A Soul-Stirring Journey to Shri Shankaracharya Temple: From Sheikhpora, Budgam in an E-Rickshaw

A Soul-Stirring Journey to Shri Shankaracharya Temple: From Sheikhpora, Budgam in an E-Rickshaw

Date: 23 November 2025
Route: Sheikhpora (Budgam) → Shankaracharya Hill, Srinagar
Mode of travel: Eco-friendly E-Rickshaw
Today turned out to be one of those perfect winter days in Kashmir when the sun shines softly, the air is crisp, and the valley looks like it has been sprinkled with icing sugar. I decided to visit the ancient Shankaracharya Temple (also known as Jyesthishwara Temple) atop the Gopadri Hill in Srinagar, and instead of taking the usual cab or bus, I chose the humble, green, and super-fun E-rickshaw all the way from my village in Sheikhpora, Budgam district.
Why an E-Rickshaw?
First things first — shout-out to the electric rickshaws that have quietly revolutionized local travel in Kashmir!
Zero emissions, zero noise (except the occasional Bhojpuri or Kashmiri song blasting from the driver’s phone)
Affordable (₹150–200 for almost 30+ km one way)
You sit high, feel the breeze, and get unobstructed 360° views of the countryside
Drivers are usually chatty and know every shortcut
My driver, Bashir Bhai, picked me up at 9 AM sharp. His blue e-rickshaw was decorated with stickers of Mecca-Madina, a tiny Kashmiri flag, and a glowing red “Mashallah” LED strip. We plugged in the charger for five minutes while I sipped kehwa, and then we were off!
The Beautiful Road & Nature’s Little Surprises
The route from Sheikhpora → Humhama → Airport road → Lasjan bypass → Boulevard → Dal Lake → Shankaracharya Hill is pure visual poetry in November.
What I saw between Sheikhpora and Srinagar city:
Herds of fluffy sheep and long-horned bakarwal goats crossing the road lazily
A huge flock of migratory Siberian cranes in the Hokersar wetland area (hundreds of them, shining white against the brown marshes)
Dozens of kingfishers (bright blue flashes) darting over the drainage canals near Lasjan
A lone grey heron standing like a statue in the paddy stubble
Kites and crows circling above the poplar trees
Sparrows and bulbuls hopping on roadside electric wires
A small family of golden jackals trotting along the fenced airport boundary at dusk on my way back (yes, inside city limits!)
And of course, the omnipresent Kashmiri dogs — some barking, some just giving royal ignore
The e-rickshaw’s open sides meant I could photograph everything without rolling down windows. The slow speed (35–40 kmph max) actually felt like a blessing; I was literally traveling inside a wildlife documentary.
Reaching the Hill & the Ancient Climb
We reached the base of Shankaracharya Hill around 11:15 AM. E-rickshaws are thankfully allowed till the entry gate (unlike many petrol vehicles that have restrictions now). Bashir Bhai dropped me off, parked under a chinar tree, and said he’d wait.
The 270-odd stone steps up the hill were mercifully easy in the cool November air. The entire hillside is covered with dense deodar and kail trees; you can hear koels and woodpeckers the whole way up.
At the top, the 2,500-year-old temple (some say older) stands exactly where Adi Shankaracharya meditated in 8th century CE. The view — oh Kashmir, why are you so unfairly beautiful?
360-degree panorama: Dal Lake sparkling below, snow-capped Pir Panjal in the west, Hari Parbat fort, Hazratbal dome, and the entire Srinagar city laid out like a miniature model.
I spent almost an hour inside the sanctum, listening to the priest chant Sanskrit shlokas that echoed against the ancient black stone walls. Pure goosebumps.
The Ride Back & Golden Hour Magic
Started descending at 2 PM. Bashir Bhai had bought kahwa and warm girda from a nearby stall for both of us. As we cruised back along the Boulevard in the golden winter light, the Dal was dotted with shikaras and the mountains had turned pink.
On the return leg we spotted even more birds — a large flock of greylag geese landing in the wetlands, egrets, and a beautiful brahminy kite soaring right above the e-rickshaw. The setting sun turned the paddy fields into sheets of gold.
Reached Sheikhpora by 4:45 PM. Total round trip distance: ~70 km. Battery left: 38%. Cost: ₹350 + ₹50 tip (totally worth it).
Final Thoughts
If you ever plan to visit Shankaracharya Temple from Budgam side, please take an e-rickshaw at least once. It’s slow, it’s green, it lets you breathe Kashmir instead of just driving through it. You’ll come back with hundreds of photos, a lighter carbon footprint, and stories of cranes, kingfishers, and jackals you’d completely miss in an air-conditioned cab.
Kashmir is not just the destination — the journey itself is the prayer.
Om Namah Shivaya 🙏

#KashmirDiaries #ShankaracharyaTemple #ERickshawAdventures #KashmirWinter #BirdsOfKashmir #EcoTravel

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