Kashmir - The Heaven on Earth - My Experience

while putting my query i just missed to tell you WHAT A FAB PHOTOGRAPHS AND TRIP REPORT AS WELL....thanks for sharing with us...

Thanks Aditi

Dry fruits, wollen stuff and saffron were best in Pahalgam. Read my Pahalgam part for the shop for saffron/dry fruits.

For the Gulmarg part Gondola is the key attraction. And weather is hard to predict. If it is a day trip you can decide at run time.

Chetan, all the places / shops that you have mentioned above are in Pahalgam main market? How far is Pampore from Pahalgam? Would you recommend Pampore or Pahalgam market for shopping?

we are visiting kashmir for 4/5 days in august will we get a glimpse of the snow in this month

I think you should fine snow at Thajiwas glacier in Sonmarg. I am not sure about other places.

I found Pahalgam better. The Pampore area is on the way and much earlier.

Your article was very informative and helpful, pictures are great, but can you guide me about the tariff in july nd also the weather

hi Chetan,
we(8 young guys) have a plan to visit Kashmir along with Sri Amarnath Yatra durring 28 june-5th july.
our tentative itinerary:-
28/6:jammu-Pahelgam,enrooting Patnitop,Varinag.reached pahelgam within 11am,ponny ride to Baisaran & later hire a car to visit aru valley.
29/6:early morning reached Chandanwari enrooting betab valley,trek towards Sheshnag.
30/6:trek to Panjtarni.
1/7:a visit to holly cave & later trek down to Baltal.
2/7: hire a car for srinagar,enrooting sonamarg,a short trek to Thajwas glacier(if time permit also try to cover Joji La pass)will reache srinagar by 3pm,Shikara ride in the evening.
3/7:a day trip to gulmarg,try to go upto Apharwat(by gondola),Srinagar gardens trip durring afternoon.
4/7:morning cycle ride at Dachigram national park(6:30-8:30am),later go to Yusmarg,leasure some time there,then transfer to Anantnag or Daksum(enrooting achabal,kokarnag),wanted to stay at Daksum.
5/7:reached Udhampur by 7pm to catch train,try to go through Anantnag- Daksum -Sinthan Pass- Chattru - Kishtwar - Doda – Batote route.(to avoid traffic durring yatra period & want to cover Sinthan Pass)
we know its a very compact plan but we guys really facing lack of time...

any suggestions by IMERs on the itinerary.......?
possible weater condition durring that period...?

Hi Sheil,

I am copying some threads about Kashmir visits in July. Hope this helps.

Kashmir trip in mid-July

Kashmir Itinerary

Unfortunately my knowledge of the weather is limited. I feel the tourist population should be relatively less so your bargaining powers would be better.

Tarakm, That looks like one heck of a crammed schedule

28/6:jammu-Pahelgam,enrooting Patnitop,Varinag.reached pahelgam within 11am,pony ride to Baisaran & later hire a car to visit aru valley.
Jammu to Pahalgam takes around 4 hours. If you add Patnitop to that then adding Baisaran and Aru Valley is like trying to have lunch after every two hours Drop something here. I suggest drive to Pahalgam and take a horse ride to Baisaran.
29/6:early morning reached Chandanwari enrooting betab valley,trek towards Sheshnag.
30/6:trek to Panjtarni.
1/7:a visit to holy cave & later trek down to Baltal.
No idea about these three days
2/7: hire a car for srinagar,enrooting sonamarg,a short trek to Thajwas glacier(if time permit also try to cover Joji La pass)will reache srinagar by 3pm,Shikara ride in the evening.
If you are walking to Thajiwas then it will not be a short walk. A couple of hours would be my estimate. Also Zojila and Thajiwas would be in different directions if I am not wrong. And reaching Srinagar would probably be pretty late.
3/7:a day trip to gulmarg,try to go upto Apharwat(by gondola),Srinagar gardens trip durring afternoon.
4/7:morning cycle ride at Dachigram national park(6:30-8:30am),later go to Yusmarg,leasure some time there,then transfer to Anantnag or Daksum(enrooting achabal,kokarnag),wanted to stay at Daksum.

In general you need to revisit the plan. Go with an intention of enjoying the trip rather than covering more places. You will get stressed out and will not have fun. Also check out some threads where others would have done such trips and how it turned out.

Chetan, we are visiting Kashmir in August so chances of snow are very less. Strictly from scenic point of view what would be your order of recommendation for the following places in Pahalgam:

Baisaran, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, Chandanwari

This will help us in priortizing our trip schedule.

Meavin, Sorry to say but you are not referring to the answers given earlier. Also I believe the inputs earlier and your own preferences should help to prioritize between the places.

Sorry Chetan to bother you.. Yes you are right that even now I am not very clear on which all points should be covered while visiting Pahalgam.. I can understand that asking same questions again and again might irritate you.. Feel extremely sorry about that.. Actually you could not go to Baisaran and Params did not go to Chandanwari..

We are really very very tight on our schedule and hardly have 4.5 days in Kashmir so wanted to be doubly sure about our plans. Once again sorry about any inconvenience caused..

No worries Meavin. If you have one day do Chandanwari and Aru Valley in the morning and Baisaran post lunch. Worst case decide at runtime. Everything is beautiful so whatever you can see will be worth it. Just relax and enjoy.

Cheers,

Chetan

we are all still waiting for your trip report as well as accommodation information.

Sure Chetan.. Thanks

Surindar,pls let me know for which place you are asking for the accomodation details ...We stayed in srinagar 6 days (2 nights in houseboat ) & pahelgam 2 night,patnitop 1 night..