White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-06-01
IKASE1MIR VALE
FULL OF. CHARM

Srinagar Is a Lovely Place for a
Vacation.
Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington d. C.-WNU Service.
A s WARM weather approaches,
| ~ the Vale of Kashmir, one Of
" the famous garden spots Of
the world, beckons to the vaca-
tionists of India. Its wooded hillsides
don a new green which is reflected in
the clear, blue, placid streams of the
valley; and households are put in or
der for busy season.
The Vale of Kashmir lies among the
lower Himalayas, north Of the Indian
Punjab. One reaches Srinagar, the
summer capital Of the native state
known as the domain Of the Maharaja
of Jammu and Kashmir, over long
route by rail and motor. From Bonn
bay one travels northward by train,
via Delhi and Lahore, to 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 beings 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 invigorating, until,
when travellers make their first over
night stop at Tret, they feel captivated
by a joyous holiday spirit.
Everything seems amusing and In
teresting. Ruffled punkas swing from
the ceiling, though you may have no
need of them. Your deft and tur-
baned servants patter barefooted
about the rooms, unrolling your bed
ding on the stringed charpoys, 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 Kashmfr ahead.
Native chauffeurs Are Speedy.
The road from Rawalpindi to Srina-
gar is q 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 icy
streams chatter noisily below. Hair
pin 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, alas, you have
not the knowledge Of his language
wherewith to express your feelings.
Soon, from the first travelling sahib,
you may learn to say, "Ahista, ahista J"
But you never succeed in making an
Indian chauffeur drive slowly, slowly.
It is possible to make the trip to
Srinagar in day, but not ahista !
Quite the contrary. You spend two
night In dak bungalows (resthouses)
along the way, the second at Baramula
which lies at the edge of the great de-
preston known as the Vale of Kash-
mir.
From Baramula one can go the rest
Of the way by boat, up the Jhelum
river; but you may prefer to drive.
The last IS miles lie across a level
stretch, the road bordered 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 level val
ley about 80 miles long and averaging
about 20 miles in width. It 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 incredible blue complete color
scheme Of fairy loneliness. Through
out the valley winds the curving line
Of the River Jhelum, along the banks
Of which straggle the streets and
bazaars which form the ancient city
of Srinagar.
Quaint Scenes in Srlnagar.
Seven curious bridges span the
river. and along the shore quaint old
wooden houses lean sometimes at a
rakish angle. Many Of the city streets
end in wide stone steps leading down
to the rivers edge. These stairways
are usually animated scenes of native
life. Here the laundry men wash the
clothes; here the women come to fill
their water jars. Children tumble and
play about, and goats and cows ram
BILE freely among them all. From the
overhanging balconies lengths Of dyed
pashmina hang out to dry. All is
colorful and gay.
Also there is the interesting river
life. A large part of the population
of Srinagar lives afloat. Odd, long,
pointed boats, called dungas, with
superstructures hung with mats of
woven reeds, are the only homes which
thousands of Kashmiris ever know.
Sleeping quarters within, kitchen of