As we had booked an afternoon safari and had a lot of time in hand as it
takes one hour from Somnath to the reserve forest, our driver took us
to a nearby crocodile zoo and a museum. After a leisurely lunch we
were charged up to face the king of the forests.

Luck was in our favour as there was a killing the night before and a
lion with his two lionesses was lazing in our route. It was an
unbelievable experience I cannot describe in words. When our jeep went
near, the curious lion got up and walked a few feet towards us and
flopped down again, suddenly losing interest on his visitors.

Everyone in the jeep held their breathe, admiring the royal mane and
gait, as if trying to freeze in that moment. It was the highlight of
our trip. On the forest we had spotted spotted deer, peacocks,
sambhar deer and many birds.

After the wonderful beginning, we started towards Dwaraka, the scenic
coastal road was a treat to our eyes. We took a break to just enjoy
the sea view and had green coconut water.

Then we reached Porbandar, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. His home
has been turned into a museum where books, family photographs, letters,
some clothes and furniture are well preserved. You will feel the positive
energy and a sense of calm in the house. There is also Sudama temple
in the city, if you are religious.

After Porbandar, we finally reached Dwaraka, one of the char dhams
mentioned in the Hindu religion. After an hour of rest, we headed
towards Bhet Dwaraka, an island mainly inhabited with fishermen
community. On the way there is a temple dedicated to Rukmini, Lord Krishna’s
first wife.

We went to Bhet Dwaraka on a boat, the journey was very scenic with
seagulls following every boat begging for food. People threw chips and
other dry snacks which the birds caught mid air. However, the island
was a bit disappointing with just a temple of Lord Krishna. The temple
was not beautiful or architecturally significant. Besides, there
was nothing in the island except the temple.

sunset on our way back from Bhet Dwaraka to Dwaraka

While coming back from Bhet Dwaraka our driver took a different route
and stopped at Nageshwar temple, the second Jyotirling in the state.

When we went inside the temple the evening it was time for aarti. We
saw the rituals of the aarti, it was an amazing experience in itself.

After that we came back to Dwaraka and went to the Dwaraka temple and
went for darshan. The black idol of Lord Krishna was looking beautiful
glittering with jewels made of gold and diamond.

Tired, we returned to our hotel and called it a day.

Next day we again visited the Dwaraka temple and witnessed the pandas
dressing the beautiful idol with yellow cloth and jewellery, a
beautiful sight.

After collecting dry prasad, we headed for Rajkot and our return
journey to Mumbai. On the way there were many more temples that one
can visit or give a miss depending on the mood.


While coming back I thought the Gujarat tourism was not exaggerating
anything in their promotional advertisement, we had a wonderful
experience and came to the conclusion that the state was really worth
a visit.
--

Kuchesar Mud Fort – A Picnic

Malvi

It was a day when we re-lived our childhood days of going on a picnic with outdoor games, food, a long drive and happy banter with friend and family. With an outdoor excursion in mind I searched the net for a place at driving distance from Delhi for  same day return. I came across this quaint Mud Fort in Bulandshahar, UP around 80-90 kms from Delhi, which had been converted into a resort with facilities available for a stay as well as a day tour. We decided to drive there on a Saturday with friends and family.

One has to pre-book even for a day tour online and an advance can be paid through credit card to book your visit. It took us around two hours to reach the fort even though we started a bit late from the time we had decided. The fort is tucked away from the highway with a narrow approach road which opens up into a broad road lined by sugarcane fields. The Fort is seven km off highway NH 24 between Hapur and Garhmukteshwar, 

Kuchesar Mud Fort

At the entry the booking details have to be confirmed and then you can go inside the gates into the sweeping driveway where there is adequate parking facility. The Gardens in front of the main entry of the fort are well kempt and also have a small swimming pool in tow. All needs for recreation have been looked into with a badminton court, Table tennis room, caroom and other board games are available.

For people wanting to stay there for a day or two there are well refurbished rooms with historic names with the walls showcasing the history of the Fort. The main entry after the welcome desk opens into a courtyard with the Dining hall at one end the rooms on two floors at the other.

As we had started early, we first thronged the Dining Hall and had some breakfast then embarked on our exploration of the fort.

A short tour of the place brings you a vivid picture of the history of the Fort which was brought into the Ajit Singh family’s possession in the eighteenth century when the Mughal king Najib-ud-Daula bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bhahadur and the Jagir of Kuchesar comprised 365 villages. The Fort was however, lost in 1760s but was recaptured by the Jat rulers in 1780s and remained in the family since then and was granted lease by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam in 1790 and then by the British in 1807. This fort was built with seven turrets as an anti cannon attack from Britishers. Thereafter, structures were added to the fort which reveals different architectural influences built in different phases.

My mom, my friends Sunandita & Hamari and I had few interesting games of carom and also played TT a bit. With the weather turning into a pleasant one we thought some outdoor games would be good so we played football (which we had brought along with us) and also cricket which my hubby enjoyed a lot and relived his childhood street cricket days. Even my mum was game and played cricket n football with us in the well kept front gardens of the Fort.

It was a fun day which all of us enjoyed and it immensely reduced our job stress as well. The games provided us a good workout after which we relaxed and cooled our feet in the swimming pool.

However, the service and food preparation are a bit slow and you should be prepared to wait a while if you are hungry. After a hearty lunch we relaxed under a large banyan tree which also had a rope swing. 

As a bout of laziness hit us, Sunandita suggested we play ‘Atlas’ -it is an ‘antakshri’ of country names. An amusing group game which also gave are brains a little exercise. We all were reluctant to get up from our cane chairs and leave the fort at the end of the day but as a long drive was ahead us, we decided to call it a day and settled our bills. 

As we drove off saying goodbye to the Fort, I remembered an old song….’mein Zindagi ka Saath  Nibhata Chala gaya, Har fikre ko Dhuai mein Udata chala gaya’ !!

Goa diaries: three girls on a quest for adventure sports

Starting with a reunion of sorts, our Goa trip was as refreshing as a dip in the cool Arabian Sea on a windy day. After suffering three months of bitter cold in Delhi, Sunandita and I were relieved to feel the balmy air of the sea on our pale faces, which hit us as soon as we got out of the plane at Goa's Dabolim Airport.

Sukanya joined us from Mumbai on the airport.We three friends rejoiced with loud banter, hugging and giggling as we were together after almost an year. A pre-paid taxi from the airport whisked us away towards are vacation sanctuary, provided to us by Mr and Mrs Mayenkar at their home-cum-guest house.

We reached well after the sunset, Mrs. Mayenkar came with a torch to light our way and to take us from the main road to her home surrounded by green coastal trees, which was without any streetlights.

Once into the home we were shown our small apartment complete with a kitchen, a sitting area with a TV and bedroom -- our abode for the week long holiday.

Excited to hit the beach, we freshened up hurriedly and went walking from our apartment towards the sea side. Once we reached Calangute beach (closest to our guest house) the smooth balmy air cooled us down as we sat down in cane chairs facing the sea with only candles encased in glass jars lighting the darkened shore.

Catching up on each others' lives in the past year and reminisced our years together while working for a news agency in Delhi, which included some really exciting trips.

That night, although we had a sumptuous meal of fresh pomfret, fried rice and fish curry with breezers of different flavors, it burned a hole in our pockets as the pomfret alone cost us Rs 600.

We pulled up our socks and resolved to be careful in order to avoid any problems regarding finances. To keep it simple we decided to create pool fund assigning Sunandita as the official accountant for the trip.

We talked well into the night, including our agenda for next the day. The agenda was the water sports, which all tourists enjoy on their trip to Goa.So the next morning, we hit the beach after breakfast and found a relatively secluded patch on the beach to have some fun in the sea. We were suddenly invaded by host of hawkers selling fresh pineapple slices, ice creams etc.

After our bath we decided to rest on the sun beds with umbrellas laid out by the numerous shacks lining the beach side. One of the shack boy (wearing a cowboy hat) arranged a round of water sports for us.

First was the plastic banana raft ride which is pulled by a motor boat. Looking easy, 

we three decided to try it out. In a banana ride, the riders have to climb the highly unstable giant plastic banana bobbing up and down with the waves and then maintain are balances as the motor boat pulls the banana at a speed which sends the banana flying over the waves (and don't ask where the riders would be flying by then).

We clambered on the banana with a great effort and help from the boys managing the sport, but as soon as the motor boat started we three were clutching on the handles with all our might though it was not enough to keep the banana from bending sideways and dunking the three of us into the sea.

With my short height I was the worst sufferer and drank a barrel of yucky salty water. I was yanked up from the water with one of the boys pulling my lifejacket, while Sunandita and Sukanya suffered a similar fate.

We once again climbed the banana with the crew promising us that this time we won't topple, but yet again I was sent flying into the water as huge waves rocked our dear banana.

I was so irritated with my horrific ride and I wondered who likes such kinda sports???

In my anger which arose within me due to the dunking which my ego got, I cut my ride short and came to the beach, while Sukanya and Sunandita went for another try, this one was successful and they managed to go way ahead into the sea sitting on the huge plastic banana. Thinking about it now, it really was a funny experience!!!

Then we went for para-sailing for which we were taken to a boat deep in the sea, where we went up into the air by a parachute and after a stipulated time are rolled back into the boat. It is an amazing experience of hanging in the air above the vast sea –it made me feel like I was flying above the sea like a wide winged bird.

Para-sailing

You can take a dip in the sea, when the chute is rolled back into the boat, but at an extra cost of course. We decided against it as getting dunked again did not appeal.

We came back hungry and dying of thirst as it was nearly late afternoon. After a much needed sea-food lunch and refreshing drinks we were too tired to move from our sun beds.  The sea and balmy air made us all drowsy and stress-relieved us all.

As we already had paid the money in advance, so we went for the scooter ride. It was a refreshing ride with the water sprays and the thrilling experience of riding over water.

We stayed on the beach till the sunset which was amazing with the sky turning pink in colour. Weary and bone tired  from all the walking, bathing and water sports we decided to head back for a cool shower at our guest house  and return to the beach for candle-lit dinner in one of the shacks that offered varieties of Continental, Chinese and Goan cuisine with light music.

-  Malvi 

Is Diwali losing its glow or it’s just me overreacting ??

By Malvi

If the traffic snarls are anything to go by, the Diwali fever has gripped the city. And all the popular and not so popular market places are flooded with Chinese lights, painted diyas, candles, colorful Lakshmi - Ganesh idols and all the Diwali paraphernalia.

Yesterday I finally decided to brave the triple C’s (Congested, Crowded & Clogged up) streets and markets to do my customary Diwali shopping of Diyas and other decorations for my humble dwelling. The Sarojini Nagar market is one of the major popular market places in festival times so I decided to begin there.

 But my enthusiasm got a hit as I (driving my ‘chottu’ car) was stuck in the traffic jam for more than an hour to reach Sarojini market which is just 10 minutes away from my office. The road blocks put up by the police to manage the heavy traffic (and also I think to ward off terrorist /bomb threats) were doing just the opposite with the roads clogged with thousands of cars.

After about an hour and half, I finally reached the marketplace with my fast depleting “festive enthusiasm” in tow. I plunged into the sea of people and started to look for the things I was planning to buy. After a hasty selection of whatever caught my fancy I battled the crowd and haggled (that’s very important!! ) with the vendors and managed to fill my shopping bags with a score of things whose importance dies out along with the drying out of oil in the last batch diyas on Diwali night.

The mad rush and fervour of the crowd was unimaginable in the market place with people forgetting about the teachings of Lord Rama! (for whom the festival Diwali is celebrated).  I was cursing myself mentally to have ventured to this place and by the end of my short shopping venture I felt like I had won a wrestling match.  We talk about ‘population explosion’ like a usual thing but the overcrowded markets in Diwali time made me realise what it actually is.

Reaching home after what seemed like and actually was …5 hours to be precise …my bravado subsided into the darkest corner of my heart with a wish to never come out of the place.

In the night, I questioned myself --- don’t the jazzy lights seem too bright and false, don’t the fire crackers bombard your ear drums, does'nt the smoke make you breathe heavily and the sweets too contaminated to eat? After all this what about the holy thoughts and worship which gave birth to this festival, is anybody thinking about that??

The Diwali glow seems to have been practically robbed by consumerism, over population and also 'vehicle explosion' in the country!!

By the way, Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali !! J

Marathi novel "Shala" - a review

Ambika

Shala. School. Once you leave its precincts, you long for its familiar comfort, angst and some robust rib-tickling fun. I was quite terrified at the prospect of meeting my old school friends at a reunion. And,why not? They have seen me in my worst and to a lesser extent best form. Warts, blemishes, scars, heart aches, heart breaks and failures...they know it all. And, the reunion did remind me that they still remember a few episodes which I had forgotten. Put together, school and the students have an elephantine memory!

And, so every time I need to reassure myself that 'all izzzz well' in my world, I turn to Shala – a novel written in Marathi by Milind Bokil. 

Maybe you have also read that the movie based on the novel fetched National Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.

The movie has its moments, but I prefer reading the book. It brings back memories of the fumbling, bumbling innocence, the worldly-wise friends, teachers who drone on and on on (like duracell batteries), and that one special person who makes the brick and mortar building so inviting.

It's a tale of four friends, from a town/village located on the railway line connecting its denizens to Mumbai. It's set in 70s, right during the Emergency period. And, so you can go right back to your childhood (I wasn't born in the 70s, but I know the allure of playing chess and carom with your neighbours, when TV was a rarity).

Looking back it seems that life was so peaceful. But, was it really? There was tumult caused by monster-teachers (I do apologise, but some teachers do instil fear in students), fear of failure, fear of losing out on that special person and so many irritants that you wish to grow up and fork out your own path.

In these tumult and angst filled years, you also forge a deep and abiding friendship. For Shala's protagonist Joshi, he has his mama (uncle) as his friend, philosopher and guide. Young, suave, but level-headed he keeps his nephew on the straight and narrow path. And, fathers too can be surprisingly receptive about the going-ons in the school.

It's not really a feel-good book, but, yes, it does offer you a chance to look back on your school years and laugh at the private miseries that had threatened happiness and unleashed a flood of tears. It lets you become a teenager again, to commit mistakes and set them right and hope for a thriving future.

Swimming against the tide !!

Megha Manchanda

The inhibition, apprehension, nervous energy before starting something new is inevitable.  Everyone’s a bundle of nerves before venturing into a new territory and so was I when I went to take my very first swimming lesson. It all started with my friend Jaya telling me that she had learnt swimming – a skill she really wanted to acquire from a long time.

This propelled me to start my “R&D process” to search for a sports center near my workplace that also complemented my office timings. The YMCA sports center was zeroed in, which is just a stone’s throw away from my centrally located workplace. I also managed to cajole two other of my friends to enroll for the swimming classes with me.

Now the new task before us was the purchase of swimming gear (read costume, cap, goggles, water-proof cream etc.). So after some shop hopping and bargaining for the right (cost-effective) price (after all we Indians love haggling!!)  we managed to get the “right” kind of swimsuits  (suitable for Indian sensibilities… Phew!!)  for all of us.

And then came the D-Day (the first day of our class) and we all reached the sports complex bang on time for our first lesson. We dressed up (pun unintended) for the class, (of course after applying a couple of coats of the water-proof anti-tan lotion) and reached the pool. To our dismay, we realized being in our late twenties we were the “oldies” in a class full of 8-12 year olds.

Moreover, thanks to the summer vacations the pool was filled more with I, II and III graders than water (of course, pun intended!!!!). As I was trying to acclimatize myself with the water my foot slipped and I wobbled a little inside the water. And before I could get up I heard a 10-year old scream “Didi!!! Daro matt dooboge nahi, shallow hai” (don’t be scared you won’t drown the water’s shallow).

Till date this sentence resonates in my ears when I try to remember my first swimming class. Also, what I cannot forget is that it took me as long as 40 minutes to learn the simple flotation lesson on that very first day.

The recurring thought in my mind till the class lasted – Oh damn! I wish I had learnt this way back in school and by now I would have been a “pro” (I AM SURE!!!).

I must confess it is really embarrassing to be singled out in a class full of wacky (also read unruly, boisterous and wicked) kids and told by your coach that you should be a little more ‘serious’ in the class. While the pep talk was on the bell rang, declaring the end of the hour long class. Thankfully cutting short those embarrassing moments for me !!.

But while coming out from the pool, I promised myself that I will not leave this place without learning the sport. After nearly 20 classes I finally achieved what I had targeted. Wow…it still gives me a high to think about this (my successful achievement of a personal milestone !!)

When I look back and think about my first swimming class I can only say – “there’s always a first time and it’s never too late to learn something.” :)    

 Megha is a guest blogger for "Hangout with Coffee"

Fine dining at Fio, Garden of Five Senses!

- By Malvi

Having discovered Fio Restaurant from my internet search on food places in South Delhi, I decided to try it out with my friends for lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The place is near to Saket metro station and there is a narrow road just next to the metro station which leads up to the Garden of Five Senses. The historic monument of "Kila Rai Pithoura" – the first city of Delhi is also at the entry of this approach road to the Garden.

The restaurant is inside the Garden of Five Senses premise so you have to buy the tickets for the garden to go to the restaurant.

The open air ambience of the restaurant appealed to me as we entered the premise. There is a decent sitting capacity in the open air and also inside the air conditioned enclosure. The decor is ethnic with a big Gujarati swing in one corner and stone benches with cushions for sitting in another. There is also the traditional table and chair sitting with pedestal fans all around to keep off the flies and mosquitoes.

 Although we had gone in the afternoon, the decor of lamps and hanging lights meant the place would be really coming alive in the evening for a cosy and romantic dinner for a couple and even for a small group of friends.

Tablet Menus !!

As it was really humid that day we decided to sit inside the AC enclosure. We sat in a cosy corner and the waiter bought us our menus. Surprise ...the menus are actually tablets with details of the food and beverages served with pictures of the dishes.

The menu includes Indian, Continental and Italian dishes with a decent drinks collection. We decided to order a chicken appetizer ‘pollo padella di most’ and for the main dish ‘Kosha murg’ with some butter garlic nans and steamed rice.The preparations were really delicious and stunned my taste buds :). 

Baked Blueberry Cheese Cake

For dessert, we ordered the ‘baked blueberry cheese cake’, which was looking really tempting in my tablet menu.

The amazing desert rounded up our meal but we lingered on to just absorb the nice ambiance of the place. A meal of two would cost you around Rs 2000/- but the place and food does justice to the cost.

After the hearty meal we decided to walk off some calories in the Garden of Five Senses with its well kept gardens replete with flowers and bushes. The Garden is a favorite of lovebirds too (i am talking about the human ones ;))  !!

So all in all, in my view it's a  must visit food place to celebrate your special day with close friends !

Reading books: A lost joie de vivre

-By Bipasha

Ever since my childhood, I remember books being an essential component in everyday conversations - be it be, aunties chatting over tea and biscuits or relatives getting together on special occasions or even my mum and dad catching up with each in midst of their everyday chores. My early memories of books were when the ever-generous maasis, aunties and uncles would gift me colorful story books and easy to read encyclopedias on their numerous visits and my birthdays! During each and every transfer order that my dad used to bring home, he used to also add one more packing carton for the new books in the collection. The rustlings of the old tattered pages while my mother sipping her morning cup of tea, the occasional dusting of the books, the memories associated with each book and my OCD of encasing each new acquisition of mine in cellophane are one of the many cherished occurrences of my life. However, in today’s fast paced world interspersed with casting ‘phrasey’ opinions on social media and BBMs, the romance of writing and reading have long gone.

Books were supposed to be one of the essential building blocks of a childhood instilling (whether knowingly or unknowingly) the virtues of patience, concentration and mnemonics. But in today’s technology-driven world, reading books have become passe. Video games, chats, twittering, FBing and BBming have taken over. Apparently social media usage among children expand their social horizons (as some of my friends have argued with me - but I doubt!) as opposed to reading a book in a corner, but my sense is that too much of the need for daily social acceptance has robbed us (not only the children) of spending time with our own selves and feeling comfortable with what we are. In fact, a recent research revealed that usage of excessive social media increases our sense of loneliness

(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2419419/All-lonely-Facebook-friends-Study-shows-social-media-makes-MORE-lonely-unhappy-LESS-sociable.html)

We are constantly harangued by the need to fit in, gain approvals and cast opinions (again to get inroads into preferred cliques) that unknowingly creates an invisible stress around us. On the other hand, reading books not only enriches our repository of knowledge but also can bring about revolutionary changes in a person’s outlook. It increases our capacity to think, understand and imbibe new linguistic skills. And for children, it is important that they read books to acquire a good vocabulary, instill self confidence in writing and oration and hone creativity. And if these are not reasons enough for you to embrace the goodness of reading books, atleast keep in mind that ‘ a book is your best friend who accepts you for what you are and never asks you what you could be!’ 

Kash Kashmir!!!!

By Malvi & Bipasha

Unplanned and spontaneous trips have always been my cuppa of tea! So, one such spontaneous trip to ‘Paradise on Earth’ - Srinagar came as a breath of fresh air to my hubby and me who lead hectic 9-5 sorta lifestyles in Delhi. As opposed to serpentine traffic jams in the capital, we had a blissful flight over the snow clad mountains ranges to land in the beautiful valley of Kashmir. We got out to a very sunny morning with the temperature in its 20s.But believe me, it was much more magical (and romantic :)) than braving the smoggy cold in Delhi. So, for all u anti-winter kinds, Kashmir has a very endearing chill in the wind!

With the vast number of hotels available at Srinagar one can book at any of them depending upon your budget. We were booked at a hotel which was at the banks of river Jhelum and on the Bund Road. The Bund Road is known for the leisurely walks around the jhelum river and small tea stalls offering hot tea with double roti (bread pieces) .And though I am not big on street food, the magic in the air made me say ‘go to hell’ to all my weight management issues and hygiene concerns. We sipped chai and ate double roti with much fanfare!!!!! Of course, there are some pish-posh restaurants also in the city where they serve the traditional Kashmiri cuisines. One of the popular and old restaurants is ‘Ahdoos’ which offers exotic and mouth watering Kashmiri dishes like Gushtava, Kebabs, Kashmiri Yakhni, etc. The list is never ending with the more than 30 types of only-mutton dishes.

We were invited to a friend’s place for dinner where the food was so much that I couldn't eat all of it but whatever I tasted seemed heavenly.

After putting our stuff in the hotel, we went to the famous Dal Lake to enjoy a Shikara ride. Though the lake is not that clean as lakes in "Paradise" should be, the whole scenery of green mountains in the backdrop and the vast expanse of the water body surrounded by tall Chinar trees makes it really worthwhile.

A full hour's ride in the Dal Lake is a must to absorb the calm and quite into oneself and relax fully and prepare for this journey into the paradise. Believe me I was reminded of the famous ‘Kashmir ki kali’ song during the ride - and the experience made me feel like one too! An interesting sight is the group of four chinar trees growing serenely in the middle of the Dal lake, They are standing tall in the water itself..!! 

As the Shikara moves on prodded by the Shikara driver (don't know what else to call him) with his oars (heart shaped at the end), a small city of people living on house boasts greet us. These are actually hotels/houses on water in the shape of boats but they are stationary in the water. Some are really beautiful with wooden carvings on their exterior walls and chandeliers inside. The origin of houseboats seems to have begun in the 1800s when the king of Kashmir forbade outsiders from owning land in Kashmir.

The ride took us close to the lotuses blossoming in the lake and also the side where locals grow vegetables etc on the land protruding between the lake waters.

After experiencing the effervescent romance of the evergreen Shammi Kapoor movies in the 60s when all romantic songs were shot in the valley (and more so on the Dal Lake), I thought it was time for some 21st century adventure. After the Shikara, we went for the hot air balloon ride. This is actually a helium balloon which is tethered to the ground and is lifted up 350 feet to give a panoramic view of the Dal Lake and the entire Srinagar. Though a little scary due to the basket being dangled in the air, the view was amazing but it lasted only 5-8 mins as the balloon is pulled down in that time.

For nature lovers, there are remarkable mughal gardens in Srinagar namely -- Shalimar Garden, Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi. The array of colourful flowers in the gardens is amazing. The gardens are from the Mughal times and bear the mark of Mughal architecture including the waterfalls and fountains lining the length of the gardens. For enjoying these gardens you should have some time in hand to relax in the grass and take in the pure scents of the varied flowers.

Another must to see in Srinagar is the Sankaracharya temple for which one has to climb some 250 steps. The temple has a huge "Shivling" The view from the top is awesome with the entire Srinagar being laid out in front of you. You can only click a picture of the view in your minds as cameras and mobile are not allowed at the top. Another important destination in Srinagar is the Hazaratbal Shrine,it contains a relic, the Moi-e-Muqqadas, or a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

So, all in all, Srinagar gave me an eclectic mix of undisturbed romance, unparalled scenic beauty, spiritual awareness and amazing hospitality. Pocketing all of this, we landed back to our home in Delhi but with a difference - the fast city life suddenly held some meaning!