dari airport kami langsung menuju Pahalgam dengan mobil sewaan yang dikirim untuk menjemput kami dari guesthouse. sedangkan guesthouse itu sendiri kami pesan di www.booking.com kemudian komunikasi dilanjutkan by whatsapp dan email. saya memastikan bahwa ada masjid yang menyelenggarakan sholat jumat di Pahalgam meskipun akhirnya hari jumat ternyata kami sudah ke Srinagar.
dari airport sampai ke guesthouse sekitar 3,5 jam dengan pemandangan yang indah menyejukkan mata. Pahalgam adalah lembah di kaki pegunungan himalaya yang dikelilingi oleh hutan pinus yang cantik. diantaranya ada sungai lidder yang mengalir deras dan jernih bahkan di musim panas seperti waktu itu.
Pahalgam is a beautiful valley, and the Lidder River running through
it makes it even more picturesque. The river is one of the favorite
spots for trout fishing in the country. Rafting is also organized at
this river. Here are 10 interesting things to do when you are in
Pahalgam.
1. Visit Club Park: Club Park is one of the oldest
parks in Pahalgam. It is crowded, specifically on weekends. The garden
blends perfectly with its surrounding hills and river running nearby and
looks more like a naturally created garden.
2. Stop at Aru Village: Aru village is around 12 km
from Pahalgam. Taxis are available from Pahalgam on shared basis. It is a
beautiful village, visited by far lesser tourists and is more peaceful
than Pahalgam. Some scenes from the film ‘Jaab Tak Hai Jaan,’ were shot
here. The ride from Pahalgam to Aru has some of the most picturesque
viewpoints. Pony rides are organised on the gentle slopes at Aru.
3. Go camping at Lidder Valley: Lidder valley is a
popular camping site. It is around 12 km from Pahalgam and 12 km from
the nearest motor accessible village, Aru.
4. Trout fishing at Lidder River: If you want to
indulge in some fishing, there is no better place than Pahalgam. As much
fun as it is, it doesn’t come cheap. Fishing permits are issued only in
Srinagar by the Fisheries Department. If you are a first timer you can
hire the service of a shikara (offered by fishermen in this case) but it
can be quite expensive. With a permit I’m told that one can catch more
than six fishes. So more or less it is a give and take process but a
fun-filled adventure altogether. Pahalgam is thus also known as a
‘anglers paradise.’
5. Rafting at Lidder River: River rafting is one
popular sport here. Some people just come here to indulge in the sport.
The white frothing water makes it more enticing.
6. Jamia Masjid Mosque: The green roof mosque just
near the main bazaar (market) with its beautiful design is a major
attraction. The location of the mosque also adds another dimension to
its aura. The Lidder River below and the mountain as the backdrop make
it a peaceful place to worship.
7. Gauri Shankar Temple: This temple is one of the
oldest temples in Pahalgam. The Amarnath Yatra also begins here. The
temple is small but much revered by the Hindus.
8. Visit the zoo: Around 1 km from Pahalgam town, wildlife lovers can see different species of deer, leopard and bear at the zoo.
9. Visit Betaab Valley: Betaab Valley is 15 km from
Pahalgam town and is one of the most beautiful valleys around Pahalgam.
The valley is famed as a setting for a popular Bollywood film, Betaab.
10. Visit Amarnath Cave: Amarnath
is a famous cave where myth and beliefs meet. It is believed that Lord
Shiva is seated in the cave. The cave was first discovered in 19th
century by a local Buta Malik of Batakote. The cave and the naturally
formed ice Shiva Linga has become a revered and one of the most popular
pilgrimage sites in India. Most pilgrims stop at Pahalgam before
continuing their journey to Amarnth. Tourism has flourished here richly
after the insurgency problems have dissipated.
dari 10 tujuan yang disebutkan diatas, kami hanya mengunjungi 1 saja hahaha. yaitu central jamia mosque alias masjid jami di Pahalgam. sama seperti masjid lainnya, perempuan tidak diizinkan masuk di ruang utama dan kalau di sini, dibuatkan bangunan terpisah dengan bangunan masjidnya.
masjidnya terbuat dari kayu dengan latar belakang pegunungan berkabut membuatnya menjadi luar biasa. waktu itu ada satu jamaah perempuan lain yang sholat di sana. tidak tepat disebut jamaah sebab kami tidak ikut sholat berjamaah sebenarnya.
tampak depan masjid Pahalgam yang terletak di depan main bazaar di mana saya gatal ikut belanja buah buahan dan sayuran di sana. saya masak di dapur guesthouse sementara pemilik guesthouse membantu saya menyalakan kompor dan menemukan alat alat masaknya. menurutnya, masakan saya datar dan terlalu bersih dibanding masakan Kashmir yang berkuah kental dan berwarna warni dan banyak rempah.
cantik bukan? sayang sekali, saya bahkan tidak boleh mampir ke terasnya. bapak bapak yang ada di sana memandangi keanehan saya dengan baju warna cerah dan berada di masjid yang sepertinya hanya untuk laki laki. saya belum menemukan alasan mengapa masjid masjid di sana membatasi perempuan untuk sholat di masjid.
nah, di bangunan kayu terpisah inilah jamaah perempuan boleh ikut sholat. dari apa yang saya lihat, sepertinya bangunan ini lebih sering terkunci dan jarang digunakan. jadi baunya lembab dan apak. rasanya dingin sekali di dalamnya.
si bapak membukakan pintu untuk saya supaya bisa sholat didalamnya. menunjukkan tempat wudlu yang amit amit kotornya.
sholat di sini terlihat menarik di foto. tapi sebenarnya rumputnya lembab. Pahalgam waktu itu banyak hujan baik gerimis atau deras. udara terasa lebih dingin. berubah drastis dari Delhi ke Pahalgam. konon Pahalgam seperti Switzerland di Eropa dan dikonfirmasi oleh teman yang menetap di sana.
satu hari saya ingin kembali lagi ke sana dan mengunjungi lebih banyak tempat lagi.
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