‘Valley’s beauty is much more than scenery, lies in its culture, people, everyday life’
Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 12: Gliding across Dal Lake, stopping at local markets and trying Kashmiri food, Tunisian travel content creator Karima Bel is discovering Kashmir not just through its postcard landscapes but through its people, flavours and everyday life.
From enjoying views from a shikara to exploring local food stalls, Bel has been sharing glimpses of her Kashmir journey with her Arabic-speaking audience on social media.
Known as Alam Karima, Bel is travelling in Kashmir with her husband and says she came to experience the region beyond the pictures she had seen online.
“I came to Kashmir because I wanted to discover it beyond the beautiful pictures we see online. I wanted to experience the culture, meet the people, try the local food, and see the real life here for myself,” Bel told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
In a recent social media post, Bel is seen enjoying a shikara ride on Dal Lake. In another video from a local market, she is seen trying food while interacting with vendors, giving her followers a glimpse into the everyday life and street food culture of Kashmir.
For Bel, the experience has already changed the way she looks at the region. “Kashmir has always been a place I was curious about. I had seen the mountains and landscapes, but I wanted to come and experience the place myself. And honestly, being here made me realise that Kashmir is much more than just its scenery,” she said.
Her first impression of Kashmir was one of its greenery and peaceful surroundings. “My first impression was simply, wow! The nature is incredible, but what really caught my attention was how green and peaceful everything feels,” she said.
But it was the people, she said, who added another dimension to the journey. “People have been kind, welcoming and curious about where I’m from,” Bel said, adding that conversations, shared food and simple interactions with locals had made her feel comfortable.
The travel creator said she was particularly surprised by the diversity beyond the famous tourist spots. “There is so much more than the famous tourist spots. The villages, local markets, food, traditions and the daily life of people really surprised me,” she said.
Her culinary journey has also become an important part of the trip, with Wazwan and Kahwa among the experiences she enjoyed most.
“I really enjoyed trying the local food, especially the Wazwan and Kahwa. They were completely new experiences for me, and I really enjoyed discovering the flavours and traditions behind them,” she said.
Bel, who has been travelling with her husband for the past two years, said the couple chose to make travel a major part of their lives, exploring different countries, cultures and ways of living.
She said Kashmir gave her a feeling of being able to slow down and enjoy the moment. “There is something about the mountains, the weather, the people, even the way life feels here that makes me feel very calm. I feel like I can slow down and just enjoy the moment,” she said.
Asked what she would tell people in Tunisia and elsewhere about Kashmir, Bel said visitors should look beyond the usual tourist experience. “Don’t come only to see the mountains and take pictures. Talk to the people, try the food, visit the villages and learn about the culture,” she said. “That’s when you really understand the beauty of Kashmir.”
For the Tunisian creator, Kashmir’s story, she said, is not limited to its mountains and lakes but is also found in the people she meets, the food she tastes, and the small everyday moments she carries back from the journey—(KNO)
