KASHMIR : ESSENTIAL SRINAGAR & THE SAFFRON HARVEST, 23 OCT-4 NOV, 2022

KASHMIR: ESSENTIAL SRINAGAR & THE SAFFRON HARVEST, 23 OCT-4 NOV, 2022

with Jeremy Woodhouse
(13 days – 12 nights), maximum group size 8

Saffron Harvest

Saffron Harvest, Pampore

Ply the early morning waters in a shikara on Dal Lake and photograph the morning market. Photograph the saffron harvesters on local farms in Pampore. Visit the lotus growers in their homes and barns. Travel to the highest peak in Kashmir, Gulmarq, and photograph the local villagers. Photograph in the main mosques in Old Srinagar, Mehboobul-Alam and Hazratbal. Take a boat ride on the Jhelum River and photograph the craftsman and dwellers in the old section.


Itinerary

Day 1: Oct 23 – New Delhi
After an early morning arrival you will be transported to our hotel which is in close proximity to the New Delhi airport. We will have a meet and greet dinner and trip orientation meeting.

O/N Airport Hotel TBA

Day 2: Oct 24 – New Delhi - Srinagar
Morning flight to Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. We will check in to our houseboat and have lunch. Afternoon photo shoot in the market surrounding the Hazratbal Mosque will then be on the agenda. Presentation by photography leader Jeremy Woodhouse.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 3: Oct 25 – Srinagar
We will leave early in the morning after breakfast and drive to the scenic Pirpanjal range, which is the main area for saffron growing. We will photograph the saffron harvesters in the fields surrounding the villages of Pampore. We will have lunch in the home of a local family. If possible we will have a speaker join us and present on the history of Kashmir.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 4: Oct 26 – Srinagar
The group will have an early morning photo shoot in the floating vegetable market. We will ply the waters of Dal Lake by shikara and return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon we will take the short drive to the side of Srinagar that is bordered by the river. We will shoot the shikara builders at work, the women washing shawls and dying fabrics and shoot the winding streets of this old city.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 5: Oct 27 – Srinagar 
The group will shoot the saffron workers after harvest in traditional villages. We will visit rural mountain villages on the outskirts of Srinagar with farmers as they work in their homes, sheds and farms. Lunch will be be at the home of a local family. Sunset photoshoot from the Taj Vivanta hotel which overlooks Dal Lake. Evening photo critique on the houseboat.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 6: Oct 28 – Srinagar
In the area of Baba Nagri we will photograph the famous shrine and the worshippers. We will continue to the 1000 year old shiva temple in Narang. Proceeding afterwards we will immerse ourselves in the Kangan bazaar. Lunch will be picnic style on the banks of Sindh River. We also stop at Manasbal Lake and photograph the local population. A stop will be made in the village of Wangath where we will photograph the mixed classes of Islamic school children in their 300 year old wooden school building.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day: 7 Oct 29 – Srinagar
Today we will drive to Gulmarq which is one of the highest peaks in Kashmir. We will stop at the Sufi shrine called Shrine of Payam-Uldin Rishi and photograph the religious devotees. We will take the interior roads which will add time to this ride and do landscape and nature photography. Lunch will be at the historical Highland Park Hotel. We will return to our houseboat for a sunset photography shoot from the Hazratbal Mosque area.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 8: Oct 30 – Srinagar
After breakfast we will take a motor launch ride on the River Jhelum and photograph the unique colonial architecture of Srinagar. We will have lunch in a local Kashmiri restaurant. In the afternoon we all take the short drive to Idd Gah. This village is well know for their weaving and we will also shoot the farmers who grow vegetables and harvest lotus root. The village is on the periphery of scenic Anchaar Lake. For those that want to buy crafts we will go to the largest craft emporium in Srinagar.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 9: Oct 31 – Srinagar
We will document the saffron harvesters in the villages surrounding Pampore which is the center of the saffron growing region. Sunset photoshoot from the banks of Dal Lake. Dinner in a local Srinagar restaurant.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 10: Nov 1 – Srinagar
This day of the photo tour will be spent entirely in Srinagar. The morning will be spent in the Sultan-Ularfeen or Mehboobul-Alam Mosque. Photography is permitted here and many sufi singers may be walking the perimeter of the mosque. We will also shoot the interior of the Jamia Masjid mosque, the pillars of which are of architectural significance. Lunch will be in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will wander independently the streets of Lal Chowk shooting street scenes and spice merchants. Evening photo critique and image sharing.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 11: Nov 2 – Srinagar
Today we will drive to Pampore and photograph the Shokbab Sahib's sufi shrine. Pampore shirmaal bread is famous and we will visit the bakers and local people. On this last day we will also stop at local villages to shoot the farmers. Craft shopping for those that are interested.

O/N Houseboat on Dal Lake

Day 12: Nov 3 – Srinagar - New Delhi
We will fly back to New Delhi today. The rest of the day will be free until dinner when we will meet for a farewell dinner. Those taking late night flights or early morning departure will be escorted to the airport.

O/N Airport Hotel TBA

Day 13: Nov 4 – Departure
Transportation to the airport will be provided for those leaving today.

END OF THE TOUR

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Children from the Vale of Kashmir


Trip Notes


Arrival & Departure 

Arrival & Meeting Place
Arrive 23 Oct at Indira Ghandi International Airport where you will be met by your guide.

Departure
4 Nov, 2022 from Indira Ghandi International Airport

Visa
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

Weather 
Daily high temperatures decrease by 10°F, from 78°F to 68°F, rarely falling below 61°F or exceeding 84°F. Daily low temperatures decrease by 10°F, from 54°F to 44°F, rarely falling below 39°F or exceeding 59°F. For reference, on July 22, the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Srinagar typically range from 67°F to 85°F, while on January 16, the coldest day of the year, they range from 28°F to 49°F.

Language
Kashmiri is the language spoken in the Vale of Kashmir and the surrounding hills. By origin it is a Dardic language, but it has become predominantly Indo-Aryan in character. Reflecting the history of the area, the Kashmiri vocabulary is mixed, containing Dardic, Sanskrit, Punjabi, and Persian elements.

Currency
The standard Indian rupee is the currency of the Kashmir valley.

JW_060914_1063

Floating Market, Dal Lake

FULL 

Tour Cost: $6,850
EARLY INTEREST DEPOSIT: $100
(NON-REFUNDABLE)

Single: $700

Maximum Group Size: 8


Tour Price Includes

  • Domestic airfare
  • Ground transportation as described in the itinerary
  • Group transfers on arrival and departure
  • All accommodations based on twin occupancy
  • 3 Meals per day
  • All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary
  • A bottled water per person per day

Tour Price Excludes

  • International airfare
  • Passport and visa fees
  • Medical and trip insurance & evacuation costs
  • Airport taxes; excess baggage charges
  • Photography and video fees
  • Food and beverages not included in the group meals
  • Tips to drivers or guides
  • Items of a personal nature, including alcoholic beverages, laundry and telephone calls
  • Other items not specifically mentioned as included. 

Paying by check

If you would like to pay your deposit and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:

Nicole Woodhouse
Pixelchrome, Inc, 
605 Rouen Drive, 
McKinney TX 75072

Paying by Wire Transfer

If you would like to pay by Wire Transfer please contact nicole@pixelchrome.com for bank account details.


Equipment Checklist

  • Bring you own laptop computer and storage media
  • Camera body(s)
  • Lenses, 16-35mm, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar lenses are very good
  • Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories
  • Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses
  • Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses
  • Charger for batteries
  • Spare batteries
  • Spare Memory cards
  • Memory card reader
  • USB key to exchange images

Also good to have

  • Tripod
  • Good quality polarizing filter