An Evening on Dal

 Kashmir is indeed a paradise on earth as it is said. I was with my family the first time I visited Kashmir, and it took my breath away. Its exquisite lakes and picturesque gardens were so stunning that I didn't want to go back. It was my last day in Shrinagar, and we decided to relax on the deck of our houseboat watching the sunset. Out there on the deck, our host served us the local Kahava (Traditional Kashmiri Tea). It was sunset. Siping the Kahava, I watched with a mesmerizing gaze as the blazing red sun sank beneath the snow-covered Himalayas, reflecting itself on the bluish-green water of Dal Lake. An orange haze cast the sky with birds returning to their homes whose silhouettes were beautifully mirrored on the lake water. A certain sense of tranquillity flew in the wind. The lake felt very lively with Shikaras of people going back to their houseboats and the retreating floating market. The sun sank lower and lower in the Himalayas as if the majestic mountains are embracing the sun, awaiting the dusk, eventually leaving behind the hues of yellow and purple. Then slowly painting the sky with a tinge of blue and black. Soon the silver, bright stars appeared in the clear night sky, indicating the twilight. Utterly hypnotized by the scene, I forgot about the camera. The lake was now calm, reflecting the dusk, the chirping of birds had stopped. The moon has shown brightly above the mountains, glistening the snow on top. We had lost the track of time when our host came out asking for dinner.

Some places, at a particular time, are so ethereal that it hypnotizes you to forget about all your worries and, you just enjoy the moment. This was surely the best time of the entire trip.