Local transport (taxi/sumo) in kashmir

Sleepy

I'm planning to visit Kashmir Valley between May 6 - May 11. So far my itinerary is -

1. Day 1:Local sight seeing in Srinagar.

2. Day 2:Go to gulmarg. Stay overnight at Gulmarg.

3. Day 3: Back to Srinagar.

4. Day 4: Onto Pahalgam.

5. Day 5: Back to Srinagar.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Sonamarg.

7. Day 7. End of tour.

Now I'd need some help from you guys in deciding the local transport.
Questions
1. I'd like to book a taxi (indica/sumo/qualis) for the whole period starting from Day 2 to Day 6. I was wondering how much should I expect to pay for this. Also, is it a better option to book taxi on a day-by-day basis?

2. How long does it take to travel from Gulmarg to Pahalgam? is it possible to remove the break in Srinagar? I guess there are some places worth watching on the way to pahalgam.

3. How long does it take to reach Pahalgam from Srinagar?

4. Similarly how long does it take to reach Sonamarg starting from Srinagar? To reach Srinagar safely what should be the latest time we should start from Sonamarg?


Hope to get some answers soon. ...

Balvar

Hi Sleepy,

First of all Welcome to India Mike.
1. Taxi on day to Day basis would be a better option. Otherwise u can try out the buses also.
On your third Day on the way back u can try out, Wular Lake (Bandipore District), its India Largest freshwater Lake & a gud Place.

Gulamrg is 54 Kms from Srinagar, & riutre for Pahalagam takes a detour from Jammu - Srinagar Highway near Anantmnag.

Sonamarg is about 86 Kms from From Srinagar, start early from Srinagar for Sonmarg & then U can easliy come back top srinagar by late evening

Also wait for Couple of Days i am writin this Mail from Kangan (between Srinagar & Sonmamrag) I would post the Pics & details of my trip for ur Reference
Rest enjoy get back in case of ANY quries

Sleepy

Thanks Balvar. Wular seems like a good idea. Meanwhile I've managed to get the phone numbers for the taxi stands in Srinagar. The guys there were pretty quick to provide me with an estimate. So that helped a lot.

Travelindia

hi can you please provide an approximate on the taxi rates if booked for a day to visit gulmarg son marg and pahalgon from shrinagar?

we are plannin a visit in july

Sleepy

I did a day trip for sonamarg. It cost me Rs 2100. I took qualis. For Sumo the rate will be 1900.
I can post some phone numbers of the local taxi stands. You may use them. They are available on the JK tourism website also.

For Gulmarg day trip I believe the rate is 1500.

I myself took a Qualis from Srinagar to Gulmarg and then used the same car to go to pahalgam next day. I paid 4000 for the duration. But I booked it through through the HB. If you directly visit the taxi stand it may cost you less.

For Pahalgam to Srinagar, I took a Sumo from the taxi stand and the rate is 1500. For luxury cars (Qualis/Tavera/Scrpio) the rate is 1700.

Hope this helps.

ashwinnaagar

hi
is wular lake on the way for sonamarg or gulmarg?
and has anyone been to mansabal lake?

Balvar

Dear Ashwin,

Wular lake is not on the way for Sonmarg & Gulmarg. For Wular lake u need to go to Sopore & Bandipore District. Its about 45 Kms form Srinagar,
Mansbal Lake is about 30 Kms From Srinagar, U first need go to ganderbal, From Ganderbal Take a left turn for Mansbal Lake, Ganderbal is on Srinagar - Sonmarg Road.

Vidugoyal

hi Travelindia,

Regarding a Qualis its Rs. 2000 per day all inclusive, this is what i did from Jmmu from a guy called vicky his number is 094-191-14869.

Do tell me if you have a better price, from the houseboat experience, its evident that you are a better negotiator that i am.

Take care/ vidu

dchatterjee

I am going to jammu on 8th june and then i would like to go to srinagar and other places. Can someone suggest me about how to plan the trip? also i would like to hire a car, so that we can move around all the places at ease. Besides, where would i stay in srinagar...likewise in otehr places. I will be going with my family. we are four inm nos (2 adults and 2 children)

Sleepy

Btw, for the benefit of 1st time visitors to J&K, outside vehicles are not allowed to roam around in gulmarg and pahalgam. So in case you are booking a vehicle for the whole trip the vehicle will be lying idle during your stay in pahalgam and gulmarg. But this will not be an issue if your stay at these two places doesn't exceed one night.

dchatterjee

i will then go to srinagar by hiring a vehicle from jammu...and then take a local vehicle, which will ferry me there in kashmir...can u suggest me a good hotel in srinagar...as well as a house boat

Sleepy

There are all sorts of places to stay in srinagar. Better to go there and choose. The rates are very much negotiable for smaller hotels.

As per houseboat, most scenic will be boats in the golden lake area. But they are a bit expensive. Also a bit away from the day-to-day activity that take place on Dal. For absolute seclusion and peace of mind Nagin Lake is a better option. I stayed at Gurkha houseboat and loved it.

dchatterjee

Thanks sleepy. I will try something like that in the golden lake area. can you pl provide me with some phone nos, like the houseboat owner's no etc. and where all should i stay during these 7 days trip to kashmir..like i am planning to go pahalgaun, gulmarg, sonmarg etc. How should i plan my trip?? I am coming from vaishno devi on 9th...i think i will touch down srinagar on 10th morning. I will take the road route while going from jammu. on 17th june i have a flight to delhi from srinagar..

Sleepy

There is a list of hotels along with ph numbers in JK tourism web site -
http://www.jktourism.org/cities/kash...list-hotel.htm

You may refer to that.

1. For Srinagar, I wanted to spend one night in a really nice/peaceful houseboat on Nagin Lake and I chose Gurkha Houseboat. I'm quite satisfied with the accommodation and the food. I've heard
Meena Group of Houseboats on Dal is also very good though expensive. They should have a website. Goggle it.

2. For Gulmarg I satyed at Pine Palace Platinum. It was comfortable and very well located. But I can't be sure as mostly I was outdoor. Btw, almost all hotels in Gulmarg has beautiful views and nice lawns.

3. In Pahalgam my hotel was Woodstock. Too expensive in my opinion. But it was comfortable. As it was right in the middle of main market the place was very crowded. The river was at a stone's throw distance from the hotel backyard. But the bed was quite dirty. This is true for all hotels in main market area. If one is ready to stay away from Main Market, there are plenty of nice small family run places along the lidder river. Someone has mentioned Mantoo cottage in another thread. Seemed like a a nice place. Also checkout nivalink they have a listing of quite a few hotels. I noticed a certain maharaja palace far away from market. Liked the location of the hotel.

4. For the last two in srinagar I was in Hotel Malik on Boulevard. Won't recommend it.

Have a nice trip.

dchatterjee

Thanks sleepy,
for all your information...these wld really come handy on my trip...