Hiking the Hills to Gypsy villages

3^rd August

Today we headed for the hills once again. This time off the beaten track or rather up a goat track to hike amongst the gypsy, nomadic Gujar, villages.

The first stop was to admire the view at a site where an Islamic festival is held each year. It is a huge open space that apparently holds 3 to 4 thousand people. The festival lasts several days so I guess you would hope to arrive early to get a level spot to camp on.The first village we saw today is in the distance.

 

Festival site in foreground, gypsy village in the distance. The festival site has bench seats positioned right across the site. Odd as I think the site only gets used once a year. Maybe it is also a picnic destination. Who knows?

Anyone in there? The bin kept this little one amused for about 15 minutes!

Isn't the view stunnning?

Further into the hills we stopped in the next gypsy village and bought some paratha and chai before hiking down to the river then back through the village .Their villages of turf roofed mud houses are mainly their winter homes, which accommodate both the shepherd families and their livestock, but there still seemed to be many around. Perhaps nowadays the younger families and elderly stay at home. The village does have a school for the younger children. 

Our paratha being made - absolutely delicious.

The finished product!

 

 

 

 Yep, the water is cold and no, I won't be swimming!

 

Thistle? It grows everywhere up in the hills.

There is a school in the village for the younger children. School's out for the day!

Note the solar panel on the roof!

 

Cape Cod extension?

Grass is cut, dried and stored during the summer months - food for the animals during the winter snows.

We ate our picnic lunch back at the festival site. The crows were eager to share it with us.

The weather today up in the mountains has been a good break away  from the heat. We had some light showers but not enough to worry us.

Afternoon traffic back in Srinagar

 

Thirty seconds prior to this photo the traffic policeman looked in danger of being run over from more than one direction. It seemed that he gave up on trying to manage the traffic in favour of living.

 

 Mobile shoe salesmen getting phone orders?

 

Everyone has a mobile phone!