We started our journey early in the morning at 04:00 AM on 7th July 2011 for Kashmir. When we reached the checking point, there were already more than dozen vehicles in queue. The checking point opened at 04:30 AM and we are allowed to pass that point. We saw many vehicles with pilgrims as well as vehicles with Army personal. The area was in a high alert in terms of security because of high movement of Hindu pilgrims whereas the Kashmir area is dominated by Muslims. After passing hilly crawling roads, we reached TITANIC VIEW TOWER from where we saw the beautiful Kashmir valley.
We reached Kashmir University at around 13:15 where Prof. Reshi was waiting for us. Prof. Reshi is the head of the Department of Botany of the Kashmir University and has worked with the plant Impatiens glandulifera, the plant I am looking for. We went to the university and met Prof. Reshi. After short conversation, we went to the University Guest House where room for us was booked. We decided to meet at around 16:00 in the department. After having lunch at the canteen in the University, we went to the Guest house. I came to the Department to meet Prof. Reshi. He was bit busy with meetings. I met Ass. Prof. Manzoor Ahmad Shah who is also working with invasive species. He is very interested with my research. At the mean time I met one of his PhD students who is working with invasive aquatic plants.
After sometime, Prof. Reshi called us and we went to his office. We had discussion about my research plan and he told that he will provide one assistant to guide us in the field. I want to the start field from tomorrow early in the morning so, Prof. Reshi called his student and told to join me tomorrow early in the morning. Prof. Reshi seems very helpful. I have not met him before but he helped me in booking guest house and finding populations of Impatiens glandulifera and many more.
Next day (08.07.2011), Mr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar, student of Prof. Reshi came around 08:00 AM. We had tea together and left for field. Prof. Reshi suggested us to visit Gulmarg site where he saw many populations along the road side. We decided to visit same region as Prof. suggested.On the way to Gulmarg, we were stopped before we start uphill to Gulmarg. One boy ran to our vehicle as told us to book a guide. He told us that, we have to pay 50 Indian Rupees for each of us and parking charge of the vehicle. He was speaking local language to Pervaiz and later pervaiz explained us that they guy was telling him to keep quite and he will get 50% of the money we pay to the boy but Pervaiz refused. Gulmarg is one of the most beautiful regions of Kashmir, which lies nearly 60 Km far from the Kashmir University. Unfortunately we don’t see very mature Impatiens glandulifera plants. Mr. Pervaiz described us about the area and it seems crowded with the tourists. After not seeing mature target plant, we decided to return back after lunch to Srinagar where we saw populations along the road side. Pervaiz suggested us to taste Kashmiri Yakhni for lunch. Later we found the food was so tasty.
On the way back to Srinagar, we saw many populations of Impatiens glandulifera along the highway but unfortunately, we could not go out to sample those populations because the region was high alert in terms of security and we saw large number of security personals along the road sides. It was very tough to collect samples and at the same time, local people use to follow us as they noticed outsiders.It was very tough to go out and sample populations. We tried but failed. So, I decided to leave without sampling. At the evening, I had meeting with Prof. Reshi and Pervaiz and they agreed to sample after the Amarnath Jatra finishes. It is problematic also due to high flow of Hindu pilgrims during this season. Pervaiz told us that last year at the same time, Kashmir had six months curfew. As they agreed to sample for me, I described my plans and sampling techniques. They decided they can do it. I decided to leave Kashmir early in the morning with the great help of receiving samples from Kashmir.
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