Suhaib Idrees Lateef
Kashmir, the crown in its creation as the northern geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Its blissful ambience can never be expressed, nor be described in words.
The beautifully crafted Farsi couplet marks Kashmir Valley as Heaven on Earth.
“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameenast, Hameenast-o hameenast-o hameenast”. (If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this).
The Snowy glaciers, Lakes and streams as the jewels in mountains, the green deep dense forests, mesmerizing lofty mountains with lush green and profuse meadows covering gushing and expressive rivers, Superabundantly, everything regarding Kashmir have been supremely and blissfully crafted by the Nature of green.
Now this time, I would go on to describe a lush meadow as a mini-paradise in the whole of it – The Raineera meadow.
Apart with the explorations of the Pir-panjal meadows like of world known, famous Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Tosa Maidan, the beautiful Peer Ki Gali. Simultaneously, there lies a lot of it which is either unexplored or less known, among such beautiful and gushing gems is the meadow of Raineera, which is though a less explored hill station.
On 15th of July, Saturday, the environment was wholly of cloudy, however unmatched to our firm determination, I, along with my two friends namely Tariq Ahmad and Shahid Ahmad met at the village of Sedow, while Mohammad Yamin and Dawood Ashaq missed this opportunity as they were scheduled for it, We packed the bags with some less diet foods, Peanuts, Colas, water bottles and left for upon early dawn, likely at 6 ,for the heavenly meadow of Rianeera.
Among the Circle, I was a little, more crazy about as was planning for this, since last year.
The destination contains 3 routes, Heerpora-Shahkoot Circuit, Ladigasan- Draenaad-Zabran-Shahkoot route, Sedow-Draenaad- Zabran-Shahkoot route.
Discussing the route upon, with the Forest-men posted there at Sedow forest division, we choose the third route, though lengthy.
Starting rightly North, The way was fully carved out, straightly, with the Horse trotting, hard and too steep, along deep and dense, tall standing Pine and Deodar trees. The travellers and their horses, the continuous greetings, the silent and profusely soul-touching patient Winding air was proving us as the blissful companion along the way. Our sweating bodies were proving our metal with the rising and hard steepness, The travelling horses.
The whole journey towards the lush Raineera is sculptured and carved by large and small Meadows often at lengths, dense canopy of verdant alpine trees, thoroughly, as if the Nature has clearly crafted the length for travellers as upon every steepness, you would be encountered with a soothing meadow,
The first meadow we encountered on our way, after by or small a 3 km patch, was Drae-Naad (the Meadows of little fairs). where we choose to for a little rest to listen the tale, from the Gujjars living there. The Patch was a small heaven to our tired eyes. We saw a few nomadic settlements of the Gujjars. They offered us with their favourite filtered-milk, known by Gurus, The liquid was honey to our tired bodies and proved with an instant energy cover.
Covering the patch of Drae-Naad, now it was a flat lush green grass measuring and charming our way, little steep, little down, the vibes were extremely beautiful, we were getting energized upon travelling a little more towards Jabbdan meadow another meadow known as Jabdan-Chamb, more or less 2.5 km from Drae-Naad. The soul touching enchanting voices from the pines, the mesmerizing surrounding were largely a melody for us, was vitalizing us towards the destination. This little meadow was well in its full ambience where we had some chocolates, peanuts, hydrated our bodies and met with surrounding men grazing cattle there.
Upon taking to an Octogenarian Bakerwal, he said “We get a good and responsive health here in forests and meadows, upon going down to localities, we lose our health and become target of diseases, That one green lush mountainous meadow is Raineera, Choorgali meadow comes earlier to it, upon directing with his stick, that he treats his potential Gun for bear and leopard attacks.” Nevertheless, he was quite happy to talk to us. He was quite glad to know that my friends were from his neighbouring village, where he resides in Winters. The people are warm, whole hearted and good receptionists. We too offered them with biscuits and other eating packets.
The Cycle of meadow and forests was on a continuum as we entered another patch of deep down pine forest cover, the steep length patch, the crystal clear waters and again opened our ways at the most beautiful, exuberant meadow of Shahkoot (meadow of King). We were simply awestruck here, simply speechless, seeing the around beauty of the area, Because, not every day we get to see something as pure as what was in front of us. The meadow of Shahkoot was extremely beautiful. The green carpet, the pure lakes and water as if was radiating the shines. It was the seriously marham to our exhausted and tired eyes and bodies. On the way to Raineera meadow, Shahkoot is the potential site for camping, horse riding and mesmerisation. The lush green and flowery meadow was surely taking our hearts towards it.
As our destination was expectant for us, we had to leave Shahkoot meadow, now our way till the destination was a clearly carved with sloppy, steeply and rugged terrains where on one side was with a complete green mounted deep mountainous forest cover and the other side was a layered, stepping down, large shaffled meadow of Choor Gali, Kaenwean Or kooler, Here the bright shining River kept us company with the surrounding fir trees around us made the place look simply beautiful. These two were broad and abundant meadows, vibrating their mesmerizing beauties for the travelers travelling here towards Buddhal (Reasi) , Teathgjan(Naked Valley), Gurwatan(the valley of Horses) where usually the Gujjar and Bakawals living up there potentially for their Shelter and grazing Cattle. The lyrical sound coming from the deep down forests was breezing and soothing us to deep into its animation and ardour completely till our eyes and feet met with our final Destination of Raineera Meadow, The feeling and emotions spiritually rose high, eyes melt, heart cherished as soon as we arrived.
All of sudden, our fatigue, sluggishness went completely disappeared upon seeing the beautiful green lush unending mounting meadow patches in full beauty and serene, wherever your eyes turn, wherever your eyes see, the picturesque was on whole the deep down and largely green crafted Raineera meadow, The rumblings and snorts, the baas, the lyrical sound of the streams, the winding breeze at altitude was the way Raineera welcomed us. The meadow gives a panorama view of entire Pirpanjal Range. Not sure, maybe cloud hidden great Bramha-Sakli mountains were visible from the altitude of Raineera.
The large and ever-lasting meadows, surrounded by snow-capped mountains on North east, lasting long meadows of Raineera on West, North West to Gurwatan and Tethjan Valleys . Then we hiked on some of the mounting meadows, the scene was proving more stunning. We became quite drawn to the serenity and tranquillity of the location, we bowed there towards Almighty as our 3.5 hour, 11km deep and steep trek locate the final destination. Rested, had brief fried chicken there, slept for a while, waked-up, packed up to way back for homes with hard hearts.
Environmental check-up: We didn’t let any of the polythene covers, plastic bottles, or any article there, either we burnt it or placed in our bags. Our group clearly denies any such pinch disastrous to environment.
Meanwhile, I thank both my friends Shahid and Tariq for company.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
