Hotels in sonamarg
Here I am, standing on the balcony of my deluxe room, one of three, at the Villa Himalaya, in Kullan Sonamarg,15km short of the main town of Hotels in Sonamarg, in Kashmir. It took us less than 2 hours to get here from the summer capital, Srinagar. A beauteous sight greets me. A gushing, crystal clear, mildly grey-blue river, frothing white as it encounters boulders strewn along its way. Crashing against some, flowing over some, or simply circumventing around some. Flowing with a roaring sound. Loud enough to drown out all other sounds. However, the musical notes of the whistling bird, manage to penetrate through the continuous, almost deafening sound. The resort, Villa Himalaya, standing on one shore of the Sind River. Farm houses with their sloping, corrugated tin roofs, glinting under the mild sunshine, set amidst irrigated land sloping up to the main road, on the opposite. Lift your head to see the green painted mountains, dotted with pine trees, looking rather forlorn. Each distancing itself from the other in a deathly, silent and still way. But, between the ranges, a delightful sight to behold! The heaven touching apex of the overlapping mountains, dusted by powdery snow, like icing on a chocolate cake.<br><br>Villa Himalaya, is an eco boutique resort. It has 3 deluxe rooms with balconies, overlooking the River Sind, and 7 deluxe rooms. The rooms are comfortable with beds, the furniture and the flooring made up of wood, so there is a flow of the ‘natural’ from out to in, or whichever way you look at it. The powerful heaters warm up the room in a cosy, comfortable way. And better still, the electrical heating pad will ensure that you have a blissful sleep as you feel warm and snug like a ‘bug in a rug’. The television, however, is a modern intrusion especially when you want to get away from the conveniences of city life and for a short while atleast, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. There is an electrical kettle with herbal infusions to sip on through cold days. The bathrooms have a continuous flow of hot water. Basic amenities like toiletries, bathroom slippers and the very welcome hair dryer.<br><br>The only multi cuisine restaurant, aptly named, ’The Sind’, serves mouth watering Indian and Chinese. The traditional Kashmiri Wazwan, has to be ordered 24 hours in advance as also the trout. However, our request for a trout meal was fulfilled at a short notice. It turned out to be delicious! Perfectly cooked with an accompaniment of sauted vegetables and mashed potatoes.<br><br>Weather permitting sit on the grassy lawn enjoying the arresting beauty of Mother Nature. Start a book you had been meaning to read, or finish an incomplete one. Pull out your paint brushes or pen down a poem. <br><br>The little touristy shop on the ground level sells an assortment of the famous craft of Kashmir, papier mache.<br><br>The resort’s website makes mention of various activites to indulge in during the course of one’s stay. These include must visit places such as the Zojila Pass,23 km away. The Thajwas Glacier at a distance of 12 km. The Narang Temples located 45km away. Their nature activites list, The Forest Walk, The Village Walk, Horse Riding and Fishing. A minimum of 24 hours is required to confirm the logistics. If you plan on visiting Sonamarg, vistas of meadows, streams, glaciers and lofty mountains will greet you.<br><br>Villa Himalaya is balm for the city weary soul.<br>
★
★
★
★
★
48 views • 2 slides
