Twilight Vacations

I never knew Kashmir was home to some of the best walnut wood carving  in the world.I've heard that walnut trees are not growing in any other place in India except for Kashmir valley.It's a unique wood for carving in terms of color and flexibility to work on it.The different parts of the walnut tree has different colors.The root has almost black color and is the most expensive one. Wood carving is done on a variety of objects from tables, chairs, writing desks, dining tables , cigarette boxes,  jewelry boxes, photo frames and a lot of other decorative objects.You just name it! You could find varieties of wooden handicrafts with various motifs from Kashmir flowers and plants.Though they are mostly Muslims,it's nice to see even Hindu symbols,and also wooden statues of mythical Hindu god and goddesses. Wood carving is also done  on the doors, walls and windows of traditional Kashmiri houses and their beautiful house boats.I've been told that British who came to Ka...

When I arrived in Srinagar and welcomed by Mr.Gholam Rasool ,he told me that we were heading to see Prince of Kashmir in some minutes! I was just shocked what was expecting me! And when I saw the small ferry with the name Prince of Kashmir,I just got so disappointed but didn't show anything in my face!  It was just after 40 minutes boat ride when I got to a house boat with the name" Prince of Kashmir" again and when I entered the house,I just got stunned by all the beauty inside that wooden boat! all the antiquity and Kashmir artworks was there! It was like I was living in a museum! I can't express my feelings for you that how much I enjoyed in that beautiful house boat for one week! I was also treated like a princess there! Mohammad(Our chef) pampered me with his tasty Kashmiri food! gosh! I miss it so much!!!! we were carrying everywhere by him! what a patient  and kind guy! On the way to Prince of Kashmir house boats in Dal Lake Prince of K...