BETAAB VALLEY OF PAHALGHAM KASHMIR (J&K)

Nearest City ..    Srinagar  (Kashmir ) , District Anantnaag  ( J&;K )

Nearest  Town  .. Pahalghaam Valley  (95 Kms from Srinagar By Road )  

How to Go .. Buses , Taxis from Srinagar go to Betaab Valley directly .Ponies can be hired from Pahalghaam . Srinagar can be approached by Air from any part of the country . One can also travel from Jammu to Srinagar  (  About 300 Kms distance  and 8 Hour Journey through Hills ) in Buses , Taxis and Tata sumos .One can also come from jammu to srinagar by Air in just 35 minutes.

Other Places of Interest Nearby ..Pahalghaam  Town ( Known as valley of shephards ), Kolhai Glacier,Tarsar and Maarsar Lakes  ,Trout fishing in Lidder river ,Aru Valley ( 14 Kms from Pahalghaam ),Tulian lake ,Shikargaah , Baisaran and Ancient Mamal  Shiva Temple  on the banks of river lidder in Pahalghaam ( 11^th centuary temple built by King Jaysimha ),and Martand Sun temple ruins ( 40 Kms from Pahalghaam town towards Srinagar near Mattan Village )

Just 7 kms up on Pahalgham Chandanwari Road , Lies a beautiful valley of DREAMS known now as BETAAB valley. It derives its name from Sunny Deol’s ( Action Hero of Hindi Cinema and son of another veteran actor  Dharmendra )Movie BETAAB which was shot extensively in this area . The producer of the movie had also built two Huts for the Movie and stayed in the area for about 2 months to shoot . Those who saw the movie can also recall the songs

1 Jab Hum Jawan Honge
Jaane Kahan Honge

2 Dekho Maine Dekha Hai Yeh Ek Sapna
Phoolon Ke Shehar Me Ho Ghar Apna

Both the songs were shot in this valley and the song Dekho Maine Dekha hai was shot actually in the Hut built by the producer of the movie. The Hut has been demolished and a lodge cum rest house has come up in the area . A beautiful garden and a bridge to cross the Shesh Naag stream has also come up now. some more construction activity is in progress and Pahalgham Development Authority proposes to Develop this valley as a Beautiful Holidaying spot .
The Valley is surrounded by Snow Covered Mountains Peaks , Dense Pine and deodar Forests With  Sheshnaag stream  originating from Sheshnaag Lake ( Holy Amar Nath cave area ) flowing majestically through it . The stream Moves to join Lidder just 7 Kms below At Pahalgham .Clusters of Willows tossing each other in wind are lined on the banks of Sheshnaag stream . Like Lidder ( Ancient name Lambodhiri ) , this river is also a home to TROUT fish . For fishing, Anglers have to procure a proper permit from Pahalgham . A group of photographers are always there to take your snaps in this Picturesque valley . I was informed by some Gujjars in this valley that monkeys and Bears have been seen by them regularly near their DHOKS ( Temporary huts built by Migratory Gujjars ) . Like ARU valley in Pahalgham , this area is now a favourite destination of Tourists from Europe and America who camp in this valley and trek the adjoining mountains . Enjoy some views of this valley captured by me in September 2009 with some lines form the noted kashmiri Poet Farooq Nazki .Shikwa Shikaayat Saarie Traav
Paath Kunn Gudreumut Mashraav
Cheiti Raaviy Armaanun Grendh,
Meiti Kuss Shar Az Taamath Draav
( Farooq Nazki )

Come forgetting the complaints and grievances Love !
Forget what you went through as a past story.
Alas! you too lost count of your dreams in this suffering ,
Pity ! I too failed to achieve anything love .( Autar Mota  )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
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