JAMMU & KASHMIR

SRINAGAR(The capital of Kashmir) Visit Hari Parbat Fort, Jama Masjid, Walk in the old bazaar and over one of the seven old Bridges on river Jhelum, view from outside the shrine in honour of Shah Hamdan.

Visit the Mughal Gardens, CHASHME SHAHI (Royal Spring), NISHAT BAGH (Pleasure Garden) and SHALIMAR BAGH (The Abode of Love). Dal Lake is a scenic picnic spot surrounded by forests of pine. It is a good base for trekkers. A colorful annual fair is held here every September. Shikara is a Gondola type light rowing boat, The two hour boat ride takes you on a relaxing sightseeing tour of interior parts of the calm and placid waters of Dal Lake, seeing the market and the floating Gardens.

PAHALGAM: "The valley of shepherds", at the confluence of the streams flowing from River Lidder and Sheshnag lake, is Kashmir's premier resort, cool, even during the height of summer. The resort is set between steep hills. It has within it no fewer than eighty tiny villages. There is a Shiva temple here, generally considered to be Kashmir's oldest existing temple dating to the 8th Century.

LEH: Walk to the Shankar Gompa which has innumerable statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. Later walk to the Leh Palace and on the way back visit the cottage industries emporium. Drive to the Spituk Monastery (5 miles) which contains a large collection of Tankhas and old masks & later visit the Shankar Gompa. Proceed to visit the Phyiang Monastery before returning to the hotel.

LEH - ALCHI GOMPA 70 Km from Leh on banks of the Indus, is Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls feature thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction.