Everyone knows Doodhpathri. It's beautiful, but it's crowded. But if you walk just 4 kilometers upstream, the noise fades, the plastic wrappers disappear, and you enter Diskhal.
The air gets thinner here. The only sound is the Shaliganga river crashing against rocks miles below. This isn't just a picnic spot; it's a sanctuary.
The Route
We started at 6:00 AM from the main bridge. The ascent is gradual but deceptive. You pass through dense pine forests where the sunlight struggles to touch the ground.
"In the silence of the woods, you don't find loneliness. You find yourself."
By 9:00 AM, we breached the tree line. The view opened up to reveal the massive peaks of the Pir Panjal range staring right back at us.
Why We Go?
People ask us why we carry heavy bags and sleep on cold ground. The answer is simple: comfort breeds complacency. Out here, with Friend Circle, we remember what it means to be alive.
Written by Zuhaib Rashid
Filmmaker, developer, and founder of Friend Circle. I document the raw beauty of Kashmir and the stories of the people who call it home.