CHINAR SHADE : DAKSUM :A HILL RESORT ON ANANTNAAG -- KISHTWAR ROAD IN KASHMIR

Sunday, April 14, 2013

DAKSUM :A HILL RESORT ON ANANTNAAG -- KISHTWAR ROAD IN KASHMIR

DAKSUM :A HILL RESORT ON ANANTNAAG -- KISHTWAR ROAD IN KASHMIR .

Once you leave Kokernaag ( District Anantnaag , Kashmir , J&K )and move towards the mountains , you come to a place called VAILOO . In case you take the right turn from Vailoo , you reach Ahlam , the last habitation in this area. It is also known as Ahlam Gadole . Gadole is a main village near Ahlam. Gadole has some kashmiri speaking population. Thereafter you confront Gujjars and Bakerwals only . They may speak broken kashmiri but they are not kashmiris. They were nomadic tribes and lately these groups have constructed small houses in this area.

( A Thatched Roof House In sagaam Near Kokkernaag )

Ahlam is now a settlement of nomadic people just 6 kms away from Gadole. After Ahlam , the mountain passes traversed on foot , lead you to Kishtwar district. We were informed that now a Tunnel is being dug Near Ahlam that shall keep all weather connectivity of Anantnaag town with Kishtwar . So no more to use Simthen pass if the Tunnel comes up .Smithen top remains snow bound in extreme winters.

And if you take a left turn near Vailoo , you come to the NH1B leading to Simthen Pass .

.I remember having come to this place with our college excursion in early seventies . Nothing has changed except linking of this area throuh NH1B leading to Kishtwar. Daksum lies on this NH1B.

DAKSUM ( Altitude 2438 Metres ) is a scenic spot located in the dense forests. This scenic spot falls on the Anantnag-Sinthan-Kishtwar road. A gushing stream flows through Daksum which is rich in trout fish. It is a forest retreat girdled by mountains. If you Travel on NH1B that connects Anantnaag Town of Kashmir with Kishtwar Via Simthen Top ( Altitude 3748 Metres) , You pass through Daksum ( just 36 Kms away from Anantnaag ). One can call it a sleepy forest resort with some houses and a Government Rest House . The rest house is not properly maintained at the moment . When we visited the area on 9th April 2013 , there was no caretaker . The path and the steps leading to the rest House from main road was broken and the Garden around it was not maintained at all. Some villagers had put clothes for drying on the rest house fencing. Narcissus or yemberzal had grown unattended in the garden.

We went close to Simthen Top which is 31 kms from Daksum. It was spring time . Snow had not vanished from the mountains . A lady at Daksum had suggested us to proceed . She added that regular bus service shall also be started shortly to kishtwar as the snow at Smithen Top was being cleared.

The road from Kokernnag to Simthen is blacktopped and in good shape . Gushing water stream , Majestic pine trees , silence with occasional chirping of some birds on pine tree tops makes you feel in the lap of mother nature .

It was cold in April . We needed woolens. We kept the car windows open to let fresh cold air enter in . Where is the pollution ? Where is the sweltering heat of the plains ? Where is the noise of the city roads ?Life had dropped all its demands of existence that it usually makes in cities and towns .