The Flavours of Kashmir
a Food Fest on the Roof of the World
(An exclusive offer for Groups/ Buyouts)
The heart of any lived culture beats in its food - telling the continuing story of how people have gathered together over the ages, what they have eaten and what such meals have meant to them. This living tradition is passed down through the generations of cultural 'companions' - a word derived from thne Latin that literally means 'those who share bread together'.
We are happy to offer a unique 4 night culinary experience that tells the story of Kashmir's vibrant culture through its relationship with food: highlighting the growing and harvesting of the finest local ingredients, the recipes handed down over the generations, the family secrets of preparing imaginative dishes and the heart-warming gatherings around the tables that serve as nourishing caravanserai on our life's journey.
Based at the sylish retreat of Quyaam Ghar, we shall witness traditional cooking methods employed under the open skies of autumn, surrounded by the subtley changing colours of the advancing year while looking out onto spectacular views of the mountains above and Dal lake below. Our time together will be celebrated by picnic riverside lunches with freshly caught fish, a visit to the harvesting of the saffron for which the region is famous all over the world, refreshing glasses of saffron kehwa in the beautiful golden fields of crocus. A shopping trip through the local markets with our chef as he searches for the best winter vegetables and most fragrant spices will be topped off by a relaxing ride on traditional wooden shikaras through the backwaters of Dal Lake to get a glimpse of local life behind the scenes.
The chefs who are a central part of our team at Qayaam Gah and Sukoon may not be Michelin starred. Their expertise was nurtured by another, older source: the tradition of mothers and grandmothers passing down recipes, skills and commitment through the generations. We could call them graduates of the academy of Mamta - 'mum-ness' - that fosters not only technical skills but a heartfelt dedication to everything they produce. Our chefs perpetuate this age-old understanding and, always utilisng the freshest local ingredients, aim to bring soulful food to the table that is prepared with care and loving attention.
The Food Fest
Day 1: Arrive Sringar airport, transfer to Qayaam Gah for 4 nights. Afternoon free to enjoy the infinity pool, high tea with glorious Himalayan sunset, serenaded by traditional Sufi musicians.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: After breakfast we go with our chef to the local market to pick fresh winter vegetables and tasty spices. On our return to Quyaam Ghar the open-air Qalb deck will be set up for a cooking lesson to highlight some typical dishes of the Valley. Then, after a well-earned late lunch we have free time to rest or explore the enchanting surroundingds. In the late afternoon we take a shikara ride on the lake, finishing up with a sumptious high tea on our stylish Sukook houseboat.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 03: After breakfast we drive about 2/ 3 hrs north-east to Sonmarg,a picturesque hill station set at about 7,500 feet above sea level. After a walk around the area to ejoy the spectacualr views we will take a short drive on to the banks of the Sindh river, where a mobile kitchen will be awaiting us, set up for today's cooking lesson, followed by a delicious meal of fresh trout from the river. Drive back to Qayaam Gah.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 04: Today we rise with the sun for an early morning visit to the colourful vegetable market on Dal Lake, choose what we want for our lunch and return back to Qayaam Gah for a nourishing breakfast. After this we have a walking tour around the fascinating old city of Srinagar, and also the famed royal gardens of Shalimar and Nishat where the Mughal emperors held court in the summer months and relaxed with music, dance and entertaining shows of anumals. Our farewell dinner this evening will be the typical Kashmiri multi-course meal known as wazwan, a sumptious feast accompanied by live santoor music under the twinkling stars and bathed in soft moonlight.
Day 5: After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for departure.
For those with time, we recommend a further one night stay on the Sukoon Houseboat where we can have a cooking lesson on the deck and enjoy the tranquil ambience of a secluded part of Dal Lake.
Time
late October/ Early November.
Reaching Us
Nearest Airport: Srinagar: (daily flights from Delhi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Bangalore) then a 30 min transfer to the Ghat from where a 10 min speed boat transfer to Sukoon Houseboat.
Nearest Railway Station: Udampur railway station 200Kms/ 6hrs drive the breathtaking scenery of the lower Himalaya, surrounded by gentle hillside slopes with villages and pine forest.
