jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjKashmir is known for its unearthly beauty, which has earned it the sobriquet of being the Paradise. The Mughals aptly called Kashmir Paradise on earth and traveled long distances to spend summers in its cool environs.
The decade old political ambiguity in the region has not taken any thing away from the beauty of Kashmir. With peace returning to Kashmir, the clear lakes, the pine forests and the heavy snowfall in winter has attracted tourist from all parts of the country and abroad.
If you are looking for an extra-ordinary holiday here are a few tips which is collated from my recent trip to Kashmir. If you truly want to enjoy a holiday at Kashmir, please modernize your mindset and remove the word “disturbed valley” and travel fearlessly in the region - then only you can enjoy.
The people of Kashmir are very friendly and once you reach there they will take care of you. Tourists are God to them and you will enjoy full respect from them. Most Kashmiris are educated and knows what a tourist means to them.
Starting from the pickup car driver to Shikara owner, House boat owner, Shop owner, Hotel owner - all will greet you with tremendous joy and enthusiasm which you will find missing when compared with other valleys.
Here are a few tips which may help plan your holidays at Kashmir.
There are four distinctive seasons each with its peculiar character and charm, each extravagantly beautiful such as — Spring (March-May) sees a million blossoms carpeting the ground. Summer (June - August) when the whole valley turns into mosaic of varying shades of green. Best season for visiting Kashmir is from mid May to end July and again during September - October.
The Amarnath yatra starts from mid June and thus there are heavy rush at Kashmir during the said period.
iii) Autumn (September to November) when the green shades turns gold and
iv) Winter (December to March) which presents Kashmir in an entirely different landscape with snow. Though winter is a season which is less preferred by Indian Tourists but this is the best time when you will be able to enjoy clear, crisp and the luxury of the heated room in a house boat/lake side hotel.
Trees are bare and skies are blue. Those who wants to experience the snow at Kashmir must plan stay at Gulmarg or, at Pahalgam where you are guaranteed to see the snow.
Generally weather in winter is very cold and you need to take care on clothings (heavy woolen clothes and thermal inners, gloves, caps, inners, socks and good walking shoes) if you are visiting during winter season. Else if you are planning to visit between March & August then light woolen clothes will take care of you well.
Temperature generally falls at night and specially if there is a rain. At day time with bright sun shine you just need to carry a woolen cloth or, a light jacket.
How to reach Kashmir ?
Though there are various packages offered by various travel agents, but I suggest you to plan your trip by air and visit Kashmir directly on your own. The air fare has become affordable (Delhi to Srinagar - Air faire ranges from Rs.2900/- to Rs.3500/- per head including airport taxes and fuel surcharge) and thus you can plan your trip in advance from Delhi. There are numerous flights operating between Delhi and Srinagar which will take only 55 minutes to reach the Paradise. Srinagar airport is 14 Km. away from the City. By rail Jummu Tawi is the nearest railway station which receives a large number of mail and express trains from every corner of India. Buses, Taxies, Tata Sumos ply regularly from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar.
Where to stay :
Hotels ranges from Rs. 200/- per day to Rs. 2000/- per day in and around Srinagar. Stay also possible in House boats since most of the day you would be travelling to various tourist spots. If you are planning your holiday for exclusive relaxation, then plan a booking of a house boat at Nageen Lake or, at Hazrat Bal Lake or, at Dal Lake or, stay in a hotel around Dal Gate area so that you can enjoy a pleasant evening around the Dal Gate.
Dal Lake is Srinagar's most distinctive landmark and evening around Dal Lake is most enjoyable - Be it with food / snacks / shopping etc. Hotels around Dal Lake are marginally costly. There are also hotels at cheaper rate at Lal Chowk which is in the centre of the city and a market area. And Lal Chowk is 15 minutes auto ride from Dal Gate area.
For some economical hotel reference, please refer to foot note.
Planning your visits :
The best and economic way to enjoy your holidays would be to base your stay at Srinagar. The day starts at 8.00am. And you can plan a full days trip to either Pahalgam or, to Gulmarg or, take a sightseeing. There are various packages available which are economical if you are traveling in a big group and normally arrangements made by reputed agents are good and reliable. If you are traveling on your own and want to have your own travel planning and arrangement, you may please be guided as under :
Day 1: On your arrival at Srinagar check- in any deluxe houseboat at Dal lake and then take a afternoon lake ride by shikara to visit floating gardens, char chinars, kabotar khana and lotus garden. There are various lake side markets selling shawls, handicrafts, saffron etc. But stay away from purchasing on the first day.
Day 2: Srinagar to Pahalgam Pahalgam is situated at the confluence of the Shesnag and the Lidder streams. The meaning of Pahalgam is a shepherd’s village and Pahal means shepherd and gaom means village. After breakfast leave for Pahalgam which is approx. 2 hrs. drive (95 Kms away from the city).
Enroute to Pahalgam you can visit Martand Temple which is a holy shrine of Kashmiri Pandits. Martand was build by King Laitaditya Muktapida. Its main feature is the colonnaded courtyard dedicated to Surya the Sun God. Further ahead you will find Awantipura ruins (29 kms of the ancient township founded by king Avantivarman who ruled Kashmir during the ancient days. Saffron fields are , the green tunnel (most hindi films are shooted here) the cricket bat industry etc. are added attraction for your journey to Pahalgam. At pahalgam you can take a pony ride and spend the whole day before returning to the city. The annual Amarnath Yatra held in summer which is enroute to Pahalgam. A visit to Pahalgam is a must while you are at Kashmir. While returning you may buy some saffrons or, cricket bats as a momento. The up and down by Tata Sumo will cost Rs.1600/- approx. If you choose to travel by JKTDC luxury buses, you need to pay only Rs.175/- per head.
Day 3 Srinagar to Gulmarg Originally called Gourimarg by shepherds, Gulmarg was discovered by Sultan Yusuf Shah who was inspired by the sight of grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg is not only a mountain resort but country’s premier ski resort.
In winter it is covered with snow and takes the appearance of a picture postcard. Gulmarg which is 1½ hrs. drive from the city (i.e. approx 56 km). Gulmarg is one of the best picturesque drive adjacent to river Lidder. Gulmarg is famous for its Gondola Car ride which takes you to 13000ft. in two stages (Fare for 1st stage ride is Rs 200 and for 2nd stage Rs 500 each.)
At the end of two stage ride you reach the snow covered mountains and spend the whole day in skiing/sledging. From Gulmarg bus stand to Gondola car station - you can choose either a pony ride or, a pleasant walk of 3km. The up and down Sumo expenses is Rs.1600/- approx. JKTDC also offers luxury buses in this sector at a very economical rate.
Day 4 - Srinagar sightseeing - visit Hazrat Bal Mosque, Mughal Gardens (Nishat, Shalimar & Cheshmashahi), Shankarcharya Temple. For this trip, you can choose both JKTDC services or, hire a Tata Sumo/Maruti at a nominal cost ranging between Rs 900 - Rs 1200. During sightseeing you are also taken to various local markets for purchasing - again my advice could be to stay away from such markets. You can bargain well, please include a trip to Manasbal, Kheeer Bhawani (27km from city) within the sightseeing package.
Kheer Bhawani is a Hindu heritage site where a temple is situated in the middle of a spring which symbolises the goddess of Ragnya Devi and is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani on account of offering 'kheer'.
Day 5 - For shopping - Srinagar is a shoppers paradise for Kashmir handicraft, carpets, papier-mache items, stone jewellery, woolen shawls, crewel embroidery and many more. All your shopping needs can be met if you keep a day free for same. The most economic market is at Koker Bazar, Lal Chowk. All original makers have their showroom here and you can get the entire shopping range starting from dry fruits to Shahtoosh / Pashmina. However there are other areas for shopping which are at Dalgate area, The Bund, The Residency Road etc. At most places please do sincere bargaining before your final buy.
Note - 1 :
If you are willing to spent additional days at Kashmir then you can plan a trip to Sonamarg which is approx. 80 kms from the city or, Verinag (70 kms from city), Kokarnag (80 kms from Srinagar), Yousmarg etc. which are also memorable holiday spots. Many tourist prefers to have night stay at Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg etc. but there are hardly any evening entertainment programme other than relaxing and hence I suggest spending the evening at Dal Lake chowk where vegetarian food is high on demand and you can still do window shopping. Also while return you can plan a trip via Jammu - Katra for darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi.
Note - 2 :
Some reference hotels, shops, travel agents and their numbers for assistance in advance.
Hotel Parimahal, Dal Lake, Boulevard, Srinagar - 190 001. Tel : 0194 - 2500369, 2500885, e-mail sksjamshed@yahoo.co.in
Hotel New Mamta, Mamta Chowk, Dal Gate, Ph : 0194 - 2472966.
Hotel Green Heights, Gulmarg, Ph : 01954 - 254404
Branch : The Punjab Hotel, Lal Chowk, Srinagar, Ph : 2474163,
Mehran Hottel, Jehangir Chowk, Srinagar, Ph : 2471512
Hotel Hill Top, Gulmarg, Kashmir, Ph : 01954 - 254445, 254477, 254486.
Hotel Jeevan, Pahalgam, Ph : 01936 - 243303 , 243219
For House boats : Contact : G.N.Badyari, Nageen Lake. Ph : 0194 - 2422691.
For travel arrangement from Jammu - contact Mr. R.K.Sharma, Fly Rail Tour & Travels. Ph : 9419183197, 9419190258, 0191 - 2566202
Shopping references :
Butt Brothers, Koker Bazar, Lal Chowk - 9419071573.
Shahjee Arts Emporium, Near Ikhwan Hotel, Bishember Nagar - 2478351
Vee Gee Shawls Emporium, Arts Bazar, Srinagar - 2451635
Khurshid Bin Ali - Dry fruit merchant, Koker bazaar, Lal chowk. Ph : 2461415
Kashmir Handicraft Bazaar at Dal Lake side, Ph : 9419084184.
