Falak Bilal
Srinagar, Oct 30: Autumn has brought a fresh rhythm to Kashmir’s gardens, where chinar trees are shedding summer green for copper, scarlet and gold. The changing canopy is turning familiar promenades into seasonal attractions, with visitors lingering beneath branches, photographing foliage and taking in the cool air.
At Nishat Garden, Naseem Bagh and Chinar Bagh, the season is unfolding in layers. Leaves glow against the sky before drifting onto pathways, while broad crowns create a striking contrast with the landscape below. For tourists, the appeal is not simply the view: it is the chance to experience a transformation that alters the mood of the Valley.
The autumn rush reflects how Kashmir’s scenery has travelled through popular culture. Some visitors arrive with images shaped by films and television, but say the scale and atmosphere of the real landscape are difficult to reproduce on a screen.
Ritika Vohra, visiting from a region where autumn colours are less pronounced, said seeing the transition in person had made the season memorable.
“It is spectacular, especially because I’m from a place where we don’t have such differences in colours during autumn,” she said. “Just to see the leaves turn from green to this golden colour, and in another place, red—it’s beautiful to be here.”
Vohra said the weather added to the experience. “The sun is nice, the weather is nice. What you feel in person comes with the crisp air, the sun, everything. I don’t want to compare it with movies; it is lovely to experience it in person.”
For families, the colours can become more than a holiday backdrop. Ritika Vohra said her daughter’s excitement at spotting maple leaves had inspired a plan to bring a piece of the season home.
“Whenever she spots maple leaves, she gets so excited—‘Mama, a maple leaf!’” Ritika said. “That’s when I decided to plant one in a small pot and train it as a bonsai, so she can enjoy those red colours there too.”
She described Kashmir as “truly just like the paradise it’s said to be” and urged others to visit. “When you return, do recommend it to your family and friends. Tell everyone they absolutely must visit Kashmir at least once.”
The gardens have also become a setting for couples seeking an unhurried break. Shalini, who is in the Valley with her husband for their honeymoon, said the scenery had persuaded them to put their phones away and sit together.
“We’re sitting here, and we don’t even feel like leaving. The view is absolutely wonderful. It’s unreal,” she said. “Nothing we’ve seen on TV or on our phones comes close to this.”
The couple had considered recording the moment, but chose to experience it without a screen. “We thought it was better to take it all in right here,” Shalini said, adding that they were planning to return in January and again in June. “Kashmir is truly lovely.”
Beyond its tourist appeal, autumn offers a reminder of the Valley’s seasonal variety. The landscape does not need to change its contours to feel new; a shift in colour, light and temperature gives familiar places a different character. Fallen leaves gather along garden paths, and crisp air invites visitors to slow down rather than hurry between attractions. As the season advances, chinars’ changing leaves will continue to shape the view for residents and visitors alike. Kashmir’s beauty is often associated with snow-covered winters or summer greenery, but autumn makes its own case: the Valley can be compelling in every season, each offering a distinct expression of the same landscape.
