By the R.Chenab at Akhnoor City(J&K).

                               By The R. Chenab At Akhnoor City.

The view of R. Chenab from topmost point at Akhnoor Fort.

The Govind ghat by the R. Chenab at akhnoor.

 Akhnoor City, is just 30/35 kms from Jammu city...............We just had a day to plan out a hot-day frike-out trip & a drive upto Akhnoor was the most ideal one. Akhnoor ,is more commonly known amongst people as the land of Heer-Ranjha.................. We drove off to the place in the morning after having sumptous breakfast as we were aware that we'll hardly find good eatteries on the way ....upto the end of Talab-tilo road ,there's lot of shops but sunday's might see a deserted look.By 9:30am we were at the Akhnoor Fort site...Its simply in ruins & is under the Archeological Survey of India's protection. As we walked in to the end walls of the fort...Oh,what a beautiful glimpses of the R. Chenab........................ We kept exploring the fort & as we walked down upto the river ghats....the gate was locked. But luckily we soon came across the incharge of the fort, we gave us its keys to walk upto the ghats from here....It was really beautiful & well maintained.... We saw people taking a dip into the water's of Chenab& we were more eager to get into it too.... Hardly we knew that the water's were chilling ice-cold ,which gave us a thermal shock as we put our feets in..... But soon we started loving the experience & felt bad that we didn't come here prepared with clothings to take a dip here ...... may be next time..... We enjoyed our Cold drinks by the R. Chenab ,before we made it to the Pandava Caves here,by the govind ghat.  It seems that Pandavas stayed here during the exile period & errected the Shiva lingam to please Lord Shiva to win over the battle of Kurukshetra.... Saw a narrow way inside the caves, which is believed to exit at Amarnath shrine ,But its closed by ASI. 

The Arch-bridge at Ambaran site(Akhnoor).

The Ambaran excavation site.

The Akhnoor Fort in ruins.

   After a darshan at theAkhnoor Gurudwara & Parashuram temple ,we headed for Ambaran site( Excavation site of harappan Civilisation).....though not well maintained ,but the excavated items are well displaced at the ASI office at the site. The newly built arch-bridge over the R. Chenab at Ambaran is quite a photographer's delight.It was almost 43C temp. & we were all exausted by then & so, thought to have our packed lunch ,under the shades of the arch-bridge....It was really fun ,to enjoy ones lunch ,by the R. Chenab ,amidst dense jungles of Akhnoor & offcourse by the site of a great Civilisation ...... After lunch ,we drove off ,over the arch-bridge ,along the borders of India....It was really enjoyable as we drove thru' tiny settlements/ Maize-fields..... Could See the otherside ...... Both side of the border looks the same , adorning the green cover of the maize......................... We thought to just drive upto the bypass road to Sunderbani , just to have an over-all idea to this Harappan Land...... Excavation site are spreaded all over this region .....Sunderbani , might be next time..................... Its now time to drive back home.... Really ,a worth travel to enjoy the less travelled locales of J&K.

THE MEADOWS OF SANASAR.(J&K).

                               The Pristine Meadows Of Sanasar....

The SanasarMeadows.

Sanasar ,is a beautiful valley,situated at an altitude of 2079mts above sea-level & some 20/25kms from Patnitop (a hillstation of Jammu). Sanasar is a cup-shaped meadow, surrounded by gigantic conifers.............. It takes ,some 5/6 hrs drive from Jammu city. Basically ,the 4 laning work is on ,on the Jammu-Srinagar highway ,for which its becoming bit difficult to drive fast across the high mountain roads...Its alway a madding jam around KUD town ( famous for its Patisa sweets made of pure ghee)...
***** someone ,willing to take onto the drive across this way ,should count almost 3hrs+ extra while travelling.

Pancheri View point.



The View of mountains inbetween the pines.

The Nathatop.

 After Patnitop diversion from the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the roads become narrow & bad,with steep gradients...... On the way to Sanasar meadows,one comes across PANCHERI & NATHATOP too.
   The best time to be here ,is ,soon after few spell of rains.
  The whole region becomes lush green.... Its truely beautiful drive amidst the clouds & high mountains ,after Patnitop. Not much good eatteries on the way ,except "PUNJAB HAVELI" ,soon after Katra crossing...
   One should try the KARADI KULCHA ,available in small dhabas on the way. With the onset of winter, these whole region gets covered in snow & the route remains close,until the snow melts again.

The Meadows of Sanasar.

The Steep gradient drive across after Patnitop.

 It seems there are Golf Course inside the Sanasar meadows...Paragliding too takes place ,depending upon the season( not very sure off...as we didnot see anything taking place as such,when we visited the place last weekend)...But ,yes, Horse riding do take place ,But they charge hefty....There's 2 small dhabas at the meadow site,which serves Rajma -rice & roti-vegetables....Mostly people carry their own food & enjoy a picnic lunch on the green slopes of the terrain much before the meadows & than venture out to the meadows for a trek or horse ride.

Myself, at Sanasar Meadows ,after a long 5 hrs drive.

****** The drive is awesome,thru' the whole stretch after Patnitop ...Location is pictureques & everyone visiting JAMMU ,should add this place to their itenary list (offcourse,if visiting before Oct' month).

As I walked around the NARWAL VEGETABLE MANDI ,JAMMU CITY.

    Its business as usual ,inside the NARWAL VEGETABLE-FRUIT MANDI(Market), Jammu City. By the break of dawn ,ie. 6am , it starts bustling with activities here....Basically ,its the prime wholesale market of the region. Since we started to live in this city, the first thing that struck me ,was the cost of Vegs. & fruits ,brought to the doorstep of houses across the city. I felt that its just looting of the customers .I wanted to find the main mandi,when someone guided me to this wholesale market . Its walking distance from Jammu-Tawi station.

 The Business ,inside the Narwal Veg.& Fruit Market, Jammu City.

     I have so-far visited the place twice; once around 10am ..when I found each type of vegs. were sold of in 10Rs/kg price( throwaway pricing)....only problem is that ,one need to purchase atleast a Kg of each type of Veg.  I returned back home with 4big bags of Vegs.& fruits .....Next ,time I went there, it was around 7am in the morning , & the pricing only was 15Rs/Kg of each type of vegs.   I just don't know, who fix up such standard pricing...But Felt happy to return back home with bags ful of Vegs. & Fruits at such throw-away prices.

Both the tungawala & theSUV's making its way into the mandi.

Often, people of this area fail to visit the place instead & landup being looted by vendors who bring their items from the market & sell it of at double, triple the price. I felt that ,since this region sees a lot of flow of money ,it hardly matters to what they bring home or how much they are being looted.....This generation ,lives & Loves all junk foods & Dominos/ McD/KFC's fills their stomach instead.  

KASHROD-a very local Veg. of this region(don't know any reciepe,though).

  Its time that each one of us ,should be concerned about ,what we eat,How fit are we,& How healthy we feel ourselves...It had been a good experience ,as I walked around the mandi & thought to potray it in my blog ,so that someone else too can benefit & Live a Healthy Life with Lots of Vegetables & Fruits on their daily palate.