Help & Guidance Needed for My Kashmir Tour

basu.singh

Hi All,

I'm Basundhara, & its my 1st post here at India-Mike.

Well, I & my Husband are planning to visit J&K & Vaishno Devi in August for 7 Days from August 8th to 14th.

My Tentative Itenary for the Tour is given below -->
1. DAY 1 (08/8) - Reaching Jammu (By Train) at 12 noon; Half-Day sight seeing of Jammu.
2. DAY 2 (09/8)- Jammu-Srinagar by Taxi; Half-Day sight seeing of Srinagar.
3. DAY 3 (10/8)- Srinagar-Gulmarg-Srinagar
4. DAY 4 (11/8)- Srinagar-Sonmarg OR Yusmarg-Srinagar
5. DAY 5 (12/8)- Srinagar-Wular Circle-Srinagar
6. DAY 6 (13/8)- Srinagar-Pahalgam-Katra
7. DAY 7 (14/8)- Vaishno Maa Darshan-Jammu-Home.

There r some Doubts where r I need your Expert & Practical Opinions-

1) Which place is better amongst SONMARG Vs YUSMARG, in terms of Scenic Beauty, Nature & Picturesque Sights ? (As I can visit only 1 place, due to Shortness of Time)

2) Or is it advisable to Visit both of these place & then to Drop the WULAR-CIRCLE ?
If so, then kindly rate these three places (as per your PERSONAL EXPERIENCES) on the Parametres of Nature & Scenic-beauty.

3) Can I go to SRINAGAR-PAHALGAM-KATRA in one day while returning back to Katra OR shall I return to Katra directly without going to Pahalgam ? Well,'if the Former is possible, then I'll be able to cover one more important Destination of my Tour, by Utilizing that Day.

4) What r the Famous Kasmiri Deliqacies/Food (veg & non-veg both), that we should'nt miss ? Some Good Restaurants ?

5) Will it be Really cold over there at that time? Shall we need to carry Heavy Woolens with us or light-ones will do ?

Friends, I'm eagerly waiting for your Expert Views, Guidance & Experiences.
I'm looking forward to see ''THE HEAVEN ON EARTH''. So plz help me out in making this, the Most Unforgettable Tour of my Life !

Thanx & Regards.

santos_g15

There is one major glitch in your plan .jammu - srinagar is 10 hr drive.so you cant do sight seeing on that day.For Srinagar allot one day to enjoy the place or to keep plan as it is drop srinagar local sight seeing.

Rest i really dont have an idea.Hope some one will answer.havea great trip.

Mike Cork

You seem to have missed out enough time for sightseeing In Srinagar.

You should make more time to take a boat ride on the lakes and see the sights in around Dal lake and Srinagar.

__________________
Only you can make it a good day...

basu.singh

Thanx for Replying.

Since I'm running short of Time, so I planned my Schedule that way.
But, I wish to cover Srinagar- Besides giving one half-day for Sight-seeing, I'm planning to see at least one site everyday in Srinagar, once I return back there everyday. Is'nt it possible ?

Secondly, I got the Feedback, that it takes around 6 hrs by Taxi (Qualis/Innova) to reach Katra from Srinagar.... ???

sunnykashmir

you are right it takes 6 hrs from katra provided there are no traffic jams

skip wular circle and keep one complete dayfor srinagar

it is not possible to go to pahalgam and do site seeing there and then go to jammu the same day. will be very hectic and you wont be able 2 enjoy
rescdule your itienary

basu.singh

Ok thanx.

So, which one amongst the three are better, that I should definitely visit ???
SONMARG, YUSMARG OR WULAR CIRCLE ??

What is your Personal choice'of Hierarchy amongst them ??

sunnykashmir

go to sonamarg maybe you can go upto zojila pass the Gateway to Ladakh, its just 25 kms from sonamarg

basu.singh

Ok, how far is Sonamarg from Srinagar ?
And can we move to Zolija Pass from Sonamarg & return back to Srinagar the same day?
We've hired a Taxi for all 7 days of our Stay at J&K.

What is the distance of Yusmarg & Wular from Srinagar ?

Sumantra1961

Srinagar to Sonamarg is approx 90 kms, about two & a half hours driving time. It is possible to return to Srinagar the same day.

However, do keep in mind that due to movement of Army convoys (coming from Leh), traffic between Sonamarg & Zojila may be restricted between 10.30am & 12.30 pm (I'm giving ball park timings, they may vary)

basu.singh

Where can I buy Kashmiri Carpets at a good reasonable price & at what range (for a medium sized silk/woolen kashmiri carpet) ??

Can u suggest me a Good specific Shop or Market in Srinagar.
Or the Place/Village (if accessible & aroung the Tourist places) from where the Carpets r made & I might get it in Make/Cost-Price ?

Indizen

You should first visit the Government Handicrafts Emporium on Residency Road, and get an idea of the prices. Then take a shikara tour in the inner city area where there are many weavers selling their carpets directly, with no middlemen involved.

Indizen

Kashmiri cuisine goes by the name of "wazwan". The non-veg dishes include : gushtaba, rista, yakhni, tabak maz : all these are mutton and lamb preparations cooked in different ways and you should try them all while you are there.
Veg dishes are mostly paneer prepared in various ways, and you can also try the spinach-like Haq saag, which grows only in Kashmir.

basu.singh

Dont we have any Special Kashmiri Chicken Cuisine ??

And any specific area in Srinagar where I can find the Carpet Weavers ??

Indizen

Yes they do cook chicken, but mostly a simple curry. The variation is in the mutton and paneer dishes.

basu.singh

As mentioned by u & also given in many Websites, that Wazwan is a Royal Kashmiri Muslim Cuisine, that comprises of many Mutton & Lamb preparations in curry & Barbeque.
So i have a doubt,that can we have/order one specific dish or a Full Wazwan meal comprising of all these Non-Veg stuffs ?
Any good & special Restaurant in Kasmir offering Wazwan ?
Do the owners of Houseboats who offer food to the tourist, also provide the home-made Wazwan ??