Dangerous Situation in Jammu& Kashmir/Srinagar. Stay Away.

Travelindia

Hi All,

We have planned a trip to shrinagar fron jul 16 to jul 24.
All bookings hve been done.wht is the situation right now?
Should we go ahead with the trip as planned once things calm down?
Are there chances tht the protests and curfew will be over soon?

Please pour in ur views

Regards

Moderator Note: Thread title changed to reflect reports
of situation as at mid August 2008

davyd

yesterday I met 3 travellers who just returned from Srinagar, 2 britons and 1 italian. italian spent 2 nights in a housboat and felt trapped, could not see anything, on first opportunity left the city. britons were more adventerous, visited jama masjid, and a little bit of the city but nothing was working, all shops were closed, rioting mobs were clashing with police. it left them with impression not unlike northern ireland. jeeps and buses with many difficulties sneak their way out to Jammu, but many got stoned.
since situation around land transfer to amarnath shrine board is not yet diffused it's unwise to go there. better to keep in touch with press, particularly kashmirian press, they may provide some clues about possibilities of visits by foreign tourists (indian tourists may still feel uncomfortable). anyway it will be challenging trip since the popular anger and extra security will still be in place.

Indizen

Stay away from Kashmir this summer and fall, as the trouble over there is unlikely to die down soon. Elections are due in the state before November, so things are going to be heated in view of local politics - not the ideal time to be visiting the valley.

mila_asier

We are 4 people planning to visit Srinagar in the middle of august and also to trek to Amarnath cave.

Do you think situation will be worse?

Ms Princess W

Jammu area is still very much volatile, but Srinagar seems to be relatively calm. Although as stated this year is an election year, historically that's a pretty tense time to be in the J&K area no matter what else is happening. We are frequently in touch with family who live in Srinagar to find out the latest. I'll be there at the end of August myself.

Apparently the chief minister of J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad, resigned yesterday.

vistet

This will probably fuel the tensions.

__________________
high road to ..

mila_asier

Thank you very much

I will prepare a plan B, in case....

DUBAIWALLAH

just back(july 4th to july11th) from srinagr,gulmarg,sonmarg & pahalgam...SAFE nobody cares abt the Hartaal xcept the shops in the city were closed frm 8 to 6pm thats it! after srinagar nobody cares.. everything is open-no road blocks
always try booking the jktdc huts-the best choice-we took a 2room with hall cottage at gulmarg rs1800/-suprisinly everything worked-the heaters the geysers etc!!! & u can fit in 4 to 10 adults!!. but didnt get the same huts in other places as i was too late in doing so.u have to book 2 months in advance.
mantoos cottage in pahalgam is good too-got the lead frm india mike!!mob of mr.mantoo-00919419009032.just say sanjay frm dubai referred. good decent guy, no hidden charges.

DUBAIWALLAH

i just went thru other replies...i reACHED SRINAGAR ON 4TH, stayed on a boathouse 4th & 5th.maybe i didnt see the rioting as i left early the day of the first hartaal 6th july-5am to gulmarg, stayed there-jktdc. left for sonmarg on 7th via srinagar noon time. stayed at sonmarg on 8th, passed via srinagar on 9th evening towards pahalgam-stayed there 9th & 10th. arrived back to srinagar on 11th evening, stayed in a hotel & proceeded to the airport on 12 early morn.

mila_asier

Dubaiwallah

Thanks for your good news. My plan is also to travel to Pahalgam and trek for three day to Amarnath Cave. We would like to see the pilgrims live. Then trek down to Baltam and go Srinagar. Do you know about that? Do you know when finished the Yantra?

mila_asier

Ms Princess,

I would like to know about the lasted attacks to tourist in Kashmir. I think I will have to change plans. What do you think?

Fear send tourists in Valley packing
Syed Yasir
SRINAGAR, July 21: With the sudden spurt in violence related incidents in the valley and particularly after the grenade attack at Sumo stand in the world famous tourist place Gulmarg that killed a tourist and civilian, there are reports that a large number of tourists are fleeing the valley.
[ Full Story ]

Two 'militants' killed in Ganderbal encounter
Shabir Ibn Yusuf
SRINAGAR, July 21: Police today claimed to have killed two militants in an encounter in Ganderbal area last night. While SP Ganderbal Razak Khan said the slain militants were involved in an attack on the Amarnath pilgrims last evening but a police handout issued from zonal police headquarter here said the two militants were planning an attack on yatra. However, a local news agency, CNS, quoting local people said the two persons were killed in a fake encounter.
[ Full Story ]

Ms Princess W

I'd watch carefully the developments in the region. My brother in law and his son weren't aware of the blast in gulmarg when we spoke to him the other day, but of course they are now. My husband is calling home again tonight, but last report is that my other Brother in Law in Ladakh is just as busy in his shop as he's ever been and all the houseboats on Dal and Nagin are still booked.

I can tell you one thing - the atmosphere is relatively tense in the valley and of course everyone is pointing fingers at everyone else for blame. I have my suspicions, too.

mila_asier

Thanks Ms Princess

I am also planning to travel to Ladakh, to trek in Zanskar Valley. Me I visit your brother to give my greetings?

vandy

Friend of mine currently in Ireland mentioned the
other day about an explosion in Gulmarg.This must be the grenade attack mentioned in an earlier post.

I did reply at the time that nothing had been mentioned on any of the India travel sites.

Haven't read any of the Current travel warnings re
Kashmir, But personally I don't think its worth
the Risk,a real Pity as it's such a wonderfull
Destination,Are they(whoever they are) ever going
to sort that place out? Hope so, for the sake of
the locals and the many,many tourists who would
love to visit the place.

Kashmir is my second favourite place in India after Kerala,BUT untill they get their S##T together, I'll be heading down South time & time again.

rgds - vandy

Ms Princess W

See, and I think that's exactly the objective - to scare tourists away. Sadly, it's working.

Has any group claimed responsibility as yet? Not that I've heard. Strange...very strange.

Of course you may see my brother-in-law, if he's still there at that time...he lives in Srinagar but is in Ladakh frequently for business. Rafiq Wangnoo, he has a shop there.