How one can plan a visit to Kashmir? This actually is a query that may by no means be answered briefly. There are quite a lot of components that you’ll have to take into account like the best way to attain, the place to remain, what to see, issues to do, what to pack, how a lot will it value, itinerary planning, and so on.
All of those questions can’t be answered in a single put up in case you actually need it to be detailed. Not simply Kashmir however when visiting anyplace anyplace, you’ll have to fastidiously analysis each a part of the journey, to make sure that your journey stays hassle-free
I’ve visited Kashmir a couple of instances and have written a number of detailed articles that may be of assist to everybody planning a visit. This data is scattered in a number of posts and getting the main points that you simply want could be a little time-consuming.
For the sake of comfort and ease of navigation, I’m cataloging these articles within the put up beneath. Comply with the hyperlinks, check out the articles and each query that you’ve about visiting Kashmir will certainly get answered.
Finest Time to Go to Kashmir
When is the perfect time to go to Kashmir? There may be really no straight reply to this query as a result of it can rely upon what sort of journey you have been trying ahead to.
In the event you needed to see snow, January and February are ideally suited instances. In the event you needed to see lush inexperienced views, September would be the greatest time. For a honeymoon journey, I’ll advocate April and September.
In the event you needed to see flowers and Tulip Backyard, it’s best to plan for April. In the event you needed to see Apple orchards, August and September is the perfect time to go.
For images, a visit within the post-monsoon season shall be greatest. For finances vacationers, August and November are good instances to go.
This nonetheless is only a temporary overview. For a extra detailed and month-by-month breakdown of this data, please check out When is the Finest Time to Go to Kashmir.
Cellular Community and Knowledge Connectivity
BSNL has the widest community in Kashmir however Airtel is best when it comes to the standard of the community. Jio works decently effectively however the companies of Vodafone and Concept are usually not that nice.
The essential factor that it’s best to know is that solely postpaid connections work within the valley. No matter which community you have been on, your telephone shall be lifeless as quickly as you enter Kashmir if it was a pay as you go connection.
But when it was a postpaid telephone, you should have good reception and knowledge connectivity in vacationer locations like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. In the event you went somewhat offbeat, your telephone could or could not work relying on the service supplier.
I’ve lined this subject in nice element in one other article Cellular Community and Knowledge Connectivity in Kashmir which you can check out. I’ve given a region-wise breakdown of the community reception on this put up.
Garments to Pack for Kashmir Journey
The subsequent essential query shall be associated to your packing. The garments that you simply want for visiting Kashmir will range based on the season and month of your journey. It’s going to additionally rely upon the locations you take into consideration to go to and your mode of commute as effectively.
I’ll advocate looking at Garments for Kashmir Journey – Issues to Pack for Kashmir Journey for extra data on this side. On this put up, I’ve talked intimately in regards to the form of garments that you have to be packing for a visit to Kashmir in several seasons.
Locations to Go to in Kashmir
Now allow us to check out the vacationer locations in Kashmir, locations that you simply simply can’t afford to overlook. These are the locations that can turn into the very spotlight of your journey.
Srinagar
I’m including Srinagar first to the checklist as a result of that’s the place you’ll have to go first. Srinagar shall be your base to discover the gorgeous valleys of Kashmir.
However is it simply that? The reply isn’t any. It’s not only a base to discover Kashmir however reasonably a spot that deserves to be explored, a spot of each pure and man-made magnificence.
Shah Jahan a very long time in the past aptly known as Kashmir the paradise on earth, and Srinagar is the guts of that paradise. With its serene blue lakes and sumptuous gardens ringed by an Arc of Majestic Himalayas, it’s a picture-perfect city that appears straight out of a portray.
There may be simply a lot to see right here and a lot to do. This I imagine is the very purpose that regardless of all of the unrest and tensions, Srinagar continues to stay one of the crucial visited vacationer locations in our nation.
- Srinagar – How one can Plan your Journey and Discover?
- Locations to Go to in Srinagar and Issues to Do
- Finest time to Go to Srinagar – Finest Month, Season, Ideas
- Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar – Entry Payment, Timings, Journey Planning
- Nishat Bagh Srinagar – How one can Attain, Timings, Entry Payment
- Hazratbal Shrine Srinagar – How one can Attain, What to See
- Chashme Shahi Srinagar – How one can Attain, Timings, Ideas
- Pari Mahal Srinagar – Timings, How one can Attain, Finest Time
- Floating Vegetable Market of Srinagar – Flower Market
- Shikara Trip in Dal Lake Srinagar – Price, Timings, Finest Spot
- Sound and Gentle Present in Srinagar in Dal Lake
- Astanmarg – One of many Finest Viewpoints in Srinagar
Gulmarg
Gulmarg in my view is the largest vacationer attraction in Kashmir. Often known as the meadow of flowers, it’s a heavenly place to tread in that provides mesmerizing landscapes and an enthralling chance of varied journey actions.
Such is the great thing about this tiny hamlet that it attracts folks from everywhere in the nation all year long. It’s probably a kind of locations the place the vacationer season by no means ends.
From households to journey fans, Gulmarg has loads to supply everybody. It not solely attracts vacationers from the opposite elements of the nation but additionally is a favourite weekend getaway for the native Kashmiris as effectively.
Beneath is a listing of articles that I’ve posted on Gulmarg. I’ll advocate looking at these earlier than visiting this stunning little city.
Sonamarg
The subsequent vacation spot that you should go to throughout your Kashmir journey is Sonamarg. The place is well accessible, stays open for a lot of the yr, has loads of resorts, affords wonderful views, and is ideal for every kind of journeys.
Public transport can be simply obtainable. There’s a day by day bus between Srinagar and Sonamarg and apart from that, shared cabs additionally journey on the route commonly.
For lodging, there may be a variety of resorts to select from, each for finances vacationers in addition to somebody searching for a luxurious keep. Learn on to search out out extra.
Beneath is a listing of articles that present each data that you have to know in an effort to plan your journey.
Pahalgam
The identify Pahalgam must introduction. It is among the most visited locations of Kashmir, one which receives vacationers all yr lengthy. No journey to Kashmir is full except Pahalgam is part of the itinerary.
Positioned at a distance of about 100 kilometers from Srinagar, Pahalgam is greatest recognized for its awe-inspiring vistas, lush inexperienced meadows, dense forests, and pristine waters. The place can be famous for the annual pilgrimage to the shrine Amarnath Yatra that begins right here in July and August.
Within the articles beneath, I’ve talked about how a visit to Pahalgam could be deliberate, locations that it’s best to go to there, lodging, public transport, and several other different ideas that may be of use.
Gurez Valley
Gurez Valley is among the least explored areas of Kashmir and the one that may actually be known as an offbeat vacation spot. It’s a place of excessive scenic magnificence that doesn’t actually get the eye that it actually deserves. The vistas and the pure fantastic thing about the mountains that you simply see listed below are very totally different than what you will note elsewhere.
Normally, once you discuss visiting Kashmir, it’s principally 4 locations that come to thoughts – Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. Even Srinagar simply acts as a base to discover the opposite three locations.
However Kashmir is a lot extra. There are such a lot of different locations right here that can depart you mesmerized if visited. Gurez is one such vacation spot that I’ll extremely advocate that you simply discover a place for in your journey plans.
How will you plan your journey to Gurez are particulars that I’ve lined within the posts beneath.
Mughal Street
Not many individuals would know in regards to the Mughal Street. Srinagar Jammu Nationwide Freeway, also called NH44, is usually thought-about to be the one street connecting the cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
It’s true that it’s certainly a greater maintained, wider, extra traveled upon, and shorter strategy to journey between the 2 locations however it’s positively not the one one.
There really exists one other route that’s way more scenic, much less crowded, takes you thru some inner elements of Kashmir, and has existed for a lot longer than the common NH44 freeway. Sure, I’m speaking in regards to the historic Mughal street.
This route is the alternate strategy to journey between Jammu and Srinagar and to achieve some inner areas of Kashmir just like the city of Rajouri. It’s also a really scenic route that positively deserves to be explored.
For extra particulars on Mughal street, you possibly can check out the posts beneath.
Aharbal Waterfall
Aharbal Waterfall is among the most stunning waterfalls in Kashmir. It’s also probably the most simply accessible one and but by no means crowded. Positioned at a distance of solely about 70 kilometers from Srinagar, it’s a place that’s amazingly stunning however doesn’t get the eye that it actually deserves.
In the event you have been planning to go to Kashmir, I’ll extremely advocate that you should discover a day in your itinerary for a go to to Aharbal. How will you plan that’s what I’ve talked about within the article beneath.
Yusmarg
Yusmarg is situated at a distance of about 50 kilometers from Srinagar within the Badgam district of Kashmir. At an altitude of two,396 meters (7,861 ft), it’s an alpine valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains and meadows of Pine and Fir.
It’s a kind of locations in Kashmir which are immensely stunning however don’t get the eye that they rightfully deserve. However for somebody desirous to go offbeat and avoid the group, Yousmarg is ideal.
For extra particulars on this vacation spot, please check out Yusmarg – A Complete Journey Information & Itinerary.
Doodhpathri
Doodhpathri is a small hill station in Kashmir. It lies in a bowl-shaped alpine valley surrounded by snow-clad mountains and the meadows of Pine Fir and Deodar. It sits at an altitude of two,730 meters (8,957 ft) above sea degree and receives heavy snowfall within the winter season.
The area doesn’t have all-year street connectivity but and within the months of peak winter, it could possibly get very tough to achieve right here. For the remainder of the yr although, a visit to Doodhpathri can really be made in lower than half a day.
To be trustworthy, it’s not but a hill station as there may be little to no improvement within the area. What you see is nature in its uncooked kind. There are only a few homes of the native shepherds and that’s the solely signal of civilization that you will note right here.
The realm is essentially unexplored and receives little or no tourism. Nonetheless, efforts are being made by the authorities to develop it as a vacationer vacation spot. JKTDC has additionally constructed a resort right here for vacationers who needed to remain in a single day.
You may check out Doodhpathri – A COMPLETE Journey Information & Itinerary to search out out extra.
Public Transport in Kashmir
One of the best ways to journey to Kashmir is both by your self-owned automobile or a non-public taxi. However in case you are a finances traveler, you can too go for public transport which is out there within the type of buses and shared taxis. The issue nonetheless is that it’s not frequent.
It is going to be arduous to discover a JKSRTC bus anyplace in Kashmir. You’ll have to depend on mini-buses and shared cabs operated by the locals. They don’t have a set schedule or timetable however can be found all through the day.
For extra particulars on this subject, please check out How one can Journey in Kashmir by Buses & Shared Cabs. On this put up, I’ve supplied full particulars on how one can commute from Srinagar to different locations by public transport.
Taxi Charges
In the event you have been planning on renting a taxi to your journey, the posts beneath might help you get a value estimate. An essential factor that it’s best to bear in mind is that locations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg have their very own taxi charges.
What it means is that in case you rented a taxi for Pahalgam from Srinagar, it could possibly solely drop you in Pahalgam. To go to native locations like Betaab Valley, Chandanwari, and Aru Valley, you’ll have to lease a neighborhood cab in Pahalgam.
The identical rule applies to Gulmarg. In the event you needed to go for a drive to Bota Pathri, you’ll have to lease one other cab in Gulmarg for that.
Equally, this rule can be relevant in case you supposed to maneuver on to Kargil, Zanskar Valley, or Ladakh after exploring Kashmir.
Renting a Bike
Renting a motorcycle in Srinagar is a good way to probe for individuals who reached Kashmir by flight. There are a couple of bike leases within the metropolis which you can get the bikes from.
Please check out How one can Lease a Bike in Srinagar and Srinagar Bike Rental Charges. From each of those posts, you may get to know the process and the price concerned.
Itinerary Planning
Your closing itinerary for Kashmir will solely rely upon the variety of days you have got in hand, your finances, and your preferences. However I’ll advocate looking at How one can Plan your Itinerary for Kashmir.
On this put up, I’ve shared totally different examples of itineraries primarily based on the time at hand. You may choose any one of many recommended itineraries and both observe it fully or modify it as per your comfort.
Meals to Strive in Kashmir
Your journey to not simply Kashmir however anyplace is incomplete except you have got tasted the native delicacies. That in my view is definitely among the best elements of touring to totally different locations.
The mouth-watering native meals to attempt in Kashmir is an expertise that you simply simply can’t miss. Beneath is a complete checklist of what to eat and the place.
A typical query that will get requested most frequently is about vegetarian meals and its availability. You should not have to fret about that as effectively.
There are quite a lot of locations throughout Kashmir the place they solely serve vegetarian, even Jain meals as effectively. So discovering a spot to eat won’t really be an issue.
The posts beneath present extra data on the meals that it’s best to attempt in Kashmir and the place.
Motels
Within the posts beneath, I’ve reviewed among the resorts that I’ve stayed at throughout my journeys to Kashmir. You may check out the data and photos that I supplied and resolve in case you want to keep at any of those.
- Resort One Earth Trinetar, Jammu
- Resort Grand Valley Inn, Srinagar
- Resort Barzman, Sonamarg
- Kashmir Vacationer Camp, Sonamarg
- Resort Inexperienced Park, Gulmarg
- Resort Royal Park, Gulmarg
- Resort Affarwat, Gulmarg
- Resort Iceland, Pahalgam
- JKTDC Resort, Yusmarg
- JKTDC Resort, Doodhpathri
- Resort Kaka Palace, Gurez Valley
- Resort Kargil Heights, Kargil
Travelogues
Beneath are the hyperlinks to detailed travelogues that I used to be capable of pen down of a few of my Kashmir journeys. If you need to, you possibly can check out these logs to realize additional data and see photos of the locations.
I’ve tried to be as detailed as potential in these logs, offering a number of essential particulars for anybody desirous to plan the same journey.
By Automobile
This one was my longest journey to Kashmir and lined a lot of the vacationer locations.
Bike Journey
The journey above was solely in my Thar. Check out this second travelogue. This was a whole bike journey accomplished in a special method.
Winter Journey
The travelogues above have been each from the summer season season. In the event you have been planning to go to Kashmir in the course of the winter season, the travelogue beneath could be of assist.
Different Travelogues
These travelogues have been written by different authors detailing their journeys. Have a look and I’m certain you may get quite a lot of useful particulars from their journey tales.
If you need your journey story to be printed on my weblog, you possibly can ship it to me with the related photos at [email protected] I may give a closing contact to the log, put it up on the log and add the hyperlinks right here.
Images
If you need to check out a few of my photographs of locations in Kashmir, you possibly can take a have a look at the posts beneath. This might help you resolve whether or not or not you need to go to that specific place or not.
How one can plan a visit to Kashmir – Conclusion
I imagine that’s it. This could cowl the vast majority of the data that you have to get in an effort to plan an satisfying and hassle-free journey to Kashmir.
If there was a selected query that you weren’t capable of finding a solution to, please be at liberty to ask within the feedback part beneath. You can even observe me on Instagram and chat with me stay or subscribe to my YouTube channel and ask a query there.