The Coolidge examiner., 1933-06-09
KASHMIR VALE
FULL OF CHARM
Srinagar Is a Lovely Place for
a Vacation.
Prepared by National Geographic Society
Washington. y. C.-MNII Service.

Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington, d. C.-WNU Service.
A S WARM weather approaches,
~ the vale Kashmir, one of the
famous garden spots of the
world, beckons to the vacationists of
India. Its wooded hillsides don
new green which is reflected In the
clear, blue, placid streams of the
valley; and houseboats are put in
order for busy season.
The Vale Of Kashmir lies among
the lower Himalayas, north Of the
Indian Punjab. One reaches Srina-
gar, the summer capital of the ma
tive state known as the domain of
the MaharaJa of Jummu and Kash-
mir, over q long route by rail and
motor. From Bombay one travels
northward by trains, via Delhi and
Lahore, the Rawalpindi, one of the
chief army posts of British India.
There the way to beauty opens.
Almost at once on leaving Rawalpin-
di the motor road begins to climb.
Up and up through the deodar-clad
slopes of the lower mountain the
road twists and turns, the heated air
of the plains grows cool and invig-
Grating, until, when travellers make
their first overnight stop at Tret,
they feel captivated by joyous hol-
Iday spirit.
Everything seems amusing and
Interesting. Ruffled punkas swing
from the ceiling, though you may
have no need for them. Your deft
and turbaned servants patter bore
footed about the rooms, unrolling
your bedding on the stringed char
poys, the fairly comfortable beds of
India. Even the not-too-bad food
served by the bungalow cook is
matter for hungry jest. Lovely,
lovely world, with a summer of
Kashmir ahead.
Native Chauffeurs Are Speedy.
The road from Rawalpindi to
Srinagar is well-built motor road,
some 200 miles long, and it lies
through the mountains north of the
Pr Panjal pass. Snowy peaks rise
high above you. The rushing waters
of the Icy streams chatter noisily be-
low. Hairpin turns in the road make
you catch your breath and curl your
toes. for the ways of the native
driver are his own and without fear,
and, also, you have not the knowl-
edge wherewith to express your
feelings.
Soon, from the first travelling sa-
hib, you may learn to say, "Ahista,
ahista !" But you never succeed in
making an Indian chauffeur drive
slowly, slowly.
1t Is possible to make the trip
to Srinagar in a day, but not ahista
Quite the contrary. You spend two
nights in dak bungalows crest
houses) along the way, the second
at Baramula, which lies at the edge
of the great depression known as
the Vale Of Kashmir.
From Baramula one can go the
rest of the way by boat, up the
Jhelum river; but you may prefer
to drive. The last 80 miles lie across
a level stretch, the road borderer on
either side by slender poplars.
The people passed along the way
are quite different from those one
sees in India. Ekkas and tongas, the
two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles
of the country, draw aside to let you
pass.
The Vale of Kashmir is a level
valley about so miles long and aver
aging about 20 miles In width. 1t
lies, a great oval, surrounded by
mountains green with deodar and
spruce on the lower reaches and
white with snow until well into the
early summer. Skies of an incred-
ible blue complete color scheme of
fairy loveliness. Throughout the
valley winds the curving line of the
River Jhelum, along the banks of
which straggle the streets and ba-
Zaars which form the ancient city of
Srinagar.
Quaint Scenes in Srinagar.