Kashmir - sojourn to the paradise on earth in October 2012

I am creating this new thread to unveil the thrills and experience of my sojourn to paradise on earth . I am to commence my journey on 19 Oct from Kolkata to NDLS by Rajdhani Exp and onward journey to Jammu .

I shall reach Jammu on 21 Oct Morn but now in two mind whether to halt at Patni or move straight to Srinagar .

Already I have my first hiccup !
I tied up with TItu Singh , driver based in Srinagar who runs a Tavera . Rate quoted was quite pricey , but even then I agreed and engaged with him for last two weeks through tele-calls . Unfortunately , after everything got finalized , today morning he called be over my mobile to inform that he will not be available on my dates of visit due to marriage in his home !Although I have no business to blame him , it appeared quite strange to me that a marriage in his home just cropped up two days before my journey and it was not known even last sunday when I last talked to him over mobile to confirm my booking of Tavera with him . He was very polite , offered me to tire up another vehicle from his known driver which I politely turned down .I give him a benefit of doubt about the excuse he put up for his inability but such incident points to peril of fixing up directly with driver . I must mention he did not ask for any advance , he also did not agree to bargain , he was polite , firm , confident and appeared helpful .

I am now in process of tying up with another car rental fellow which I hope will be OK .

I must also thank all IMErs in this forum for their information and guidance . I must express special gratitude to AASHISHDA FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND WEALTH OF INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO US !

He did the same with me when I approached him in August for my Sep trip. He initially agreed but when he understood my trip is way different from usual Gulmarg - Sonmarg - Pahelgaon, he told me his brother's marriage was fixed exactly on same date as my travel. He too offered me to get some known driver, which I politely rejected. So after the exact 2 same incidents, 2 marriages at home in one month, and he didn't know either of them, I am not sure if he still deserves benefit of doubt or not.

Have a safe and nice journey!!

Really sad experience for both of you!

I always insist to everybody that there are plenty of vehicles available in the market so it is not necessary to book vehicle in advance. It is always advisable to book the vehicle on arrival. At least you would be knowing what exactly you are getting against what are you paying!

It works out cheaper also several time.

Notwithstanding the initial hiccup, I wish you a wonderful and memorable trip.

A bad experience to start with , but nevertheless , wish you a very very nice trip.

Thanks to all leaving NDLS to Jammu today night !
Shall reach Jammu tomorrow morn.

It's really very difficult to deal with cheater in every moments. They spoiled our whole plan. Finally there is nothing to say but Best of luck....

Just returned to Delhi in unbreakable condition today morn !
Had a share of good , not -so -good and avoidable experience .

Shall get back to all once I reach Kolkata day after tomorrow !
Just a few flash !

1. Snowfall started in Sonemarg , in fact we ourselves faced a brief spell of snow-fall.

2. Gulmarg received snow-fall . Unconfirmed news is that Gondola is not operating due to bad weather for few days due to snow-fall on 25th Oct

3. Kashmiri people will embrace you with warm heart and plead with you to visit again and again

4. Although there was a militant firing on 19th Oct 2012 at Srinagar that killed one person in Silver star hotel , there is not an iota of fear . I myself had roamed in Boulevard at 9-30 , shopping of large flocks of Bengali tourist continued till 10 PM . No visible presence of high security operation although CRPF /Army keep a contant vigil from vantage points .

5. Rush of Bengali started from 19 Oct and likely to continue for one more week . 90% of tourist in Kashmir are Bengali as of now .

6. Hotel rooms are available in plenty but those facing Dal lake on Boulevard road are pricey . Food in Dhaba (mostly veg) is quite exorbitant .

7. There is a bit crisis of Hotel availability in Jammu , very strangely.

8. Climate is very cold Srinagar - 4-5 deg c at night
Sonemarg -snowfall started
Gulmarg -chilly , snowfall started
Pahalgam - a few degree less han Srinagar but no snowfall

This much for today .
Shall post TR and Px shortly after I get back to Kol .
Thanks to all IMERS who helped with guidance and information for my Trip .

Great to know you had successfully accomplished your trip. Waiting for your TR with latest updates. Welcome back!

Welcome back!

glad to hear that you completed your trip safely.

take your own time and write a great travelogue.

Hi all , now back to Kolkata
I may be slow in writing my Trip Report , so I beg apology at commencement .

To start with I want to inform that my team consisted of my 76 year old mother with severe knee problem , who can barely walk 100 steps continuously , that too with walking stick . It was a mater of great concern for me as I have to embark and dis-embark at stations and travel in hilly areas . I find many elderly with health problem , particularly with restricted mobility are also eager to travel . For them , my experience and information .

1) I traveled to New Delhi by Rajdhani Exp on Oct 19 , 2012 to reach NDLS at around 11-00 AM . I pre-booked a Govt. Guest House near station . My first challenge was to get out of New Delhi Station and ride a taxi . I transported my luggage to the exit gate at Platform No 16 (Ajmeri Gate side) . I used the VIP Parking Exit Gate , where that car just stops within 50 metres of station . There is nothing VIP flavour , it is actually the handicapped parking with Parking Fee of Rs 60 /- instead of normal fee of Rs 20 /- and you can call any taxi or car there . Mind it Parking cxharge for entering Old Howrah station is Rs200/- and new complex ids Rs 100/- . After keeping my luggage in custody of my wify , I got hold of the battery operated car and took it to Platform 15 where my elderly mother was waiting . It took Rs 100/- to transport my mother from Platform 15 to VIP parking . I am not sure whether such car can officially charge fee as they have not given any receipt . There are two such cars - one in Pharganj side and one in Ajmeri Gate side parked in Pf No 1 and PF 16 (Near Dy Station Superintendents office )If the cars are out of service by change , one may get Wheel Chair . I found coolies are quite conversant with wheel chairs which are readily available PF -1 and PF -16 (at Shahayata Kendra ). My experience is Coolie charges Rs 200/ for a wheel chair trip at New Delhi Station and another 150/- to 200/- for transportation of luggage . One may bargain and bring the rate down . But it was great relief and my experience with coolies transporting elderly in wheel-chair was really good - they took lot of care and compassion , particularly while travelling in slopes , crowd and above train lines .

2)On 20/10 , I have to again come back to NDLS to catch Utar-Samaprk Kranti to Jammu which starts at 8:50 PM . This train goes upto Udhampur , but I booked it upto Jammu . This time I used the wheel chair and the coolie charged me Rs 350/- for transporting my mother from PF 1 to PF-5 and luggage in two trips . There is no pantry in Uttar Sampark Kranti , but Veg Meals are supplied in train around 9:30 costing Rs 65/- per meal . The meals are loaded in NDLS from base kitchen and are so-so .

21 Oct - Reached Jammu at 6-30 AM sharp.

Daylight breaks in Jammu at around 6:30 , when the train reaches station .
It was chilly , temperature about 14-15 Degree Celcius .
When we dis-embarked from train , we found Jammu station already crowded with many army personnel and huge luggage . One of the army men helped my mother and son to sit on their luggage and informed that climate has changed in Kashmir with early snow-fall this time . Musam kharap ho giya - he uttered .

While in Delhi on 20/10 , we were worried as news report came out about militant firing at Silver Spring Hotel in outskirts of Srinagar . One person was killed .
I have already stated how my previous tie up with Driver TItu Singh abruptly ended with a phone call just a couple of days before my journey . His excuse was unconvincing to me and my benefit of doubt appears to have gone to wrong person as Kshil also faced same experience with TITU SINGH .So future travelers may negotiate with this driver with caution , if at all.

I have somewhat analysed the situation of car rental at J&K .

A round trip Jammu to Jammu with Sonemarg , Gulmarg , Srinagar local and Pahagam night-stay requires follwoing travel

a) Jammu -Srinagar =300 Km
b)Local sightseeing Srinagar = 50 Km
c)Sonemarg = 90x2 =100kM
d)Gulmarg = 50x2=100Km
e)Srinagar-Pahalgam =100Km
f)Pahalgam-Jammu =300Km
g)Misc Travel =50 Km

Total =1000 Km
A typical SUV costs 2000/ per day for 7 days trip from Jammu to Jammu . Rtae may vary between 1850/- 2200/- for Tavera , which is the most popular car in this route . Scorpio or Innova are less in number and may be costlier option .

So average rate for Jammu to Jammu seven day trip via a car that originates from Jammu costs 14000/- for 1000 Km ie Rs 14 /- per Km
If one ties up with a Srinagar based Driver from Jammu -Jammu , he has to take a extra trip of 300x2 Km =600kM . Ofcourse there is option that he may not come or return vacant to and from Jammu , but there is some uncertainty due to local Taxi union at Jammu .A lone taxi driver may not find it easy to park his vehicles away from rail station , get tourist and then proceed to Srinagar as their faces are known to Taxi Union fellows . Most likely they they take help of some brokers or agents who take a cut . So Srinagar based Taxi will be always pricey for Jammu to Jammu travel , if pre-booked and will be fraught with danger of last minute no-show or cancellation as made by Titu Singh , which was only the point of appreciation about him , to be fair .