Northern India Journey - Day 4 Sonamarg - 16/12/2010

We started our tour in Kashmir after a breakfast in the houseboat. As we had booked a tour in before, they took us to visit a place called Sonamarg nearly a hundred kilometre from Srinagar. Actually I had no idea about what I was going to see, just let them bring me to there. On the way to there, you can see some local villages, temples and the river along the road. The whole environment was tranquil and suburb. The drive let us to stop and take picture during the ride. The time we went there was in low season, there were not much cars or visitors there. Since Kashmir is a place where India and Pakistan still "fighting" for, there were some military check points on the road. But they were not a problem to us, at least we didn't need to need for any checking.

Few hours later, we arrived a village with some houses and saw some local people with their pony. The driver said we have arrived Sonamarg and the activity here was a pony ride to see glacier. Actually I have no idea what did he mean as I'd never thought about I'm going to see something like that in India.

We joined the pony ride anyway. The guide leaded the pony and brought us to the glacier. The experience was really extraordinary as this was my first time of house riding ever!! And I did it in India! The road to the glacier was very steep. My pony always walk along the cliff side of the road it's a bit threatening. But thanks God, we had safely arrived the Glacier. the view was truly magnificent! That's totally enjoyable.

On the way back to the houseboat, the drive took us to a shop selling carpet and scarf. (something commission based activity in the package...) We eventually bought a pashmina scarf and the end.