Kashmir Diary 7

Bollywood and Kashmir-2

On our way to Pahalgam from Shrinagar, we came across this temple. It is actually in complete ruins. But still from its huge structure & pillars, it could attract a lot of visitors. This was Lord Vishnu temple at Avantipora situated 30 kms from Shrinagar in Pulwama district. Built by King Avantivarman (AD 855-883), we were told by the local guide over there, that the huge silver idol of the Lord was taken away by the British. Carved on the walls of the temple are sculptures of nine planets & also Lord Shiva & Ganga. Most of it was beyond recognition & even if the guide tried to fill in those gaps, it was difficult to imagine. I don't know why but the temple & its surroundings reminded me of the Konark Sun temple that we had visited in 1980. The guide said that Avantipora temple was destroyed not by Muslims but because of a powerful earthquake. But internet references suggest a different story. It was, according to these references, destroyed by Muslims. Incidentally, this guide was not a Muslim but a Sardar & he was talking a few lines in Marathi as well ! It was he who told us that the song from ' Aandhi ' was shot here. This was a pleasant surprise & when I checked, I thought he was indeed correct. Again this song seems to have been shot in two locations. The first part is shot at Avantipora. He also said that the last part of the film 'Guide ' was also picturized here.( But this could not be verified) Posting here the photos of the temple & also the song-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-HnmVg0-O8

And this surely must be Gulmarg... sans Gondola of course...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krdVhzD2THw

  

For our stay in the houseboat we chose Nagin Lake over Dal Lake & it was indeed a wise decision. Dal lake was stinking as was crowded with thousands of houseboats. Comparatively Nagin lake was quiet & peaceful & relatively clean as well. At least there was no bad smell in the air. Nagin lake is the location for many a movies-such as 'Mission Kashmir'  & 'Jab Jab Phool Khile '. 

Here in this song,'Pardesiyon se na akhiya milana', in the beginning you see Nagin lake & later on you also see Pari Mahal overlooking the city of Shrinagar & Dal lake. - which is a seven terraced garden built by Darah Shikoh, son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Nagin Lake 

View from Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal 

 And here's the song-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gzZPoylPI4

(P.S: Shashi Kapoor looks like a perfect Kashmiri!)

No mention on Bollywood & Kashmir could be complete without this song- 'Ye chand sa roshan chehra'  from Kashmir ki Kali, which according to me is shot at Dal Lake. 

                                           

Signing off with the link to this song....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VueN49P7JyU


                                                                                                                       ( to be contd....)