India, May 5 -- About six years ago, thanks to my friend Dr (Capt) GS Dhillon of Dalhousie Public School, my colleagues at Deepalaya, a Delhi-based NGO, and I were able to visit a picturesque spot near Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh nicknamed "Mini Switzerland." Surrounded by pine trees and hills, the meadow reminded me of our personal visit to Switzerland, where we saw the Alps in all their majesty and giant cows enjoying the grass.

At Dalhousie, one of my colleagues gave me an idea that we should plan a visit to Baisaran in Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley which had a "maxi Switzerland." It was not a request I could act upon but it remained in my mind. I have visited Kashmir four times, twice in my professional capacity and twice as a tou...