Kashmir Valley (Trip Account)

Balvar · May 3rd, 2008, 19:04

Dear Travel,

Frankly Speaking i Dont recommend a personal Cab for Vistin either Gulmarg.Pahalgam,& Local Sightseeing around Srinahar. but otherwise th going rate of personal cab upto to Gulamarg would anywhere around 800 to 1200 Rs bucks, but it largely depends upon your Bargaining powere. other wsie shared Cabs or Toursim Buses is a Better & a practical Option.

Regarding Amarnath Yatra, in case u want to cover it in one day the only Otpion is Helicopter Ride ( last year th cost of the same was around 10K to 7.5 K per person) & u dont require resgistration for the same also & u also get VIP Dasrshan.
In case u have time constraint or someoene in group has a problem in trekking, i recommed a trek rather than a heli Ride. Rest totally ur Call

I have seen people go there without Registrations so no big issues.Also in cae ur Going to Srinagar only for yatra then i wud recommend that u get your Self Registred. Coz if u Trek from Baltal you would miss, the Chandwadi & nag Lake. in Case ur Traveling by Road make sure the outlook for your car doesnt give a impression that ur going for the Amarnath Yatra Othersiwe u wud have to move with Yatra carvan.

Rest for any otherqueris plz get back to me

Vidugoyal · May 3rd, 2008, 19:35

Dear Balvar,

Thanks for the time and pain you are taking for the benefit of the IMER's. Well for the past few days I have been running pillar to post for getting all the requisite info. for my summer vacation and we hve rather finalised as under:

Saturday , 24.05.2008 : Reach Jammu & reach Katra - Check in a JKTDC Hotel (@Rs. 400 though Non A/c.), go to Helipad for Darshan and then come back to Katra.
Same day : Drive from Katra and reach Patnitop – Night Stay at JKTDC Patnitop @ Rs. 800 Per Room.

Sunday 25.05.2008 : Wake up in Morning and leave Patnitop – for Srinagar on way see Tikri, Udhampur, Kud, Batote, Ramban, Ramsu, banihal, Jwahar Tunnel, Verinag, Anantnag and reach Srinanagar –
Night Stay at JKTDC Hotel Heemal Rs. 2,000/-

Monday 26.05.2008 Whole day at leisure at Srinagar. Do Local Sight Seeing at Srinagar, Dal Lake, Shikara Ride, Tulip Garden, Visit botanical Gardens, Nishant Garden & Shalimar / Mughal Gardens. Night stay at Hotel Heemal Srinagar @ Rs. 2000/-

Tuesday 27.05.2008 : Wake up and leave Srinagar – to Pahalgam, Stay at JKTDC Huts and do local sight seeing, Lidder valley etc.
Night Stay at JKTDC Huts at Pahalgam Rs. 1,000/-.

Wednesday 28.05.2008 : Check out of Pahalgam and do all other sightseeing, try out a hand on trout angling. In the evening come back to Srinagar. On the way back if possible go to Wualr Lake, (I have ben informed that you have to take permission from the Army to visit Wular)Night Stay at Hotel Heemal or house Boat as per JKTDC guidance Rs. 2,000/-

Thursday 29.05.2008 : Early Morning leave for Gulmarg – Check in at JKTDC Huts in Gulmarg. It’s a drive of around 2 Hours from Srinagar.Visit the Gulmarg Gondola ride, Night Stay at JKTDC Huts. @ Rs.1000/-

Friday 30.05.2008 : Wake up early in the morning and proceed to Sonmarg, via Srinagar,Ganderbal (21 kms from Srinagar), Kangan (40 kms from Srinagar), Khir Bhavani. See Zo Zila Pass if possible. Night Stay at Srinagar at Hotel Heemal @ Rs. 2000/-

Saturday 31.05.2008 Return Back from Srinagar to Delhi

Well my questions to you are as under:

1. Is the above program okay or you would suggest me some modifications. Please note that no confirmed booking have been made and I have time till Wednesday to pay for the confirmed booking. There is a mixed thought that I should reach and then find a Hotel (Which I normally do on any hill staion in Uttrakhand and Himachal but Kashmir is very new to me) or a confirmed booking, without seeing the rooms being offered is a good idea.

2. I have got Train reservation from 4 trains but all are wait-listed and the number are not reducing for the last 14 days. finger crossed may be I will have to book a flight from Delhi to Jammu.

3. Do you know any decent taxi driver and his phone number so that we can get in touch with him. Though I have talked to the Taxi Association of Srinagar and they inform me that per day charge of Sumo/Van/Ambassodor is around 2200 INR and that for Qualis/Scorpio/Innova is 3000INR, is that the real price or they are fleecing. I understand that they have to only earn theuir bread of 12 months in the tourist season of 3 months.

Would really appreciate you inputs, comments and suggestions.

Take care and enjoy,

Best Wishes / Vidu

patialahill · May 5th, 2008, 11:16

Hi Mikers,

Can anybody tell the latest about the rail link to Srinagar???? I am waiting for it to be started.

PatialaHill

cutegaldiya · May 5th, 2008, 12:07

hi balvar...can u take photo from gondola? is it allowed?

Balvar · May 5th, 2008, 12:16

Yeah its allowed while you are in the Gondola (i.e when u are in the cable car), but after reachin the Top you are allowed only to spend about 20 Mins there

cutegaldiya · May 5th, 2008, 12:23

balvar...have u taken any photo from gandola...then please share it...can u tell me....on october will we able to get ice in gulmarg?

Balvar · May 5th, 2008, 12:27

The Iterniary seems great, expect for the 29th May & 30th seems tough. As you are plannin to stay in Gulmarg for 29th May. that means on 30th Morning you would be starting from Gulmarg not Srinagar. Gulmarg is 54 Kms from Srinagar & then sonmarg is further about 80 Kms from Sinagar. Moreover if your going to Sonmarg then Dont miss out Rafting & walk upto to Thajwaz. Plz Rethink the Plan for these two days rest seems grt.

The Taxi Fare your Talking about is a fare of hiring a personal Cab. U can bargain and bring ot down , but franky i dont see any reason in hiring a personal Cab. for Example if you have to go Gulmarg take a Toursim Bus, it Drops you there & one can come back the same day or Other Day. The Main idea about Hiring a personal cab is that one gets see the places in between the Destinatins but in Kashmir Due to varied reasons this is not the case. rest is your Wish uif can afford the Luxury go ahead enjoy it

Madhavi · May 5th, 2008, 13:09

Hi,

I was in Kashmir at the same time but last year. What a wonderful experience it was..!

I was in Srinagar for 5 days spend two nights in Houseboat in Dal Lake...great experience...would not recommend to have food their though. Suggest staying away from shopping in house boats or across the shikara's.

Try to be in Gulmarg before 12pm, if you are planinng a Gandola ride. By 2 pm the second stage of Cable car stops taking people on the top.

Later two days we made 1 day trip to Sonmarg and then 1 day to gulmarg and came back to catch slip in Srinagar in hotels just in front of Dal lake.

But I would strongly recommend staying in Pahalgam...it is a beautiful place. We stayed at Mantoo Cottage (
Pahalgam 9419009032) - excellent place...great food. It has a nice stream of water flowing just 10 ft away from the hotel entrance. Just roaming around hotel itself was a great experience. The owner attended us very well and also arranged white water rafting in River Lidder for us. You must try it...it is safe.

Tulip Garden is great...reminds most of our bollywood movies made in 80s :-) but do visit Pari Mahal / Sufi School close by Dal Lake. It has 7 storyed structure with good variety of trees and flowers.

On the way to Pahalgam from Srinagar do stop by Anantnag/Mutton, if you want you can spend 15-20 minutes at the Martanda temple and adjacent Gurudwara, a very peaceful place.

Have a great trip. Our soldiers make it danger free for us.

Madhavi

ashwinnaagar · May 6th, 2008, 14:06

I'll be going to kashmir in last week of june.
how far are wular lake and mansabal lake from srinagar?
And which out sonamarg and pahalgam is recommended for staying over?

Vidugoyal · May 8th, 2008, 23:23

Hi Balavar,

Thanks for your help on the Kashmir trip and thankyou for your reply to the mails of the IMER’s we are all proud of you and would encourage people to go to Kashmir, THE PARADISE ON EARTH . Keep it up dear, try to listen this song its good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAimB...ture=re lated, that’s an Atif Aslam song.

Travelindia · May 9th, 2008, 15:26

Hi Vidu

I too had requested for a quote from Mr.Ajaz for Jul and he quoted 2500 pernight for 2 of us.
This was for a double bed room with breakfast and dinner and daily shikara crossing.

Are you planning to book the whole houseboat for Rs 6000?

Regards

Balvar · May 12th, 2008, 16:26

Vidu,

waiting for your Trip account & Pics of Kashmir Valley.

Vidugoyal · May 12th, 2008, 22:48

hey Balvar, Thanks for your concern.

Well all is planned at this end (still have a waiting train ticket) but things in the Samba Sector seems to get wierd. Lets see what is in store.

Thanks again,

regards / vidu

Vidugoyal · May 12th, 2008, 22:52

hi travelindia,

I just scraped the idea of booking in adavnce in Srinagar. We would try our luck and negotiate the accomodation once we reach Srinagar.

Thanks anyway, take care

Sleepy · May 16th, 2008, 03:48

Well I just came back from Kashmir last week. There is no need to do advance booking in Srinagar. There are plenty of places on Boulevard Road (bang on Dal Lake) to chose from. Can't say the same about pahalgam though.

About Gulmarg, its best to get onto the gondola as soon as u land up there. It starts around 9:45-10:00am. The 2nd phase tends to become non-operational later in the afternoon. In case the 2nd phase is open, you may spend as much time as you want on the peak. Taking picture is allowed everywhere. Though the stains on the gondola glasses make it very diff.

...
You may see some peaks here -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planets...7605029560548/

If you have time after you visit the peak, while coming down do take a walk in the kongdori valley. Mostly ppl are busy near the station doing sledge and other stuffs. But if just walk towards the end of teh valley you will find a beautiful meadow and some colorful flowers ...really beautiful.

Also, someone wanted to know if there will be snow in october. The local guide who accompanied me told me that, there will hardly be any snow during that period. April-May is best if you want to see good snow.

Btw, Tulip garden has closed now. I missed it by a week.

May 6th, 2008, 14:06	#24
ashwinnaagar Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: pune Posts: 27	wular lake I'll be going to kashmir in last week of june. how far are wular lake and mansabal lake from srinagar? And which out sonamarg and pahalgam is recommended for staying over?

May 8th, 2008, 23:23	#25
Vidugoyal Drive Drive Drive explore the goodness of India Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in the woods Posts: 31	Hi Balavar, Thanks for your help on the Kashmir trip and thankyou for your reply to the mails of the IMER’s we are all proud of you and would encourage people to go to Kashmir, THE PARADISE ON EARTH . Keep it up dear, try to listen this song its good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAimB...ture=re lated, that’s an Atif Aslam song. Last edited by Vidugoyal : May 9th, 2008 at 15:33.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Trekking options in Kashmir valley	lakshit	Trekking and Mountaineering in India	0	Oct 24th, 2005 17:04
The valley recalled: Kashmir 4	Midnite Toker	Photography	0	Nov 3rd, 2001 23:57
The valley recalled: Kashmir 3	Midnite Toker	Photography	0	Nov 3rd, 2001 23:55
The valley recalled: Kashmir 2	Midnite Toker	Photography	0	Nov 3rd, 2001 23:53
The valley recalled: Kashmir	Midnite Toker	Photography	0	Nov 3rd, 2001 23:51

May 3rd, 2008, 19:04	#16
Balvar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chandiagrh Posts: 147	Dear Travel, Frankly Speaking i Dont recommend a personal Cab for Vistin either Gulmarg.Pahalgam,& Local Sightseeing around Srinahar. but otherwise th going rate of personal cab upto to Gulamarg would anywhere around 800 to 1200 Rs bucks, but it largely depends upon your Bargaining powere. other wsie shared Cabs or Toursim Buses is a Better & a practical Option. Regarding Amarnath Yatra, in case u want to cover it in one day the only Otpion is Helicopter Ride ( last year th cost of the same was around 10K to 7.5 K per person) & u dont require resgistration for the same also & u also get VIP Dasrshan. In case u have time constraint or someoene in group has a problem in trekking, i recommed a trek rather than a heli Ride. Rest totally ur Call I have seen people go there without Registrations so no big issues.Also in cae ur Going to Srinagar only for yatra then i wud recommend that u get your Self Registred. Coz if u Trek from Baltal you would miss, the Chandwadi & nag Lake. in Case ur Traveling by Road make sure the outlook for your car doesnt give a impression that ur going for the Amarnath Yatra Othersiwe u wud have to move with Yatra carvan. Rest for any otherqueris plz get back to me

May 3rd, 2008, 19:35	#17
Vidugoyal Drive Drive Drive explore the goodness of India Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in the woods Posts: 31	Dear Balvar, Thanks for the time and pain you are taking for the benefit of the IMER's. Well for the past few days I have been running pillar to post for getting all the requisite info. for my summer vacation and we hve rather finalised as under: Saturday , 24.05.2008 : Reach Jammu & reach Katra - Check in a JKTDC Hotel (@Rs. 400 though Non A/c.), go to Helipad for Darshan and then come back to Katra. Same day : Drive from Katra and reach Patnitop – Night Stay at JKTDC Patnitop @ Rs. 800 Per Room. Sunday 25.05.2008 : Wake up in Morning and leave Patnitop – for Srinagar on way see Tikri, Udhampur, Kud, Batote, Ramban, Ramsu, banihal, Jwahar Tunnel, Verinag, Anantnag and reach Srinanagar – Night Stay at JKTDC Hotel Heemal Rs. 2,000/- Monday 26.05.2008 Whole day at leisure at Srinagar. Do Local Sight Seeing at Srinagar, Dal Lake, Shikara Ride, Tulip Garden, Visit botanical Gardens, Nishant Garden & Shalimar / Mughal Gardens. Night stay at Hotel Heemal Srinagar @ Rs. 2000/- Tuesday 27.05.2008 : Wake up and leave Srinagar – to Pahalgam, Stay at JKTDC Huts and do local sight seeing, Lidder valley etc. Night Stay at JKTDC Huts at Pahalgam Rs. 1,000/-. Wednesday 28.05.2008 : Check out of Pahalgam and do all other sightseeing, try out a hand on trout angling. In the evening come back to Srinagar. On the way back if possible go to Wualr Lake, (I have ben informed that you have to take permission from the Army to visit Wular)Night Stay at Hotel Heemal or house Boat as per JKTDC guidance Rs. 2,000/- Thursday 29.05.2008 : Early Morning leave for Gulmarg – Check in at JKTDC Huts in Gulmarg. It’s a drive of around 2 Hours from Srinagar.Visit the Gulmarg Gondola ride, Night Stay at JKTDC Huts. @ Rs.1000/- Friday 30.05.2008 : Wake up early in the morning and proceed to Sonmarg, via Srinagar,Ganderbal (21 kms from Srinagar), Kangan (40 kms from Srinagar), Khir Bhavani. See Zo Zila Pass if possible. Night Stay at Srinagar at Hotel Heemal @ Rs. 2000/- Saturday 31.05.2008 Return Back from Srinagar to Delhi Well my questions to you are as under: 1. Is the above program okay or you would suggest me some modifications. Please note that no confirmed booking have been made and I have time till Wednesday to pay for the confirmed booking. There is a mixed thought that I should reach and then find a Hotel (Which I normally do on any hill staion in Uttrakhand and Himachal but Kashmir is very new to me) or a confirmed booking, without seeing the rooms being offered is a good idea. 2. I have got Train reservation from 4 trains but all are wait-listed and the number are not reducing for the last 14 days. finger crossed may be I will have to book a flight from Delhi to Jammu. 3. Do you know any decent taxi driver and his phone number so that we can get in touch with him. Though I have talked to the Taxi Association of Srinagar and they inform me that per day charge of Sumo/Van/Ambassodor is around 2200 INR and that for Qualis/Scorpio/Innova is 3000INR, is that the real price or they are fleecing. I understand that they have to only earn theuir bread of 12 months in the tourist season of 3 months. Would really appreciate you inputs, comments and suggestions. Take care and enjoy, Best Wishes / Vidu

May 5th, 2008, 11:16	#18
patialahill Maverick Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 58	Hi Mikers, Can anybody tell the latest about the rail link to Srinagar???? I am waiting for it to be started. PatialaHill

May 5th, 2008, 12:07	#19
cutegaldiya diya Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: KOLKATA Posts: 17	hi balvar...can u take photo from gondola? is it allowed?

May 5th, 2008, 12:16	#20
Balvar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chandiagrh Posts: 147	Yeah its allowed while you are in the Gondola (i.e when u are in the cable car), but after reachin the Top you are allowed only to spend about 20 Mins there

May 5th, 2008, 12:23	#21
cutegaldiya diya Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: KOLKATA Posts: 17	balvar...have u taken any photo from gandola...then please share it...can u tell me....on october will we able to get ice in gulmarg?

May 5th, 2008, 12:27	#22
Balvar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chandiagrh Posts: 147	The Iterniary seems great, expect for the 29th May & 30th seems tough. As you are plannin to stay in Gulmarg for 29th May. that means on 30th Morning you would be starting from Gulmarg not Srinagar. Gulmarg is 54 Kms from Srinagar & then sonmarg is further about 80 Kms from Sinagar. Moreover if your going to Sonmarg then Dont miss out Rafting & walk upto to Thajwaz. Plz Rethink the Plan for these two days rest seems grt. The Taxi Fare your Talking about is a fare of hiring a personal Cab. U can bargain and bring ot down , but franky i dont see any reason in hiring a personal Cab. for Example if you have to go Gulmarg take a Toursim Bus, it Drops you there & one can come back the same day or Other Day. The Main idea about Hiring a personal cab is that one gets see the places in between the Destinatins but in Kashmir Due to varied reasons this is not the case. rest is your Wish uif can afford the Luxury go ahead enjoy it

May 5th, 2008, 13:09	#23
Madhavi Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pune Maharashtra Posts: 6	Hi, I was in Kashmir at the same time but last year. What a wonderful experience it was..! I was in Srinagar for 5 days spend two nights in Houseboat in Dal Lake...great experience...would not recommend to have food their though. Suggest staying away from shopping in house boats or across the shikara's. Try to be in Gulmarg before 12pm, if you are planinng a Gandola ride. By 2 pm the second stage of Cable car stops taking people on the top. Later two days we made 1 day trip to Sonmarg and then 1 day to gulmarg and came back to catch slip in Srinagar in hotels just in front of Dal lake. But I would strongly recommend staying in Pahalgam...it is a beautiful place. We stayed at Mantoo Cottage ( Pahalgam 9419009032) - excellent place...great food. It has a nice stream of water flowing just 10 ft away from the hotel entrance. Just roaming around hotel itself was a great experience. The owner attended us very well and also arranged white water rafting in River Lidder for us. You must try it...it is safe. Tulip Garden is great...reminds most of our bollywood movies made in 80s :-) but do visit Pari Mahal / Sufi School close by Dal Lake. It has 7 storyed structure with good variety of trees and flowers. On the way to Pahalgam from Srinagar do stop by Anantnag/Mutton, if you want you can spend 15-20 minutes at the Martanda temple and adjacent Gurudwara, a very peaceful place. Have a great trip. Our soldiers make it danger free for us. Madhavi

May 9th, 2008, 15:26	#26
Travelindia Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 8	Hi Vidu I too had requested for a quote from Mr.Ajaz for Jul and he quoted 2500 pernight for 2 of us. This was for a double bed room with breakfast and dinner and daily shikara crossing. Are you planning to book the whole houseboat for Rs 6000? Regards

May 12th, 2008, 16:26	#27
Balvar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chandiagrh Posts: 147	Vidu, waiting for your Trip account & Pics of Kashmir Valley.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

May 12th, 2008, 22:48	#28
Vidugoyal Drive Drive Drive explore the goodness of India Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in the woods Posts: 31	hey Balvar, Thanks for your concern. Well all is planned at this end (still have a waiting train ticket) but things in the Samba Sector seems to get wierd. Lets see what is in store. Thanks again, regards / vidu

May 12th, 2008, 22:52	#29
Vidugoyal Drive Drive Drive explore the goodness of India Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in the woods Posts: 31	hi travelindia, I just scraped the idea of booking in adavnce in Srinagar. We would try our luck and negotiate the accomodation once we reach Srinagar. Thanks anyway, take care

May 16th, 2008, 03:48	#30
Sleepy Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Noida Posts: 15	Well I just came back from Kashmir last week. There is no need to do advance booking in Srinagar. There are plenty of places on Boulevard Road (bang on Dal Lake) to chose from. Can't say the same about pahalgam though. About Gulmarg, its best to get onto the gondola as soon as u land up there. It starts around 9:45-10:00am. The 2nd phase tends to become non-operational later in the afternoon. In case the 2nd phase is open, you may spend as much time as you want on the peak. Taking picture is allowed everywhere. Though the stains on the gondola glasses make it very diff. ... You may see some peaks here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/planets...7605029560548/ If you have time after you visit the peak, while coming down do take a walk in the kongdori valley. Mostly ppl are busy near the station doing sledge and other stuffs. But if just walk towards the end of teh valley you will find a beautiful meadow and some colorful flowers ...really beautiful. Also, someone wanted to know if there will be snow in october. The local guide who accompanied me told me that, there will hardly be any snow during that period. April-May is best if you want to see good snow. Btw, Tulip garden has closed now. I missed it by a week.