INTRODUCTION
Hello, everyone! Sindhu here, a solo traveler hailing from the enchanting state of Tamil Nadu. But today, I’m going to take you on a journey far away from my roots, to the incredible land of Kashmir, where I’ve been living for over a year now. I’m sure you’re curious about how it’s even possible for someone like me to live in this breathtaking region for such a long time. Well, my friends, get ready, because I’m about to unfold the story of my extraordinary relocation to Kashmir
Ep 01 - Unexpected Journey
Kashmir is like a dream for folks like me. You see, I was on this 100-day solo journey all over India, and I never planned to visit Kashmir. There were a few reasons for that.
Stuck in Delhi
So, my travel started through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and finally to Delhi. It was an incredible journey, and I had been on the road for over 55 days. My plan was to head back through Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, but things took an unexpected turn when I reached Delhi. You see, there was a farmer protest happening in Delhi. This meant there were lots of rules and regulations, and they even closed the state border for two days. I found myself stuck in the heart of the city.
Cant continue my journey
Now, here’s the tricky part. I only had 800 rupees in my account, and I needed to figure out how to continue my journey. The best budget-friendly option was to take a train to my next destination. I started my search for available trains and found that many of them were fully booked. It was a bit of a race against time because I didn’t have much money to spare. I needed to find a train that could take me to my next stop without emptying my wallet. Most of the trains were stopped due to the protest at Delhi’s borders. I really wanted to go to Himachal, especially Manali, but the bus tickets were quite expensive. I checked for trains to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but I didn’t even consider looking into Kashmir. Ha-ha-ha
AR Rahman - the legendary
I was getting tired of all the searching and planning. So, I decided to take a break and sat on my terrace, wondering what to do next and where I should go. I took out my mobile and started listening to the radio. You know, there’s something special about sitting on the terrace and tuning in to the FM waves, and I got this love for it from my dad, for sure. And then, wow, there it was, the music of the legendary A.R. Rahman. Can you guess which song? Yes, you’re absolutely right – it was “Pudhu Vellai Malai,” a song that instantly transported me to a different world.
Honestly Shocked
Suddenly, the thought of Kashmir crossed my mind. I knew it might be a huge budget stretch, but I thought, “Why not just check it out on Google and see?” So, I searched for a train from Delhi to Kashmir, and to my amazement, it showed available tickets right away. I was honestly shocked. I double-checked, and yes, it was still available, and the ticket price was only 240 rupees for a sleeper. In my excitement, I didn’t realize that Jammu and Kashmir are different places, and there’s a gap of around 300+ kilometers between them. But at that moment, I felt incredibly lucky – Delhi to Kashmir for just 240 rupees.
No ideas about my journey
I started on my journey, eagerly waiting for the train to arrive in the snow mountain, But, I had no idea that a major surprise was just waiting for me around the corner, and it was about to alter the direction of my Travel.
Conclusion
I’ll be waiting for you in the next episode, and let me tell you, you won’t believe the emotional rollercoaster my travel life is about to become. This journey has truly been a series of unexpected twists and turns, and I can’t wait to share the next unbelievable chapter with you. Stay tuned for more of my Kashmir tales. This is Sindhu, signing off for now