Need Reviews of JKTDC Hut in Chashmeshahi and JKTDC Suite in Gulmarg

Hi All,
I am starting this thread to get reviews on JKTDC Hut in Chashmeshahi and JKTDC Suite in Gulmarg.
How is the status of services they are providing and how about their locations, I am more interested in taking rest there.
Also please suggest me where I can have the Authentic Kashmiri food in srinagar, I'd love to have variety of food and of course ready for experiments as well.. TIA..
~
Vikram

Hi ,
Pls pls help
I am also planning to got kashmir in March 2012.
I would like to know the taxi rates for 8 people to visit around Pahalgam,Gulmarg,Sonmarg.
Also is it ok to stay in pahalgam in March.Pls let me know about the JKDTC Hotels in pahalgam and gulmarg.
Pls Pls Help

The jktdc hut are not use for the tourist but in gulmarg its used
Try Ahdoos / or Mughal for kashmiri food

The Jkdtc are expensive as compare to the hotels in srinagar
The tempo traveller is okk for you

Hi,

I just came back from my Kashmir trip. Except Srinagar I stayed at JKTDC huts/ double rooms at all the other locations i.e. Patnitop, Sonmarg, Gulmarg & Pahalgam. Because they are a govt. org. the JKTDC locations are the best. However, I found very less occupancy at the JKTDC hotels, infact I was the only occupant of JKTDC deluxe hut at Pahalgam. Well, the facilities at the JKTDC huts are good. At Gulmarg, the JKTDC hut location is superb & each 1 BHK hut has a drawing room with dining table & cable TV. I was there on 25-Oct-11 at stayed at hut#504. The bedroom has electric blankets & room heater with attached bathroom with hot water. The best part is the well equipped kitchen with cooking utensils & gas connection. It was very convenient because I could cook my breakfast & lunch. The JKTDC restaurant is quite far from the huts & the nearby private restaurant is quite expensive, hence the cooking facility is very helpful. Also, each hut has a attendant & our hut attendant was Ghulam Mohammed who was a very helpful guy. At Gulmarg, the huts are within walking distance from the Gondola. So, go ahead & enjoy your holidays. However, take enough warm clothing with you as it is extremely cold out there.

Regards,
Avijit G

Authentic Kashmiri food is Wazawan which comprises of multiple mutton dishes e.g. mutton kabab, yakhni, roganjosh, rishta (mutton balls), goshtoba etc. The most well known Wazawan restaurant at Srinagar is 'Mughal Darbar', however if you ask any Kashmiri on the street they will suggest a restaurant called 'Alka Salka', which is near 'Mughal Darbar'. Personally, I had my best Wazawan dinner at 'Hotel Paradise' at Pahalgam.

Hi Avijit,
Thanks for the reply.Can you pls tell me
1)What were the rates for JKDTC each at gulmarg ,pahalgam.Are they to be booked in advance.
2)What is the cheapest conveyance to travell to gulmarg,Pahalgam,Sonmarg for a group of 7-8 people.
3)Where did u stayed in srinagar.What were the hotel or houseboat rates.
4)Where can we have good food in srinagar.

Hi Vaishali,

I did advanced online bookings for all the JKTDC huts/ rooms via http://jktdc.co.in/. The online booking mode is safe. We were 2 adults & 2 kids (10 yrs & 4 yrs) & the average price/ night was Rs. 2275/- for 1 BHK huts at Gulmarg & Pahelgam. At Srinagar, I stayed at 2 houseboats. You will get cheaper hotels/ houseboats if you go directly, negotiate & then book instead of advanced booking.

For non-veg food at Srinagar try the hotel options I have provided earlier. For veg food try 'Laxmi Vaishno Dhaba' on main Dal Lake Boulevard road just beside HDFC Bank ATM.

Regards,
Avi

Hi Avijit,
Thank you so much for the quick reply.This is surely going to help me.
Can you tell me one more thing
Which houseboat did u stay?What was the rent?Should we stay at the dal lake or nagin lake.

I stayed at a houseboat called 'Cultural Palace' at the open dal lake. The houseboat was a deluxe one with exquisite walnut wood work & a great view of the Zabarvan mountains. I had a double room with breakfast & dinner for 4 at the rate of Rs. 3200/ night. You will also get houseboats at Rs. 1000/ night but definitely there will be difference in quality. The name of the housboat owner is Waseem Goosani, a nice young, educated gentleman & his mobile no. is 09419013012.Let me know if you require any further info.

Regards,
Avi

Hi Avi,
Thank you so much for the help.

Thanks a tonne Avi, really appreciate your all replies and actually feeling lighter as I was becoming a little bit skeptical about my booking there.

Cheers,
Vikram

We got excellent Kashmiri food at Shamyana Restuarant on the bank of Dal Lake. Awesome!

I also tasted the Kashmiri food at Shamyana on Boulevard road & the food was definitely good, however I think the prices are exhorbitantly high there.

Hi Avijit,

We are plannig to visit the places u mentioned in quoted msg in May 2012. May I know little more about JKTDC Huts in Pahalgam and Gulmarg. How abt their services? their cleanliness? amenities at Pahalgam huts? How far is their inhouse restaurants? My 70yrs parents are also visiting with me, so pls tell me whether it will be advisible to stay at JKTDC huts? Is there lot of walking from parking to huts and to restaurants?
I have to compelete booking payments in 2 days from their local office here, so your early help will be of great help to us.

Regards.

NandishChudgar.