"We can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails..." - Indian Proverb
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| (Painting on the wall - Maharani Hotel Jaipur) |
Route: Srinagar - New Delhi - Jaipur
Hotel: Maharani Hotel, Jaipur
Our bags were already packed that morning. After a hearty breakfast, we bade farewell to Abdul, the ever-cheerful caretaker of our houseboat, whose warmth and hospitality made our stay in Srinagar so memorable.
Before we left for the airport, we made a stop at the Hazratbal Mosque, one of the most revered sites in Srinagar. Standing gracefully on the northern shores of Dal Lake, its white marble façade shimmered under the soft sunlight, mirrored perfectly in the still waters below.
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| (A foggy winter morning) |
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| (A funeral procession along the route) |
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| (Entering the mosque area from the back) |
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| (The Hazratbal Shrine, the posterior view) |
The mosque holds deep spiritual significance, believed to house a sacred relic - a strand of the Prophet Muhammad’s hair - making it a place of devotion and peace for the people of Kashmir. As we stepped inside, the calm atmosphere and quiet prayers filled the air, leaving us with a sense of serenity and humility. When we visited the room for sacred relic, only the men were allowed in. After reciting the ayatul kursi, I stayed outside and watched the kids feeding a flock of pigeons.
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| (The Hazratbal Shrine, the Frontal view) |
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| (The silhouette of one of the minarets) |
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| (A boy feeding a flock of pigeons) |
It was a perfect way to end our holiday in Kashmir - immersed in the soul of Srinagar, where faith, beauty, and tradition intertwine so effortlessly.
The road to the airport was lined with checkpoints - six in total - each a reminder of Kashmir’s delicate peace. Our flight from Srinagar to Delhi was delayed, and due to bad weather, it bypassed Jammu entirely. By the time we landed, our driver, Mr. Santosh, had been waiting patiently for four hours.
Though it was late at night, we had already booked our hotel in Jaipur, so we began the long 265-kilometre journey without delay. Hungry and exhausted, we stopped briefly for dinner before continuing through the dense fog and icy night. Along the way, we passed a few accidents - a sobering reminder of how unpredictable travel can be. It was well past midnight when we finally reached Maharani Hotel in Jaipur, relieved but grateful for our safe arrival.
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| (A painting of a dancer) |
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