The Flickr Anantnagdistrict Image Generatr

Grain laid out to dry by the side of the road on the road from Srinagar to Pahalgam. From the looks of it, the grain looks like rice paddy. While Jammu leads in rice production in Jammu and Kashmir, Kupwara, Anantnag and Budgam in the Kashmir Valley are the major producing districts as well with more than one hundred thousand tonnes of rice produced here each year. Here, these are only grains. Down south, especially in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, they spread the total harvested paddies right across the road, for passing cars to run over them to separate grain from the paddy leaves. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Yet another selfie by the stream of snowmelt which runs along the road as we enter Pahalgam in Kashmir, India. I have visited Pahalgam earlier way back in 1979- I remember having got to the middle of the then dry snowmelt stream and spotted fossils of marine animals in it. Too bad I did not pick up any. That was proof enough about the phenomenon of plate tectonics where India collided with the rest of the Asian continent resulting in the formation of the Himalayas in the resultant pushing up of the sea bed. Back to this stream, the water in this stream comes from melted snow from the mountains up ahead (not seen here but we've had plenty of pictures of those earlier in this album. All the rocks you see in the stream have been brought down by the snowmelt stream over the years. More notes about snowmelt streams or freshets appear elsewhere in this album. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Blanks for cricket bats stacked on the roof of one of the shops on the way from Pahalgam to Srinagar in Kashmir, India. Kashmir is the second-largest producer of cricket bats, after the UK. However, around 400 bat manufacturing units in Jammu & Kashmir, producing over 3 million bats annually. Kashmir's bat industry is mainly concentrated in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Anantnag districts, with willow groves growing in the wet highlands. The humid environment and fertile soil make the area ideal for willows, which traditionally provide the material for cricket bats. Kashmiri willow bats have a reputation for quality and skilled bat-makers here have refined their craft since the 19th century. The cricket bat industry has come a long way since I last visited Kashmir back in 1979- at that time, cricket bat workshops were mere shacks by the roadside. The cricket bat industry is serious business in Kashmir now. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

I am in a public park in Pahalgam, Kashmir, India. To move oh ahead, I had to jump across a not too narrow stream- my friend seen here- cleared it quickly and moves on as I hesitate and think a thousand times before jumping across- at 65, I'm not exactly in my prime. In the distance is a Hindu temple next to the park- it was refreshing to see a Hindu temple in Pahalgam, Kashmir, India. That is the Mamal (Mamleshwar) temple located next to a public park. It is one of the oldest temples in the Kashmir Valley and was built by king Jayasimha. Set on the bank of River Lidder, Pahalgam, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Back to the park, as you can see, apart from the green grass, most of the bush in the park is fairly barren- meaning devoid of flowers etc. This is a bit off season for the flora in Srinagar- in fact I was disappointed that all the apple orchards, saffron fields and chilly (hot pepper) bushes and lavender fields were all devoid of flowers or fruit (as the case may be)- it's off season, come back in September, they all said. Pahalgam is located in the Lidder Valley, which is part of the Great Himalayan range. Notes and more pictures about Pahalgam appear elsewhere in this album. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Beautiful Alpine scenery in Pahalgam, Kashmir, India. This is at a viewing point just as we enter the town of Pahalgam in Kashmir, India. More notes about Pahalgam appear elsewhere in this album. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Blanks for cricket bats stacked by the road on the way from Pahalgam to Srinagar in Kashmir, India. Kashmir is the second-largest producer of cricket bats, after the UK. However, around 400 bat manufacturing units in Jammu & Kashmir, producing over 3 million bats annually. Kashmir's bat industry is mainly concentrated in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Anantnag districts, with willow groves growing in the wet highlands. The humid environment and fertile soil make the area ideal for willows, which traditionally provide the material for cricket bats. Kashmiri willow bats have a reputation for quality and skilled bat-makers here have refined their craft since the 19th century. The cricket bat industry has come a long way since I last visited Kashmir back in 1979- at that time, cricket bat workshops were mere shacks by the roadside. The cricket bat industry is serious business in Kashmir now. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Beautiful Alpine scenery as seen from a public park in Pahalgam in Kashmir, India. Don't you simply love that snow capped peak and those trees in the foreground! The people living in the houses in the foreground enjoy great scenery every day, but it must be rather inconvenient for them in winter, when snow envelops the entire town. Pahalgam is located in the Lidder Valley, which is part of the Great Himalayan range. Notes and more pictures about Pahalgam appear elsewhere in this album. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

In Pahalgam at last, and guess what, time for still more selfies! With Kashmir becoming more and more popular with tourists, after ridding the area of the nuisance of frequent instances of militancy from across the border, local tourists from all over India and abroad are now descending on Kashmir in droves. Consequently, selfie spots like this have come up all across Kashmir, at all the most popular tourist destinations. I pose at the one in Pahalgam. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

All the rocks you see in the foreground have been brought down the mountains by streams of snowmelt over the years. This stream of snowmelt runs along the road as we enter Pahalgam, Kashmir, and has come down from the mountains in the distance (not seen here, but appear earlier in this album). Note that the road curves up ahead- it is following the snowmelt stream which bends at that point as well. Snowmelt is the water that flows off the surface of snow as it melts in the mountains. Snowmelt is an important part of the water cycle in many areas of the world, and can contribute to a large extent to a watershed's annual runoff. More notes about snowmelt streams or freshets appear elsewhere in this album. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

We have taken enough pictures of the fast moving stream of snowmelt earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). However, that is a viewing platform next to this stream of snowmelt in Pahalgam town. As an added bonus, you can leave the platform and sit right on the rocks in the stream for interesting selfies like this one. These rocks have been brought down by streams of snowmelt as well, over the years. I have visited Pahalgam earlier way back in 1979- I remember having got to the middle of the then dry snowmelt stream and spotted fossils of marine animals in it. Too bad I did not pick up any. That was proof enough about the phenomenon of plate tectonics where India collided with the rest of the Asian continent resulting in the formation of the Himalayas in the resultant pushing up of the sea bed. Back to this stream, the water in this stream comes from melted snow from the mountains up ahead (not seen here but we've had plenty of pictures of those earlier in this album. All the rocks you see in the stream have been brought down by the snowmelt stream over the years. More notes about snowmelt streams or freshets appear elsewhere in this album. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Cricket bat blanks on the roof of a cricket bat showroom on the road from Pahalgam to Srinagar in Kashmir, India. Kashmir is the second-largest producer of cricket bats, after the UK. However, around 400 bat manufacturing units in Jammu & Kashmir, producing over 3 million bats annually. Kashmir's bat industry is mainly concentrated in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Anantnag districts, with willow groves growing in the wet highlands. The humid environment and fertile soil make the area ideal for willows, which traditionally provide the material for cricket bats. Kashmiri willow bats have a reputation for quality and skilled bat-makers here have refined their craft since the 19th century. The cricket bat industry has come a long way since I last visited Kashmir back in 1979- at that time, cricket bat workshops were mere shacks by the roadside. The cricket bat industry is serious business in Kashmir now. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Posing with a cricket bat inside one of the long line of cricket bat shops on the road from Pahalgam to Srinagar in Kashmir, India. I think the last time I played cricket was when i was in school, over fifty years ago! I asked the guys in charge if we can take a peek at their workshop which was located behind the store- they said no, it's a trade secret. Oh well. Kashmir is the second-largest producer of cricket bats, after the UK. However, around 400 bat manufacturing units in Jammu & Kashmir, producing over 3 million bats annually. Kashmir's bat industry is mainly concentrated in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Anantnag districts, with willow groves growing in the wet highlands. The humid environment and fertile soil make the area ideal for willows, which traditionally provide the material for cricket bats. Kashmiri willow bats have a reputation for quality and skilled bat-makers here have refined their craft since the 19th century. The cricket bat industry has come a long way since I last visited Kashmir back in 1979- at that time, cricket bat workshops were mere shacks by the roadside. The cricket bat industry is serious business in Kashmir now. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

I thought that my friend has had enough selfies for now but no, he stopped further down the road for even more selfies! We have just entered Pahalgam in Kashmir, India. I have been fascinated by the stream of snowmelt that runs along the road. The water in this stream comes from melted snow from the mountains up ahead (not seen here but we've had plenty of pictures of those earlier in this album. All the rocks you see in the stream have been brought down by the snowmelt stream over the years. More notes about snowmelt streams or freshets appear elsewhere in this album. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

I was fascinated by this fast flowing stream of melted snow running beside the road as we entered Pahalgam. My friend told me that this is all melted snow, coming from the mountains in the background. A stream of melted snow like this is a result of snowmelt, which is the water that flows off the surface of snow as it melts. Snowmelt is an important part of the water cycle in many areas of the world, and can contribute to a large extent to a watershed's annual runoff. The term freshet is most commonly used to describe a snowmelt, an annual high water event on rivers resulting from snow and river ice melting. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

A dazzling array of fresh eats at a local eatery on the road from Srinagar to Pahalgam. I simply had to stop here to take photographs- the stall was so colourful, but ended up sampling some of his wares as well. The bright yellow item on the tray in the immediate foreground and in front of man standing with his hand on his hip is a traditional Kashmiri dish called halwa. It's a sweet item made out of semolina flour. Note the embellishments on the halwa with several coconut slices. I was surprised at the extensive use of coconuts in Kashmir, despite it being miles away from the sea. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

There is still a long way to go to get to the snow capped mountain Beautiful Alpine scenery in Pahalgam in Kashmir, India. Pahalgam is located in the Lidder Valley, which is part of the Great Himalayan range. Notes and more pictures about Pahalgam appear elsewhere in this album. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

A selfie by the Lidder River in Pahalgam which runs past the public park we are now in. This river is a large body of snowmelt as well, and most of the rocks you see in the river have been brought down the mountains by the river over the years. The Lidder or Liddar River is a 73 km long river situated in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It originates from the Kolahoi Glacier and feeds the Jhelum River in Mirgund Khanabal, at an altitude of 1,615 mtr above sea level. Lidder is a corruption of the local Sanskrit name Lambodari meaning long bellied goddess. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Done with our brief visit to Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, we hit the main street of the town looking for a place to eat. There were one or two places tucked in between all those handicraft emporia and gift shops, surprisingly, none were open, even a mid day, barring one whom we had to coax to cook us a light lunch of roti (Indian unleavened bread) and dal. Lunch done, here is a look at one of the gift emporia on the main street leading into and out of Pahalgam. This one seemed to specialize in Kashmiri shawls. One thing that surprised me in Kashmir was that not a single store in Kashmir offered leather jackets- back on my last visit here in 1979, almost every gift emporium had at least 4 - 5 leather jackets on display outside their store. Now in 2024, not one. The only jackets on sale were the Chinese style nylon ones, as you can see here. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

I was fascinated by this fast flowing stream of melted snow running beside the road as we entered Pahalgam. It was hard to believe that this stream of snowmelt was coming all the way from those mountains in the distance. A stream of melted snow like this is a result of snowmelt, which is the water that flows off the surface of snow as it melts. Snowmelt is an important part of the water cycle in many areas of the world, and can contribute to a large extent to a watershed's annual runoff. The term freshet is most commonly used to describe a snowmelt, an annual high water event on rivers resulting from snow and river ice melting. More notes about snowmelt streams or freshets appear elsewhere in this album. Of course, the Lidder River flows through Pahalgam- not sure if this is it- in fact, this could well be the Lidder River already. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)

Done with our brief visit to Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, we hit the main street of the town looking for a place to eat. There were one or two places tucked in between all those handicraft emporia and gift shops, surprisingly, none were open, even a mid day, barring one whom we had to coax to cook us a light lunch of roti (Indian unleavened bread) and dal. Lunch done, this is a look at some of the stores on the main market street leading into and out of Pahalgam. Don't you simply love those ancient, old structures on the street! One thing that surprised me in Kashmir was that not a single store in Kashmir offered leather jackets- back on my last visit here in 1979, almost every gift emporium had at least 4 - 5 leather jackets on display outside their store. Now in 2024, not one. The only jackets on sale were the Chinese style nylon ones, some of them padded with felt. (Pahalgam, Kashmir, India, Apr/ May 2024)