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Kashmir! The whisper evokes a
portrait of beauty: the stunning snow capped peaks of the
Himalayas: flower strewn valleys dazzling the eye with all the
colors of the rainbows and lakes, with floating gardens, teeming
with wildlife. Kashmir has a strong spiritual essence; the aura of
the surrounding beauty makes it a place to commune closely with nature and ones
inner being. 
Today World is beginning to realize that modern Kashmir, is once
again, becoming a place to unwind ! Srinagar is at once a collection of
images: a son-et- lumiere that tells the story of the love of the Mughal
emperors for this paradise vale; deep green rice fields and river bridges of
gardens in bloom and lakes rimmed by houseboats; at once summer capital of the
state, business centre and holiday resort.
Srinagar is as much imagination as it is fact, for every season offers new
vistas to this city of great antiquity. Spring breathes life again into a frozen
world and the air is heady with the fragrance of a million flowers that blossom
on trees, shrubs and creepers. Summer heightens the effect and autumn is
poignant in its colours of warm introspection. Winter brings with it snow, the
Dal Lake freezes and beneath a leaden sky, roasted chestnuts turn the atmosphere
aromatic with the promise of warmth and comfort.
The river Jhelum and the Dal and Nagin lakes dominate
Srinagar and its life and activities. Here lush wild gardens of lotus and water
lily flower amidst bustling lanes. By the lakeside spread the gardens of the
Mughals in patterned beauty. And the people move with a tranquility borne of a
history laden pulse of activity. Kashmir has four distinct seasons, each with
its own peculiar character and distinctive charm. These are spring, summer,
autumn and winter.
Spring, which extends roughly from March to early May, is when a million
blossoms carpet the ground. The weather during this time can be gloriously
pleasant at 23oC or chilly and windy at 6oC. This is the season when Srinagar
experiences rains, but the showers are brief.
Summer extends from May until the end of August. Light woolens may be
required to wear out of Srinagar. In higher altitudes night temperatures drop
slightly. Srinagar at this time experiences day temperatures of between 25oC and
35oC. At this time, the whole valley is a mosaic of varying shades of green -
rice fields, meadows, trees, etc. and Srinagar with its lakes and waterways is a
heaven after the scorching heat of the Indian plains.
The onset of autumn,
perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards September, when green turns to
gold and then to russet and red. The highest day temperatures in September are
around 23oC and night temperatures dip to 10oC by October, and further drop by
November, when heavy woolens are essential. Through December, to the beginning
of March is Winter time, which presents Srinagar in yet another mood.
Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth of a fire is
a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has not experienced it. Some
houseboats and hotels remain open in winter-these are either centrally heated or
heated with ‘bukharis’, a typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of
wood, quite effective in the winter.
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