Kashmir, famed to be India’s heaven on earth, is not called so, lightly. With scenic surroundings, hills, mountains, rivers and lakes, the land is extremely fertile and along with its unique climate and altitude, yields premium fruits and blossoms, different than the rest of the country. One such natural product is saffron.

Pampore

Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice and is cultivated only in Iran, India, Spain and Greece. In India, only Kashmir produces this rare and precious spice in the town of Pampore, also known as Pampur or the “Saffron Town of India”. Making a list of what to see in Srinagar? Add Pampore right in the must-see section along with the Mughal Gardens, Jamia Masjid, Hazratbal, Kheer Bhawani and floating markets!

A Walk to Remember

Since Srinagar is the summer capital as well as one of the most important places to see in Jammu and Kashmir, it is recommended that you along with your family, stay here and then tour around. An interesting unique place like Pampore thus becomes easily accessible for taking a delightful walk in the saffron fields, akin to old Bollywood films, with plenty of family photo-ops.

Saffron

It is derived from the plant Crocus Sativa with purple coloured flowers. From mid October to early November, the plants are in full bloom, making for a beautiful sight, highly unlikely in any other parts of the country. This would perhaps be the best time to take your family to see saffron plantations and their harvesting.

An added experience would be to learn about saffron, it’s varieties, uses, benefits and harvest process, not to mention the opportunity to buy some right there, at the point of production. Saffron is expensive due to being a labour-intensive crop. A hundred kilograms of flowers yield just about three kilos of saffron. The red-orange spice is made from the dried stigma of the flowers. This variety is known as “Shahi Zafran”. Other flower parts are processed as well to make inferior quality saffron which is called “Mogra Zafran”. Along with the Saffron Town of India, have a look at other popular tourist places to visit in Srinagar during family vacations.

Unique Stay

Since your Kashmir vacation has plenty of potential to be a unique and memorable family experience, top it with a stay at R. K. Sarovar Portico resort in Srinagar, a Club Mahindra affiliate resort, amongst the best resorts in Srinagar. With Club Mahindra, you get a unique opportunity of staying in a houseboat that beautifully combines the charm of traditional living with the high standards of hospitality. Sample lip-smacking local cuisine such as Saffron Pulao, Kashmiri Dum Aloo, along with local drinks such as the Kahwah, which are sprinkled with saffron. Spacious yet cosy rooms on the mesmerising Dal lake of Srinagar with warm hosts and urban comforts guarantee a memorable and stress-free family vacation as can be read about, extensively, in Club Mahindra reviews by happy members.

Also, browse through these Club Mahindra resort reviews & get a sneak peak of how our happy members are enjoying their family holidays at other popular destinations of India with Club Mahindra.

About Club Mahindra

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. (MHRIL), a part of Leisure and Hospitality sector of the Mahindra Group, offers quality family holidays primarily through vacation ownership memberships and brings to the industry values such as reliability, trust and customer satisfaction. Started in 1996, the company's flagship brand ‘Club Mahindra’, today has over 250,000 members , who can holiday at 100+ resorts in India and abroad.

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