A Flower Filled Gulmarg

I intended to show the Gulmarg flowers as soon as I got back from the trip, which was in September 2014. But at that time Jammu and Kashmir were badly affected by floods. It made no sense to write about rain drenched flowers when the state was facing one of its worst crisis. But those days are gone, I think I can safely write the post now.

Gulmarg was full of wild flowers in September. I had seen it all white in March 2013, so it was a really different look of Gulmarg that greeted me in March.

I have been to Gulmarg twice, both trips were with The Khyber Resort and Spa. But we visited another hotel too, on both the occasions, the Hotel Highland Park. All the flowers other than the top one in this post, are from their gardens. The zinnias were right at the entrance. Even though it was a wet and cold day and food and drinks were waiting for me inside, I spent quite some time outdoors with the flowers! I just love flowers.

The garden was full of blooms, all clamoring for my attention! It was the rain and cold that was playing spoil sport.

The pathway leads to the cottage where the song for the Hindi movie Bobby was shot. The Hotel Highland Park says ‘hum tum ek kamre mein band ho’ was filmed in one of the cottages of the hotel! Even now that cottage commands a higher price!

It was such a bliss to stroll around in the grounds of the hotel! I am told that the hotel is very popular with skiers in the winters. When I visited it in March 2013, the path to the hotel was completely filled with snow. I remember walking with baby steps in my sports shoes so that I would not slip! It presented such a different, flower filled picture in September in 2014.