The Aru and Betaab Valley in Pahalgam were the setting of many films. The valleys encircled with snow clad peaks and dotted with Cypress and Chinar trees were almost picture perfect. During the drive as we drove in spiral turns the trees masked and unmasked the peaks. There were waterfalls and rivulets, horses grazing in some flat paddocks, cows and goats frisked around bright roses.
The time was not the right one as we encountered bare apple trees which blossom in September. We just missed the tulips in April and the saffron fields in November. On hindsight a single trip to Kashmir can never be enough. One can only dream wildly of the changing seasons and the transformed beauty of this heavenly dale. We drove down the road to Pahalgam and stopped at an erstwhile apple orchard. The two trees in front were laden with luscious apples and a stall nearby was selling juice. A “Don’t Touch” sign was pasted ominously on the tree. On closer inspection we found that the apples were stuck on as well. To give us a feel of the real thing!