If you want to know is Jammu and Kashmir an unsafe place for traveling , Then Your Search is over Now after reading this article. We took a flight from Mumbai to Srinagar’s Sheikh ul Alam airport.First day was gone in reaching Pahalgam which is a three hour drive from Srinagar. The drive was really beautiful as on both sides of roads you will witness apple Gardens. As you gain elevation, Scenary becomes even more beautiful with Lidder river on one side and lesser Himalayas on other.
Kashmir(Pahalagam)
Pahalagam is a small village located near the Pir Panjal Range and is based at a elevation of 2700 metres. It was quite cold in Pahalagam.Second day we started exporing pahalgam and went to Baisaran valley which is also called as mini switzerland. The drive was about 10 KM from our hotel.
Pahalgam has a parking area beyond which toursit vehicles are not allowed and we have to hire a local cab to reach betaab valley and chandanwari which is roughly 15 km from parking area. The charge varies from 2500 to 10000 Rs depending on the number of hours for which the vehicle is hired.
Baisaran valley was roughly 4 KM from the parking and we took a pony to reach there. Per person cost for pony was 1000 Rs although the quoted rate was quite high.
Baisaran valley was quite beautiful. 2 species of confireous trees Deodhar and Pine were omnipresent, Soil was sandy and the view was breathtaking. We spent around 3 hours here enjoying maggi and kahwa and did zip line here.
We skipped chandanwari and betaab valley as the view in my opinion were similar to one in Baisaran and it was quite costly to reach there through local cab. However you can visit if you are not on a budget trip. Also one can look for offbeat places like Verinag, Kokarnag, Sinathan Top etc from Pahalagam.
After sightseeing in Pahalgam we went to dodhpatri on third day. Our stay was in srinagar and dodhpatri was around an hour from our hotel in srinagar.
Dodhpatri was as beautiful as Baisaran and the presence of shailganga river and its icy water made the experience even more happening. One can do adventure activities like parasailing here. Even here local cab is to be hired some 5 KM before the actual place as that is the only source of employment for locals and they earn only through tourist and tourism.
On the way to dodhpatri we had sarso ka saag and makkhe di roti and it was simply amazing in taste.
Climate wise dodhpatri was cold and fir, pine and deodhar made the experience truly special. Soil was again sandy and more whitish than pahalagam due to white sedimentary rocks which were in abundance.
Kashmir(Sonmarg)
Fourth day we went to Sonmarg and Zero Point. A local cab was hired to reach zero point from sonmarg and it costed around 5000 RS for 8 people and the cab was with us for the entire day.
Zero point is the highest point in the kashmir valley and is at the elevation of 3480 metre. This is also a connecting point for Kashmir valley to ladakh pleatue. From here one has to desend to reach leh.
Zero point has zero vegetation and it was icy cold. Take good 15–20 minutes to acclimatize yourself and then indulge in activities as the oxygen level is relatively low.
On the way to zero point you will witness full speed work of Zoji la tunnel and the view everywhere is amazing not to forget the dangerous and scary ride to zero point itself. Travelling to zero point from sonmarg in local cab itself is an adventure activity as the roads at some place can be too narrow and people from plains might just close their eyes rather than look at the view before them.
Kashmir(Gulmarg )
Fifth day we went to Gulmarg and last day was spent on house boat in Dal lake in Srinagar. Gulmarg and Sonmarg were similar in most things and one can choose to visit one of these place if budget is an issue. Gulmarg has a gondola ride and Sonmarg has a zero point.
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Kashmir(House Boat)
The experience in house boat too was very good and the food was delicious. If you are wondering if the water in dal lake is clean and whether the sewage is dumped directly in lake then the answer is no to both questions.
Drainage system in lake is similar to one on roads however too many people spit and throw plastic in lake making the water dirty. Dal lake has a market and a lot of people will come to sell you stuff while you are enjoying your shikara ride. Beware of buying loose saffron here.
Key learnings and experience
- Kashmir is as safe as any other Indian state to travel
- CRPF, BSF, Army is present everywhere on road, mostly CRPF. BSF on borders and CISF on airport.
- Rashtriya Rifles is the counter insurgency force in Kashmir. Its personnel are taken from Indian Army
- Walnut, Poplar, Chinar, Apple, Willow trees are quite common in lower altitude and above 1000 metres Pine, Deodhar, Fir, takes over.
- Soil was mostly sandy wherever I went formed through years of cutting of sedimentary rocks by mighty river sytem of himalayas.
- Kashmiri’s are quite hospitable however due to lack of oppurtunities and employment they might get clingy with tourist to buy their stuff or avail their services.
- Kashmir is quite costly for most things as most things are imported.
- Kashmir has a union everywhere. Cab union, Shikara union, Pony union, auto union and they claim to charge a government mandated price for their services.
- Kashmir has safrron, also grows a lot of rice and maize however wheat a rabi crop was surprisingly absent wherever I travelled.
- Apples were 100/ 120 RS per KG and apple gardens are everywhere.
- Srinagar has a lot of gardens and if you have to be in any one of these, Pari Mahal is a must see.
- A lot of infrastruture activity is happening here and dust keeps billowing up, please cover your face while you are on roads in Srinagar.
- Kashmir’s love hatchback more than SUV’s and there a lot of second hand cars in Kashmir.
- You will witness a lot of pastoralist here and it is said that they too pay grazing and road tax to government.
- It is claimed that pure saffron is only found in Pampore
- Timber, Bat maker, Automobile, hotels are major employers in valley
- Amarnath Yatra route is from both pahalgam and sonmarg, you can choose to start from any one of these point.
- When Amarnath yatra is held it is claimed other tourist desist from travelling to Kashmir as their is a lot of inconvenienve due to security reasons which affects tourism business in Kashmir.
- There are 10 districts in Kashmir. Pahlagam is in Anantnag, Dodhpatri in Budgam, Sonmarg in Ganderbal and Gulmarg is in Baramulla and Pahalgam was the coldest in september when we travelled.
- There is only one wine shop in srinagar and it is difficult to get alochol in kashmir valley.
- Travelling and accomodation is relatively inexpensive in Kashmir however be ready to shell out money on local cabs and ponies when you travel to tourist spots.
- Hotel rooms are full of Deodhar wood and work
- For a total of eight people we spent around 1.5 lac including flights for a six night/seven day trip
- If you are looking to travel to Kashmir rates might go up in near future as their is a lot of push for tourism in the valley by government. Bangus valley fair is an example.
- If you want to visit the off beat Kashmir, Verinag, Kokarnag, Achabal, Sinathan Top should be in your itinerary
- If you are looking to visit Kashmir you can reach out to 8591380663 for personalised itinerary at the most affordable rate
- One visit to Kashmir in a lifetime is a must
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