[* marked are recommended, pp-per person, pn- per night]
Many people said, heaven may be amazing place, to be seen afterlife. But, one must visit Kashmir when he's alive. Even in hot sunny day, you can feel cold breezes.
Many people said, heaven may be amazing place, to be seen afterlife. But, one must visit Kashmir when he's alive. Even in hot sunny day, you can feel cold breezes.
When
I visited, due to curfew, mobile internet was down in all over Kashmir.
So unable to post any pics or posts when I was outside. So make sure
your hotel provides wi-fi.
Season period : May end till July.
Most
preferable: March end till April. ( as you might feel cold but it is
bearable and you can avoid traffic jams, security checks waiting and rate hikes of season). You
can visit Tulip Garden in this period.
Honeymoon couple prefer August end till October, as winter starts. You can eat walnut (Akhrod), apple, cherries directly plucked from trees.
This post is solely of Kashmir. You can add Jammu, Amarnath Temple, Vaishnodevi Temple, Katra and Leh if you want to.
Amarnath Temple is 40 km from Sonmarg or 140 km from Srinagar. People visit in month of Sharavan(July - August).
for more info: Amarnath Info
Bollywood's favorite Destination: Student of the year song(Ishq wala love), Betaab, Bobby, Dharmveer, Yeh Jawani hai Deewani. ( You can google for more information).
Gardens: there are three different parks well maintained by government. Visit for pleasant view and cold winds. Entry fee ₹20 pp. Srinagar has nice gardens than this.
Shankaracharya temple: Nice temple. You only need to climb 150 steps. In order to visit, weather must be clear. Whereas, you can sit in Shikara ride in light rainfall as it is covered.
Shalimar garden, Nishant garden, Botanical garden, Chesmashahi Mughal garden: I see all these gardens alike. Better visit Nishant and Shalimar first, then you can visit other if you want.
Tulip Garden: It's the only attraction for tourists, when they have seen snow, mountains in Kashmir.
These flowers last for 28 days from March end till mid-April. There are more than 100 varieties of Tulips. If there is a heavy rainfall in this period, then you might not allowed to visit.
To stay:-
Honeymoon couple prefer August end till October, as winter starts. You can eat walnut (Akhrod), apple, cherries directly plucked from trees.
This post is solely of Kashmir. You can add Jammu, Amarnath Temple, Vaishnodevi Temple, Katra and Leh if you want to.
Amarnath Temple is 40 km from Sonmarg or 140 km from Srinagar. People visit in month of Sharavan(July - August).
for more info: Amarnath Info
Bollywood's favorite Destination: Student of the year song(Ishq wala love), Betaab, Bobby, Dharmveer, Yeh Jawani hai Deewani. ( You can google for more information).
Transportation to Srinagar or Leh or Jammu
Flight is the most preferable mode of transfer if you are traveling from Delhi, Pune, Mumbai.
If you don't want to miss beauty of Snowy mountains, take flight to Srinagar when sun is above your head. You can see beautiful mountains of Himalayas if the sky is not cloudy. It is the most convenient way so don't look at the fares. If you
are planning a long northern trip which includes Punjab, Himachal
Pradesh then travelling to Jammu by roadways is a good option. As Jammu
to Manali is 200km and Jammu to Srinagar is approximately 300km. But,
Jammu to Srinagar by road is a time consuming journey.
I
traveled with my family by flight from Pune - Delhi (Terminal 1D) {2
hrs} and then to Srinagar{1hr 15 min}. Layover in Delhi 2hrs.
There are some non-stop flights of Goair and Indigo which hop at Amritsar or Jammu. So total travel time would be 3 hrs 30 min.
Preferably land in the afternoon in Srinagar, so shiny sun can reduce the exposure to sudden cold.
Things to carry:-
Srinagar it self is a hill station, so once you step out of airport, take care of yourself from cold.
1. Jacket or Woolen wear is must except for summer season.
2.
A postpaid sim card is must. Take idea, airtel, aircel. As prepaid sims
from other states don't work in J&K. Aircel is the best for
internet connectivity.
3. Shoes to save feet from cold.
4. Something to cover your head.
5. Moisturizer/ body lotion
Places to Visit:-
Once you arrive at Kashmir, you don't need to seek points of visit. Every spot is a beautiful point.
1)Pahalgam*
1)Pahalgam*
Pahalgam
is surrounded by mountains, so it is better to go for sightseeing after
8 am till 6 pm when sun is in the sky (Avoid roaming cloudy or rainy
weather). It is named as Pahla gaon means First town.
You must stay here at least for 2 nights.
Baisaran:
You need 3-4 hrs for a complete trip. Only possible on horse back. They
charged ₹1000 pp round trip from hotel. Very nice place, they call it
mini- Switzerland. Wear Kashmiri outfits and take photos. Very neat and
clean except in season( due to large number of tourists).
Gardens: there are three different parks well maintained by government. Visit for pleasant view and cold winds. Entry fee ₹20 pp. Srinagar has nice gardens than this.
Golf course: you can only see from outside or if you have booking then you can go inside.
One of best golf course in India. I wonder how players can focus in the game, when there are beautiful mountains surrounding them.
One of best golf course in India. I wonder how players can focus in the game, when there are beautiful mountains surrounding them.
Betaab
Valley, Aru valley, Chandanwari(snow): If you have seen Bollywood movie
Betaab, you can really visit every shooting spots. You have to hire
local tourist Tata Sumo separately. They charge ₹300 pp or ₹1500
minimum. One time visit is worth. I may not visit in my next trip. At
Chandanwari snow is limited, you can get more pleasant view at Gulmarg
Gondola.
2)Srinagar
Shikara
ride in Dal Lake: Dal lake is the largest lake I have ever seen, it
doesn't fit in one sight. Worth boat experience. ₹1500 per Shikara.
Maximum 4 people allowed, mostly take one Shikara per couple. As it can
be a romantic ride. You can enjoy shopping vegetables, shawls, etc.
They are costly compared to Srinagar city shops. But you can compare
embroidery work if you have seen some items in Srinagar city and bargain
well.
Shankaracharya temple: Nice temple. You only need to climb 150 steps. In order to visit, weather must be clear. Whereas, you can sit in Shikara ride in light rainfall as it is covered.
Shalimar garden, Nishant garden, Botanical garden, Chesmashahi Mughal garden: I see all these gardens alike. Better visit Nishant and Shalimar first, then you can visit other if you want.
Tulip Garden: It's the only attraction for tourists, when they have seen snow, mountains in Kashmir.
These flowers last for 28 days from March end till mid-April. There are more than 100 varieties of Tulips. If there is a heavy rainfall in this period, then you might not allowed to visit.
3)Sonmarg
One of the best tourist attraction in Kashmir. Located on road of Srinagar to Leh, around 100 km from Srinagar. You can visit Sonmarg in one day from Srinagar. Due to hay fields and greenery, mountains look like covered in gold, so the name Sonmarg.
Don't go for sightseeing when you reach Sonmarg, they charge too much for a small one or two hours trip. Again if you want to play in the snow, Gulmarg would be the best place. So, enjoy nature and river and valleys en-route to Sonmarg. You can halt wherever you want.
One of the best tourist attraction in Kashmir. Located on road of Srinagar to Leh, around 100 km from Srinagar. You can visit Sonmarg in one day from Srinagar. Due to hay fields and greenery, mountains look like covered in gold, so the name Sonmarg.
Don't go for sightseeing when you reach Sonmarg, they charge too much for a small one or two hours trip. Again if you want to play in the snow, Gulmarg would be the best place. So, enjoy nature and river and valleys en-route to Sonmarg. You can halt wherever you want.
Gulmarg*
This
is the only place worth visiting in your subsequent journeys. Only
thing is there are not so many activities at Gulmarg hill, so you might
feel bored after your second night stay as I felt.
Gulmarg literally means “Meadow of flowers”. Gulmarg is located 60 km away from Srinagar which is an hour and half journey by car.
Gulmarg Gondola: the Highest Cable Car in the world.
Gulmarg to Kungdoor (Phase 1) ₹700 pp , Kungdoor to Aparwath (Phase 2) ₹900 pp
The 1st phase of the Gondola takes tourists to the height of 8530 ft and the second stage of the Gondola goes up to the height of 12293 ft.
The first Phase has many activities like Skiing, Snomobile, Sledge ride, small restaurants. Whereas, second phase has pleasant view from top. It is much colder and sometimes unbearable, with no activities. Gulmarg in winter is a magnificent experience, fully covered in a white blanket of Snow which turns it into a skiers paradise.
Don't go for local sightseeing in Gulmarg, I feel it's waste of time and money. You can try once, but everything else seems less attractive in front of Gondola Cable Car. Horse ride must be taken in Pahalgam. At Gulmarg it is boring.
Gulmarg literally means “Meadow of flowers”. Gulmarg is located 60 km away from Srinagar which is an hour and half journey by car.
Gulmarg Gondola: the Highest Cable Car in the world.
Gulmarg to Kungdoor (Phase 1) ₹700 pp , Kungdoor to Aparwath (Phase 2) ₹900 pp
The 1st phase of the Gondola takes tourists to the height of 8530 ft and the second stage of the Gondola goes up to the height of 12293 ft.
The first Phase has many activities like Skiing, Snomobile, Sledge ride, small restaurants. Whereas, second phase has pleasant view from top. It is much colder and sometimes unbearable, with no activities. Gulmarg in winter is a magnificent experience, fully covered in a white blanket of Snow which turns it into a skiers paradise.
Don't go for local sightseeing in Gulmarg, I feel it's waste of time and money. You can try once, but everything else seems less attractive in front of Gondola Cable Car. Horse ride must be taken in Pahalgam. At Gulmarg it is boring.
To stay:-
Pahalgam
Try to stay in Main market, as this is small town and most of the shopping places and restaurants are in main market. Two nights stay is enough.
1)Hotel Mount view *
1)Hotel Mount view *
2)Hotel woodstock
3)Hotel Pahalgam
4)Kalahoi Green Resort, nice place 5 km away from main market. It is good for a large tourist group travelling together.
4)Kalahoi Green Resort, nice place 5 km away from main market. It is good for a large tourist group travelling together.
4)Hotel ice land by river ₹3000 pn
(I stayed at this hotel, moderate amenities, bed heater, pleasant view of lidder river, located on the bank of river, no lift so you need to to go down through steps, nice staff, good food)
(I stayed at this hotel, moderate amenities, bed heater, pleasant view of lidder river, located on the bank of river, no lift so you need to to go down through steps, nice staff, good food)
Srinagar
Stay in Dal area, also there is other option of staying in Nigeen Lake, but it is less popular.
Two nights stay at least, if you want to visit Sonmarg from Srinagar.
1) Hotel Heemal under J&K tourism development, very nice view of Dal lake*
Two nights stay at least, if you want to visit Sonmarg from Srinagar.
1) Hotel Heemal under J&K tourism development, very nice view of Dal lake*
2) Hotel Centaur
3) The Lalit Grand Palace, near Tulip garden
4) Vivanta by Taj - Dal View *
5) Hotel Mamta grand (not new Mamta)
6) Hotel
Batra. ( I stayed at this hotel, good hotel. Budget price of ₹4000 pn, Room and bed heater, nice breakfast, but lacks pleasant view like all other mentioned
above).
Think
about staying at houseboat, my family had an unpleasant experience of untidy lake and less amenities as compared to land hotel in Kerala. So, if
you have a pleasant view of Dal lake, nearby water is clean, your room is
at frontal area of houseboat and your boat is facing Ghat( jetty for
Shikara) then only go for houseboat. They are less costly than Hotels.
Gulmarg:-
Stay only at Gulmarg (on the hill) hotels near golf course, they are bit expensive but provide beautiful view. One night stay is enough. If you like the weather, you can extend for one more night.
1)Hotel
hilltop (I stayed at this hotel. They charged ₹7000 pn. Very
nice view of Golf course, near Gondola car, food is really nice. Veg/
non-veg/ Jain available.
2)Hotel high land park (Bobby movie song Hum tum ek kamare mai band hon was recorded at this hotel and they charge around ₹22000 pn to stay at Bobby Suite.
3)Hotel welcome
4) JKTDC 1BHK hut@ ₹4000-5000 pn, you can book them online. Kitchen is available, so you can also cook on your own. Go for those huts which are near golf course area for a pleasant view. There are up to 5BHK huts. Visit JKTDC info, where you can find huts in other areas as well. But make sure you book well in advance.
4) JKTDC 1BHK hut
To eat
You must try Rajma Chawal, Kashmiri Pulav and Kasmiri Tea - Kahwa
At Pahalgam, you can eat at your hotel where you are staying. Because most
of the hotels provide good quality food. Or you can try following,
Following are 100% pure veg and mostly everywhere Jain Food is available.
1. Nathu's rasoi. Since 1936. Delicious food. Small and tasty menu.
2. Dana Pani.
At Srinagar, there are so many restaurants as this is the biggest city and Capital of J&k.
1.
Delhi Di Rasoi (Sun N Sun) - there are two restaurants with this name,
but management is different. Try restaurants near Dal lake area on Boulevard road. Try the first hotel
on your right. Jain food available. Although some dishes like veg
kolhapuri are not alike to the one served in Maharashtra, but overall
taste is good.
At Gulmarg, avoid eating in main market. The restaurants are small and cramped. You can eat in Hotel hill-top's restaurant or try food at hotel where you'll stay.
Eat Kashmmiri Pulav and Maggi when you are Gondola Phase one.
Eat Kashmmiri Pulav and Maggi when you are Gondola Phase one.
Local transport
If you have booked your own cab/taxi, then it will be with you 24*7 throughout your stay in the Kashmir.
If you arrive through travels in a group then no need to bother on this.
But,
if you are exploring on your own, then J&k has a good bus network
but less frequent. Also, you can hire cabs from one place and it can
drop you to other place with some extra cost over buses.
Being tourist place you get many options but at some extra cost.
Shopping tips
Shawl and wooden items in Srinagar only. Read General tip 1.
More the hand woven work, more will be the rate.
More the hand woven work, more will be the rate.
Don't buy jackets, those are overpriced. And Bargain! Bargain! Bargain!
Buy Saffron (keshar) @ ₹300 per gram from ABK, Paulo Chowk, Srinagar And walnut( Akrod) from any local dealer around ₹300 per kg when you are en route to Pahalgam. On the way to Pahalgam you can buy cricket bats and Saffron as well, make sure you can identify genuine one.
General
1. Avoid buying shawls in Pahalgam, they sell printed shawls, which are cheap but not as beautiful as the one sold in Srinagar.
In
Srinagar, you can buy on land or in Shikara ride market, shawls are
costly starting from ₹1200 but they are every rupee worth. They are hand
woven and material of shawl is really good. Try to bargain if you can.
2.
While you return home from Srinagar airport, you need to security check
your luggage at three places, generally all airports need check-in
luggage check and person's Security check. But at Srinagar you have to do
third check which is 2km away from airport, it is on the way. Next
important task is identification of your bags and telling the final
count before you board the plane. As Srinagar is vulnerable to terrorism,
this is mandatory.
3.
People here are poor and happy to welcome tourist, so don't bother due
to majority of Muslim community. They are generous and friendly. Here local people wont take money or steal them from your pocket, they'll earn it.
4.
You need to hire local Tata Sumo for sightseeing. As these local people have
monopoly and cars with low ground clearance cannot be driven on rough roads, so they don't allow your tourist car to go at sightseeing. So,
it is better to hire cab on pick up and drop option. Otherwise your full time hired car will be idle after you reach that place.
5.
If you still want to book a car for your complete stay at Kashmir, ask
for a driver who doesn't smoke. There may be none, but you can try. If
smoking irritates you.
6. Carry ₹20 or ₹50 note for tips at hotels or at photo taking places. They ask for it as 'Inaam'.
