Blind woman rowing a Shikara in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I had driven to Kashmir during April (a great time to be there) and could but help falling in love with the Dal Lake in Srinagar. I went on multiple Shikara (local boats as seen in this image) rides at all times of the day. In this case, I was out visiting the floating vegetable market at the crack of dawn and had stopped for tea at one of the floating shops in the lake. And then I saw this old woman rowing towards me – as she got closer I realised she was nearly blind. And then the shot happened as she crossed me: a perfect play of light with colourful reflections of house boats in the background. Few shots have given me as much professional satisfaction as this.
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Blind Woman,
Dal Lake,
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Limited Edition,
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srinagar
The early morning vegetable market on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Aaarrrrrghh! Its 4:30 am and the alarm is not giving up. If only I had not booked a Shikara for 5:00 am! But get up I had to – after all I am a travel writer out to cover the daily vegetable market in the Dal Lake. But once in the boat, was I glad for it. [continue reading…]
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Dal Lake,
Great Himalayan Drive,
Himalayas,
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Shikara,
srinagar,
Vegetable Market
Crusing in a Shikara in the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir
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The best time to go boating in the Dal Lake is in the evening. Start about half an hour before the sun starts setting behind the peaks. This will give you enough light to look around and for any shopping. What shopping? Before you realize it, ‘shikara shops’ will float up close to you – selling silver jewelry, fine Pashmina shawls, paper mache gifts, dry fruits and more. Sceptical? Why not? Anything targeted solely at tourists is taken with a pinch of salt. Check out the floating market too – these are shops standing in the water selling everything from handicrafts to household supplies. Even hot tea and local breads. But don’t spend too much time here. Lest you miss the magic. [continue reading…]
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The Great Himalayan Drive
A sign on the Jammu - Srinagar highway in Kashmir
“If there is a heaven on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here,” uttered Mughal Emperor Jahangir when he first set his eyes upon Kashmir in the 17th century A.D. There have been no dearth of expressions to describe the most prolific of all Himalayan regions since then. The state’s highways abound with signs reading Kashmir is the ‘Fruit Bowl of the Country,’ ‘A Flower Bed’ and ‘The Crown of India.’ Pity some vested interests have made this crown one of ‘bloody thorns’ – but that is another matter altogether. [continue reading…]
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Great Himalayan Drive,
Gulmarg,
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Jammu,
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Mustard Fields,
srinagar
