Shared taxi timings from Jammu to Srinagar

hi,

can any one inform about from what time shared taxis are available from jammu to srinagar. we will be looking for a shared taxi around 5 AM on 27th may 2012. will it be easily availavle at that time during this period of year? if any couple or family interested to share with us (visiting kashmir at the same time is also welcome). we are a couple.
thanks in advance

Hello Yeah the taxi will be available from 5 am and maybe it will run when it will be full...so dont worry from jammu the taxi starts from 4 am till 9 pm

Btw i am going today i.e on 15-05-2012 in morning for srinagar..

Would be grateful if you please share your experience about availability of shared taxi at early morning from Jammu. I have some confusion on certain issues viz.
1. From where these shared taxis departs in the early morning? I understand that there are two taxi stands, one in front of the Rly. Stn. and the other near Bus Stand. Some one told that you won't get taxis all the while at the stand near Station and that you have to go the other stand for availing taxi service. Is this true? How far is the bus stand from the station and what is the economical mode of travel?
2. How many people they take in a single vehicle? Is the journey in the shared taxi comfortable?
4. What is the current fare per person? Is the fare bargainable?
5. Is there any shared taxi service available from Jammu to Pahelgam and if available from which stand it originates and what is the service starting time?
6. If advance intimation/booking is given/done, can these taxi operators pick up the passengers from their place of stay i.e. Hotel/Rly Stn. etc.?

Thanks.

Please share your experience, hotel, stay, food etc. once you are back.

[QUOTE=asishdas;1405074]Would be grateful if you please share your experience about availability of shared taxi at early morning from Jammu. I have some confusion on certain issues viz.
1. From where these shared taxis departs in the early morning? I understand that there are two taxi stands, one in front of the Rly. Stn. and the other near Bus Stand. Some one told that you won't get taxis all the while at the stand near Station and that you have to go the other stand for availing taxi service. Is this true? How far is the bus stand from the station and what is the economical mode of travel?

I don't know of any shared taxi service near the railway station - the rickshaw drivers near the station have always quoted exorbitant rates to me, so i usually walk a bit and then take an auto, or take the bus if i'm there at an early hour . I assume that even if there're taxis to srinagar from here, they'll charge you much more than the ones at the bus stand.

On the other hand, the bus stand, like amit points out, has many options. If you take an auto from the railway station to the bus stand(it'll be a ten minute ride at that hour) you'll have to specify that you want to go to the OTHER side of the bus stand(NOT on the indra chowk side), from where the taxis to srinagar go.

there're also mini buses that go from here - i don't know anything about the frequency or comfort level.

2. How many people they take in a single vehicle? Is the journey in the shared taxi comfortable?
they take two in the front and three or four in the middle seat and three or four at the back. As shared taxis go, they're comfortable - and they do adjust if you ask them to, unlike the taxis that ply to leh.


4. What is the current fare per person? Is the fare bargainable?
the fare can be anything between 300-500 rs.(last year's rates, so not very 'current') But I've also known people to pay as much as Rs.600 per seat. But everything in kashmir can be bargained down.


6. If advance intimation/booking is given/done, can these taxi operators pick up the passengers from their place of stay i.e. Hotel/Rly Stn. etc.?

Yes, you can book a taxi from the tourist reception centre on residency road in jammu, next to raghunath mandir - you can also book a taxi for pahalgam or any other place from here. They pick you up from the hotel provided you pay an advance - i'm not sure if they do phone bookings.

Hope you have a great vacation this time.

Enjoyed reading your bhutan travelogue - that's one place i've been dreaming of for many years now, thank you for the detailed report

hi dosanomo, thank you for you reply. just few more questions:
1. how does the taxi fare varies from indica - sumo-tavera-innova ?
2. if we start lets say around 5 am will it be possible to bypass jam in the highway and to reach srinagar by 1pm.
thanks in advance

i don't know what the difference in fare is - i usually travel in shared sumos or taveras which cost between 300-500 depending on the season. but like i said, these were the rates a year ago, they may have gone up.

yes, ideally it shouldn't take you more than 8-9 hours but there're inevitably delays because of landslides, convoys, etc.

The average time to reach srinagr is 8 hours. you can't go less than that and if you do than your driver has surely put your life in danger by reckless driving. Regarding indica vs sumo. There aren't any indicas for shared taxi. The most common ones will be Sumo/tavera/xylo/Innova. If you looking for comfort nothing beats Innova & XYLO. They will charge you 100/200 more than tavern and sumo. You will find taxis all day so nothing to worry about time. Traffic jams only happen because of road accidents so its your luck not the timing. Don't worry about the timing. The highway in summer is in best condition so you will enjoy it with different dhabas and chai wallas.

hi doksanomo & salshaberr,
thank you for your valuable input. we are three people so if i get a indica will hire it fully rather than in sharing basis. i am going there during last week of may. will update with all the details once i ma back.

cheers
sup

have a great trip suparnakdas. do read roxxi's travelogue on bcmt touring if you haven't already - i came across it yesterday - great photographs of her stay on the Dal that reminded me all over again why kashmir is special.

hi doksanomo,
can you please forward me the links..

http://www.bcmtouring.com/forum/trav...-style-t24083/

You may not be able to find a tata indica and if you do so it might be costly. What i would recommend is taking Toyota Innova and book one front seat and middle three. Will be economical and all the best comfort. Much more than the hired indica.

thanks salshaberr for your valuable input. we will be reaching jammu on 26th may afternoon . next day, we will reach bus stand and from there try to hire 4 seats of a toyota innova at early hours about 05:00 AM.

If you reach by train than you will have to take an auto to BC Road where the bus station is or you if you reach jammu by bus you will have the taxi drivers lined up to poach the tourists. Just be sure to take innova or xylo. They will try to convince you about Tavera/SUmor but don't give up. I would rather wait extra hour but go in Xylo or Tavera. The highway to Kashmir can be challenging if you run out of luck so the best comfort will be the cab i am travelling in. Most of the Innova's are fresh so will have good and comfy seat so will be the Mahindra Xylo. MARK THESE WORDS DOWN : DONT LISTEN TO THOSE AGENTS STANDING NEAR BUS STATION AND STICK TO INNOVA/XYLO. I have travelled a lot to srinagar for skiing and i always stick to innova or xylo.

have a nice time in SXR and if you got questions about Kashmir just put them on here.

safe holidays...