Srinagar : Info needed

Guys,

Need bit of help here.

1. What is the cheapest way to reach Srinagar city center from the Srinagar Airport? Also, any ideas about how much each mode of transportation may cost.

2. What is the area of Srinagar where Budget hotels are located? Is it near to Dal lake?

3. What is the temparature like in the mid-June.

Hoping to get answer to atleast one of the above.

Kshastry

Hi Kshastry

The airport is quite a distance from Srinagar city, at least 40 minutes by car. I have always had friends collect me so I can't tell you prices though. I would imagine there is a bus but I think you would be better getting a taxi. You have to register as a tourist when you arrive at the airport and write down where you are staying. The authorities are not happy about you leaving the airport without having a hotel booked. There is tourist desk there of sorts which will book you a hotel and transport - you can then have a scout around when you get there.

There are certainly hotels around Dal Lake, some of the very expensive 5* but also some more budget options, though I think the cheaper ones will be in the city centre more which is a 10 minute rickshaw ride from Dal Lake.

Weather in June will be very pleasant, mid 20's I guess.

Have a great trip - it is really beautiful up there. If you go don't miss the view from the top of the Shankacharya Temple above Dal Lake.

When will you go there? We will visit Srinagar in early June.

Hi Dreamer, that was a lot useful info. Really appreciate it. I am an Indian national. Wonder if the authorities still want to see a hotel booking before letting me out.

Hello Garywong, I am there on Srinagar in the third week of June. I am there for a mere 6 days. Still planning the activities. How long you plan to stay there?

Thanks!

We (me and my GF) plan to visit Srinagar from June 7th to June 13th.

Hi kshastry:

Due to some reasons, I have to changed the date to June 13th (arriving Delhi) to June 18th (departing Srinagar).

I have PM my email address to you. Please let me know your plan. Glad to meet you.

Gary

hi kshastry

cannot help much with airport, for i arrived and departed from srinagar by jeep. but most hotels are located on Boulevard (Dal lake south shore) or on it backside lanes or on/around central Residency Rd. hotels usually cheaper than houseboats. the best houseboats are located in so-called Golden lake area in the centre of Dal lake (it's a long long channel). I stayed both on houseboat and hotel and can say the former is better - Srinagar is very religious city and mosques with very loud muezzin calls at 5 AM are too numerous to sleep well.

Cheers, Davyd

Thank you Davyd for your reply. I wonder whether Houseboat is still a good option for a single traveller on budget.

If you can, please share the cost information of houseboat and hotel.

For a budget traveler alone,
staying in a hotel or guest-house would be the best option.
A list of hotels is available at the JK Tourism website at:
http://www.jktourism.org/cities/kash...list-hotel.htm

Hi,

Last time I took a rick from bat mallu ( the bus depot area) to the air port that cost me around Rs.70 for which i haggled a lot with few rickhsaw guys as they asked for Rs.100.
Batmallu cost around Rs. 30 to Rs. 25 to Dal lake or Lal chowk.

The cheaper hotels are at lal chowk.

There are few cheaper house boats on the streams by the road from AIR building to LAL chowk , I frequent one at DAL GATE for nearly five years, VIENZIA run by gulam chacha.

They make me feel at home, as I usually do the long stays for 10 days or so. have meals along with them.

U could go straight to the Tourist reception centre next to AIR
building if u want to have better choices, for the initial few days and then look around for cheaper options

Thanks Anil for the post. That was really useful. I guess one can walk from Dal Lake to Lal chowk. Am I right?

Instead of talking the straight route from the signal near J&K bank HQ to lal chowk, u could take the left and walk thru looking out for the houseboats or hotels, as the straight route has a lot of traffic in the morning but there is a premium coffee joint called CAFE ARABICA, have the coffee there.

Early in the mornings it is a pleasent experience to walk thru these gardens .

On sunday u get a flee market which is a bargain paradise on the inside route lining the gardens.

VISIT the shankracharya MANDIR from the UN HQ side on the road behind JK Bank building, climbing the mountain, it is worth the experience, the views are mindblowing as it is atop a steep hill overlooking srinagar.

one of the IM members has pmed me to provide the details of the HOUSE BOAT VENEZIA.

The details are as such.

Ghulam Mohd. WAGNOO
HOUSE BOAT VENEZIA
DAL LAKE,
BOULEVARD,
SRI NAGAR 190001
Kashmir
Phone : 0194-2481109

BILAL's cell no ( his son in Jammu, who recieves clients there): 09419059984

The reason I am posting it here, is so that others can access this info and I have the trouble of posting this info again via pm on future request.

Hi anilkhare!

Do you remember the price of Houseboat Venezia?