New Delhi

Tulika Anand, a famous travel blogger and the author of Trails and Transformation said on her recent visit to Kashmir that "All the Kashmiris I met treated me like their family."

Tulika, who has traveled  across most of the States of India says, “Though this was my first visit to Kashmir, the people I met never made me feel like an outsider.” She said this in an interview to the Srinagar-based English language newspaper Greater Kashmir.

Tulika with her hosts in Srinagar

She said that the hospitality of the locals was at times making her uncomfortable.  She said the locals were so tourist friendly that they happily guided her and some even called later to check if she had reached the place safely.

She wrote: “I remember, it happened to be my day one in #srinagarkashmir and I walk on an evening walk with @crossfitzone_dwarka whom I met at Srinagar airport and found that he was on a trek along with his group to #tarsarmarsartrek I did find him a genuine guy and as usual asked him to click my picture as I found myself looking #photogenic under the streetlight and the #mesmerising #nightview of the lake.”

Tulika by the lakeside in Srinagar

She mentioned many people by name - Umar Masood in Srinagar, Fayaz Bhai of Queens Lap Houseboat, Fareed Chacha of Tangmarg, Prof Shahina Saleem in Srinagar and Mir Fayaz of Gulmarg - who would come and personally inquire about her wellbeing and safety.

She posted a somber picture of her visit to Srinagar’s  Jama Masjid  and said

“#jamamajid #srinagar happened to be the last #destination of my #srinagartour and the place was not allowing me to go. I could spent hours and hours there simply doing nothing but indulging myself in the #loving #faithful #positive #emotional #vibes I am sure, it would have been long, silent and never ending talk.

#jamamasjidsrinagar is located in the #downtown therefore choose the place as ur last destination as it would be eveing and u can get to listen to the #hearttouching and #azaan a perfect #melody that touches your #so”

Tulika at Jama Masjid in downtown Srinagar

Tulika is pursuing her PhD on 'Changing Forms of Diasporic Sensitivity' from Jaipur National University.

Speaking about her plan to visit Kashmir, she told Greater Kashmir,"It took some courage for a 20-year-old girl to bypass the hidden warnings and go to Kashmir alone," she says.

She spoke with houseboat owners and others while planning her trip. She said she trusted each person she spoke with. “When I set foot on heaven on earth at Jannat-e-Kashmir and began my two-week journey, every day and at every step, the perceived fear of insecurity was being proved wrong.”

During her visit to Pahalgam in south Kashmir, Tulika was impressed with the behavior of a Kashmiri sumo driver. She said, “The sumo driver requested a male tourist to sit in the back seat, so that an older person can sit in the front seat.” The young man didn’t listen to him and showed indifference to accommodate an old man needing a comfortable space to travel.

The sumo driver needed one more passenger to start the journey and the old man was waiting. At this Tulika also intervened and asked the young man to be generous. He started arguments with her.

Tulika said “When the young man had an argument with me, the bearded, wearing a cap on his head and about 40-45 years old the driver stopped the engine and said, “Brother, she is our sister. You can't treat her like that. Please get down, I won't take you in my vehicle."

Tulika says she was speechless at the driver’s behavior.

Tulika soaks herself in the scenic splendour of Pahalgam in Lidder river

“His reaction was like a warm blanket of love, care and protection. I didn't expect such a sense of security, especially when I was planning a trip,” she said.

She said more than Kashmir’s scenic splendor, she discovered the inner beauty of the people of the land. “During my stay, I saw many such incidents in which the people of Kashmir made me feel that I am one of them and I should not have any problem at least. He treated me as if I were his daughter, granddaughter, a friend and a sister, but not a tourist. Haji Ghulam Nabi Sahab, the owner of a houseboat, is so loving and caring that he still calls me in Jaipur to inquire about my well being.”

Tulika also lived with homesteads in villages to understand the life of Kashmiris. She says, “I could not believe myself until some families invited me for lunch with their families.”

She said, “During my stay, I saw many such incidents in which the people of Kashmir made me feel that I am one of them and I should not have any problem at least. He treated me as if I were his daughter, granddaughter, a friend and a sister, but not a tourist. Haji Ghulam Nabi Sahab, the owner of a houseboat, is so loving and caring that he still calls me in Jaipur to inquire about my well being.”

Tulika says, “I realized that Kashmiris are deeply connected to their soil and loyal to their religion and culture, where hospitality, fellow feeling, love, empathy and respect stand as the main pillars.”