Today it is going to be ARu valley and Betaab valley and then head back to Srinagar, night stay and back to our respective homes.
There are Taxi unions that ply on this area and control the area, so our tourist car from Srinagar was not allowed, and we had to rent a local taxi, for Rs 2500, this cost was borne by us out of pocket (yes our tour operator had mentioned this to us, in advance) but sure is a inconvenience and one of those little things that can make a fun trip not so, along the way the driver did try to pull a fast one about timings and how we had to pay more, but we just ignored him.
We started out at a easy pace of 0900 hours, yes we should have started out at 0500 hours, but then this is a family vacation, so we just took it easy and breakfast done we started out, today, my mom and Nephew decided to sit it out, so it was just 3 of us for the morning excursion.
We drove past the Lidder River for quiet a while as we headed to Aru valley stopping to take pictures and explore the local place once along the way. The Greens were just so very Green.
We reached Aru Valley and the best way to see the valley is on horseback, it is roughly Rs. 600/hour depends on ones negotiation skills with the horse operator too.
Plenty of horses avalaible so no worries on running out of horses, no matter how many folks land up here.
Playing close attention I did spy a tiny person walking up the hillside, it was so far away they were just so tiny like a little bird.
The scenery is such it just keeps changing with the clouds coming in followed by the Sun, there was a quick rain shower too while we were there and we had to pull on our rain jacket for sure.
And just as we got ready to leave there came the sun once again.
Our next stop was Betaab valley( the film Betaab was pictured here) it was not too far and both these valley can be covered in the same day, and 2.5 hours a piece is enough time to enjoy these places, of course one can spend more time.
Each valley has its own charm and beauty at each place is superb, Betaab valley entrance is more controlled and there is a park you have to enter through which invokes a entry fee, the path way is full of villagers and Rs 20 is all that is required for one to have there picture taken with the animals
White pigeons, cat, rabbits, Goats ,,,
The color and sound of the water will keep one mesmerized for as long as one stays here.
One cant be here in Pahelgaon and not taste the apple straight from the trees, I ain’t much of a Apple person, but will say these were some real fine Apples, following this we started back at 1300 hours towards Srinagar.
The drive was 100km, and took us 3 hours approx., this time along with a lunch stop; we were in no particular hurry.
We checked into Hotel Royal Comfort Regency at Dal lake water front in Srinagar, ( Thank you Farha once more) and just as we reached the hotel n unloaded the bags, it rained cats and Dogs for 3 hours straight before we could again step out in the evening around 1900 hours to roam the water front once more.
The next day, which was our 6th day, we were taking it easy in the morning, and my mom and nephew sure bonded
before we stepped out for the final leg back home.
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