Some journeys are remembered not for the distance travelled, but for the silence of the meadows, the kindness of strangers, and the moments that make your heart breathe deeper.
🌅 A Slow, Gentle Morning in Srinagar
🏨 A Relaxed Start at Hassanz Enclave
Day 7 of our Kashmir tour began without any rush. Since we were staying in the same hotel for the remaining three days, there was no packing, no checkout tension — just a calm, easy morning.
We woke up around 6:30 AM, enjoyed the cool air filtering through the window, and sipped our first cup of tea with some biscuits in the room. Title was still sleeping, wrapped in the warmth of the Kashmiri morning, so the quietness felt even softer.
🌿 Stroll Through the Hotel Garden
I stepped downstairs for a short walk and to check the breakfast timings.
The hotel garden looked beautiful in the early light — bright seasonal flowers, a small apple tree, one large shady tree, and a few fern trees adding texture to the space. The air felt crisp and peaceful. I spent a few minutes there before returning upstairs to wake Title and Subasmita so we could get ready.
Within an hour, all three of us were dressed, freshened up, and prepared for the day’s plan — Tulip Garden in the morning and Doodhpathri Meadows later.
🍽️ Breakfast Delights
At 8 AM, we walked into the hotel restaurant with our cameras, locking our room behind us.
This was our first proper breakfast at Hassanz Enclave, apart from the packed meal on the Gulmarg day.
The buffet had a surprising variety:
- Hot milk with cereal
- Orange juice
- Bread, butter & jelly
- Poha
- Chole Bhature
- Chana Masala
- Boiled eggs
- Veg sandwiches
- Watermelon
- Tea & coffee
We tasted almost everything except milk and cereal. After finishing breakfast, I grabbed a black coffee and walked out to the garden’s seating area to enjoy the fresh sunlight.
The staff was extremely courteous, helping every guest with a smile.
Title finished her breakfast happily with a sandwich, juice, and a plate of watermelon.
🌷 Walking to the Tulip Garden & A Stranger’s Kindness
🚶♂️ A Morning Walk That Turned Special
After breakfast at Hassanz Enclave, we stepped out to find an auto for the Tulip Garden. Since Zuneid Bhai would join us later around 12 noon—after celebrating Eid morning with his family—we planned to reach the garden on our own.
But surprisingly, no autos were available near the hotel.
So we decided to walk a bit, hoping to find one on the main road.
Barely five minutes into the walk, a local car passed us, slowed down about 50 feet ahead, and reversed. The driver rolled down the window and asked gently,
“Kahan jaa rahe ho? Aur kahan se aaye ho?”
When we said, “Kolkata, West Bengal… Tulip Garden jaa rahe hain,”
he smiled warmly and offered us a lift.
A simple gesture — but one that reminded us again of the generosity and humility that Kashmiris carry so effortlessly.
He dropped us near the garden parking area with a “Khuda Hafiz,” adding a beautiful start to our day.
🌸 The Path to the Tulip Garden
From the parking area, it’s around 500 meters to the gate. The walking path looked like a movie set — wide, clean, lined with greenery, with the Zabarwan mountains slowly revealing themselves behind the mist.
Honestly, no words can match the beauty of that walk.
Today was 1st April, and interestingly, as it was our 7th day in Kashmir, the Tulip Festival was also on its 7th day, having opened on 26th March this year.
The festival’s 2025 opening ceremony had been delayed to 23rd March due to unseasonal rain, which had slowed flowering and waterlogged parts of the garden.
🎟️ Entering the Tulip Garden – Gate No. 1
We reached the entrance around 9 AM.
Ticket prices (2025):
- Adults: ₹75
- Children (below 12): ₹30
- Foreigners: ₹200
- No extra charge for camera or video equipment
- Special charges apply only for film or professional photoshoots
Title proudly purchased all three tickets — ₹225 in total — and we entered through Gate No. 1.
Since it was early morning, the ticket queue was short, and the excitement on our faces was clearly visible.
🌼 A Glimpse of the Tulip Garden
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, formerly Siraj Bagh, is Asia’s largest tulip garden. Established in 2007, it lies at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, overlooking the peaceful waters of Dal Lake. Inspired by Dutch tulip parks, many bulbs were imported from Keukenhof Gardens, Amsterdam.
Quick Highlights:
- 🌄 Location: Foothills of Zabarwan Range, Srinagar
- 📐 Size: ~30 hectares
- 🪜 Terraces: Built on seven natural terraces
- 🌷 Flora: 1.5+ million tulips, 60+ varieties, plus daffodils, hyacinths, and ranunculus
- 🎉 Festival: Hosts an annual Tulip Festival to celebrate Kashmiri culture
🌈 Three Hours of Pure Color & Calm
For the next three hours, we wandered through endless rows of tulips — red, yellow, purple, white, each glowing under the soft April sunlight. Every step felt like walking inside a live painting.
We captured hundreds of photos and videos, but even those cannot fully hold the magic we witnessed.
🎬 Watch the Video:
➡️ Kashmir in Color – Tulip Garden & Festival Magic | Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 1 – (To be published on 10th May 2026)
🏞️ Journey to Doodhpathri & The Valley of Milk
🚗 A Warm Eid Greeting & The Road to Budgam
At exactly 12 noon, our driver Zuneid Bhai arrived at the Tulip Garden parking, fresh from celebrating Eid with his family. With cheerful smiles and warm greetings, we began our journey toward Doodhpathri, about 65 km away in the Budgam district.
The drive quickly turned scenic — winding roads, pine forests, and wide, sunlit valleys unfolding one after another.
A few minutes into the drive, Zuneid Bhai stopped near a small shop to buy a cold drink and kindly offered the same to us. We picked up a few water bottles for the journey and continued ahead, enjoying the changing landscape.
🍽️ A Simple, Heart-Touching Lunch Stop
On the way, we halted at a roadside dhaba for lunch. They served Makai ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag, fresh, rustic, and full of local flavors.
The moment became even more special because Zuneid Bhai joined us for lunch for the first time on this trip — his Roza having ended just the day before.
A cup of hot Kashmiri tea added warmth to the simple afternoon meal, making it one of those unexpected travel moments that stay in memory longer than planned sightseeing.
👢 Gumboots, Raincoats & the Last 2 KM
From the dhaba area, Doodhpathri Parking was just 2 km away.
Here, visitors can take gumboots for ₹150 per pair, and raincoats are also available.
Since the weather was sunny and there was hardly any snow left, we skipped renting both. We already had our raincoats from Pahalgam, just in case.
The road from this point onward turned even more scenic — open meadows, fresh mountain air, and bright sunlight guiding us toward the valley.
🎥 Watch the drive here:
Scenic Drive From Srinagar To The Valley Of Milk – Doodhpathri Parking
Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 2 – (To be published on 17th May 2026)
🌄 About Doodhpathri – The Valley of Milk
📍 Location & Landscape
Doodhpathri is a bowl-shaped valley tucked inside the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas.
Located in the Budgam district, it is known for its rolling green meadows, alpine flowers, and the shimmering Shaliganga River.
The valley stays lush and green through spring and summer, while in winter, the entire bowl transforms into a white snowfield.
🏔️ Why It’s Special
- Surrounded by snow-capped mountains
- Known for its peaceful meadows and picnic spots
- Offers scenery comparable to Gulmarg and Pahalgam
- Perfect for photography, horse rides, and nature walks
- Just a two-hour drive from Srinagar
🕊️ Legend of the Valley
The name “Doodhpathri” literally means Valley of Milk.
Its story is rooted in the teachings of the revered 14th-century saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (Sheikh-ul-Aalam).
According to legend:
- The saint was traveling and needed water for prayers.
- Finding none, he tapped the ground with his staff.
- Instead of water, pure milk sprang out.
- When he prayed for it, the milk transformed into water, suitable for ablution but not drinkable for prayer purposes.
Even today, the Shaliganga River appears milky white from a distance due to its mineral-rich, fast-moving currents — a natural effect that beautifully aligns with the legend.
🌿 The Descent Into Doodhpathri’s Whispering Meadows
🅿️ Reaching the Parking Point – Where the Real Journey Begins
Once we reached the Doodhpathri Parking, our Srinagar car could go no further.
From here, the actual valley lay about 3 km below, and visitors have three ways to cover the distance:
- ATV Bike: ₹2,000 per person
- Horse Ride: ₹600–₹800 per person
- Walking: Free, but slightly challenging
We first spoke to the ATV group, but their rates were higher than expected, and the negotiation didn’t work out. So we decided to try the walking route.
🌼 The First Meadow – A Carpet of Green & Snow
Just after the parking area, an enormous green meadow stretched before us — soft grass underfoot, pine trees lining the horizon, and snow-covered hills standing tall like silent guardians.
Some horses grazed nearby, waiting to carry visitors deeper into the valley.
Standing there, we felt that this was the true beginning of the Doodhpathri experience.
The air was crisp, the silence comforting, and each step took us further into nature’s calm embrace.
After walking around 500 meters, the road suddenly dipped downward, a slope of nearly 30–45 degrees.
Walking downhill wasn’t a problem — all three of us had good sports shoes — but we knew returning uphill might be difficult later.
🎥 Watch this moment here:
Kashmir’s Whispering Meadows – Doodhpathri Nature Walk Experience
Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 3 – (To be published on 24th May 2026)
🚗 A Ride With a Kind Uncle – The Last 2.5 KM to the Valley
Seeing the steep slope ahead, Suchismita approached a local Alto driver for help.
He was an elderly gentleman — around 50–55 years old — soft-spoken, polite, and surprisingly energetic.
After a brief conversation, we agreed to hire his Alto for the up-and-down journey, and he charged ₹1,800.
With that, we shifted into his small but sturdy car, and our descent into Doodhpathri truly began.
❄️ The Frozen Road & Pine Forests
The final 2.5 km drive was magical —
- snow shimmering along the roadside,
- pine forests brushing the sky,
- cold wind sneaking in through the windows,
- and sunlight dancing over patches of melting ice.
My camera barely got a break. Every turn revealed something new, something beautiful, something worth capturing.
Words fall short for the feeling we had during this drive…
The only way to understand it is to experience it yourself.
🎥 Watch the drive here:
Road to Doodhpathri View Point – Scenic Drive Through Frozen Beauty
Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 4 – (To be published on 31st May 2026)
🌄 Valley of Milk – The Scenic Walk at Doodhpatri
A Gentle River, Endless Meadows & A Heart-Touching Guide – Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 5 – (To be published on 7th June 2026)
🌿 Reaching the Viewpoint – The Final Stretch
After a short 10–15 minute drive from the main meadow, we finally arrived at the Doodhpatri Viewpoint.
On the way, we saw tourists enjoying ATV rides and horse rides, adding energy to the peaceful landscape.
Our driver uncle parked the car, and from there, a soft 100–200 meter walk led us to the river — the true heart of Doodhpatri.
💙 A Guide Who Became Family
What made the moment unforgettable was our local driver uncle.
He didn’t just drop us off —
he walked with us, guided us, and helped my wife and daughter at every step.
His kindness added warmth to the cold mountain breeze and made this experience feel personal and soulful.
🏞️ Valley of Milk – A Scenic Walk to Remember
Doodhpatri’s river, often called the Valley of Milk, flowed between wide open meadows, pine-fringed slopes, and shining stones.
There weren’t many tourists, yet the place felt alive — calm, pure, and deeply peaceful.
We spent 30–45 minutes taking photos, recording videos, and simply feeling the silence of the valley.
🥾 Want More Adventure?
From this point, trekkers can explore 4–5 amazing trails, but these require a full-day hike or a night stay at Doodhpatri.
🔗 Popular Trekking Trails Nearby
- Diskhal Meadow – 1.5 hrs
- Asthar Rivulets – 5 hrs
- Trata Koti Glacier – 6 hrs
- Yousmarg Tourist Destination – 6 hrs
- Sunset Peak – 8 hrs
Perfect for those seeking untouched Kashmir.
🎥 Episode Link
Doodhpathri – Valley of Milk Scenic Walk & Final Lap – (To be published on 7th June 2026)
🏞️ Return from Doodhpatri – Meadows, Horse Ride & Scenic Road Views
A Peaceful Goodbye to the Valley of Milk – Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 Ep 6 – (To be published on 14th June 2026)
🌿 Leaving the Valley, Carrying Its Calm
Since we didn’t plan for long treks or night stay, we slowly began our return journey from the Valley of Milk.
On the way, we stopped at a roadside spot completely surrounded by fresh snow, enjoying a few peaceful moments in that quiet white world.
🙏 A Farewell to Remember
Back at the main Doodhpatri meadow point, we bid goodbye to our local driver uncle.
Before leaving, I handed him an extra ₹200 — not as a tip, but as a sincere thank you for his honesty, care, and the way he supported our family throughout the visit.
🐎 A Short Horse Ride & Meadow Memories
Near the parking area, in the vast green meadow, my daughter enjoyed a short horse ride.
Her laughter echoed through the valley — a sound that blended beautifully with the rolling hills, soft winds, and distant murmuring streams.
Those few minutes felt like a perfect postcard moment.
☕ Tea Break & Titli’s Treat
We then wandered around the meadow looking for tea and something for Titli.
She had her eyes on momos or noodles, and finally, we found a small local stall.
I enjoyed hot tea while Titli happily relished local momo, adding a warm touch to the chilly afternoon.
🚗 Searching for Our Car & No Network
By now, it was around 3:30 PM.
With nothing more left to explore, we walked back to the parking area to meet our driver Zuied Bhai and start our return to Srinagar.
But there was a problem —
the car was there, but Zuied Bhai was not, and my phone had no network.
With the help of another driver’s phone, I finally managed to call him and inform him that we were waiting near our car.
He arrived soon, and around 4 PM, we began our return journey from the quiet meadows of Doodhpatri.
🎥 Episode Link
Return from Doodhpatri – Scenic Road Views & Pony Ride at Meadow – (To be published on 14th June 2026)
🌙 Evening in Srinagar – Rest, Warm Moments & Hotel Memories
A Quiet Kashmir Evening After the Doodhpatri Adventure – Kashmir Vlog: Day 7 (Final Part)
🏙️ Early Return to Srinagar
We reached Srinagar before 6 PM, a little earlier than usual.
After so many days of early mornings, long journeys, and continuous sightseeing, this early break felt like a blessing.
Suchismita and Titli went for a few evening snaps, while I went downstairs to the hotel reception.
🏏 A Heartwarming Cricket Match
Outside the reception, some hotel staff were playing cricket in the passage.
They invited me to join — and I did.
For the next hour, I played with young Kashmiri boys who worked as:
- managers
- cooks
- room service staff
Their energy, humility, and friendliness created one of the most beautiful memories of the trip.
It reminded me how travel is not only about landscapes — but about the people who make those places feel like home.
☕ Evening Tea & Stories
After the game, I returned to the room, and we enjoyed some tea and snacks.
Dinner was around 8:30 PM, and once again, the hospitality at Hassanz Enclave made the evening special.
We chatted with other guests — including a family from Punjab.
Their son had also completed his Class 10 board exams, just like Titli, and the conversation felt warm and familiar.
🌕 Moonlit Moments in the Hotel Garden
As per routine, the hotel provided two water bottles for the day.
After dinner, I collected them and stepped out into the hotel garden.
Under the full moon, the cold breeze, calm surroundings, and soft lights made the moment unforgettable.
Titli captured a few lovely snaps before we returned to the room — it was too cold to stay out for long.
📞 A Message from Zuined Bhai
Around bedtime, Zuneid Bhai called.
He informed us that from the next morning, a new driver would join us with the same car.
His father’s health had worsened, and he needed to return home near Pahalgam.
We wished him well and thanked him sincerely for being such a wonderful companion throughout our journey so far.
🛏️ Overnight Stay: Hassanz Enclave Hotel, Srinagar
🎥 Next: [Day 8 – Srinagar to Sonamarg – Glacier Adventures, Table Top & Last Village]
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