Delhi - Jammu - Srinagar (Travel Itinerary) sugesstions required

Vidugoyal

Dear all IMER's

Greetings!


I am Planning to Start from Delhi on 14th March Evening to Head to Vaishno Devi and would also like to avail the opportunity to go to Srinagar. We would be 4+1 Driver (Me 37 + My wife 35 + 2 sons aged 12 and 10), Esteem Car, Leaving Delhi on March 14th Evening around 5 PM and would like to cover some distance then a Night Halt at Ambala or Rajpura and then Proceed on 15th to Katra.

I would like the comments of the experienced travelers on this sector by Car our Program is as under (which is definitely editable as per the advice received)

1. 14th March Leave Delhi and night Halt en-route either in Ambala or Rajpura.
2. 15th March Leave Ambala/ Rajpura and Reach Katra (I don’t know the time it takes to Reach Katra from Ambala – Please suggest)
3. 15th March- check in Hotel and Take Tickets for the Shrine (As I have been told that taking tickets from Katra is a must)
4. 15th Start the on-foot journey to reach by Midnight to the Shrine.
5. 16th Early Morning – Do the Darshan and Start the Descend to Katra.

Now, from this point I am Completely blank about my onward Journey to Srinagar (we wish to come back to Delhi by 21st March i.e. Friday). Would it be possible for us to make a trip to Srinagar by car within these 4 Days.

Any Input from the fellow IMER’s, who have already done this sector would be highly appreciated. We have no problems in changing our plans as days are free on our hand and we can also come to Delhi by 22nd March.

Awaiting your valuable comments and Suggestions.

With Best Regards / Vidu Goyal

mani

Hello Vidu,
we did a similar mumbai - amritsar - Jammu/katra - srinagar mumbai trip in dec 2007. We used trains - shared jeep -flew back.

my first suggestion is if you can instead travel by train to jammu & back. You have many trains that leave at night and reach jammu by morning. thnat should save you a day.

Also please consider that you will be tired from climbing up & down at katra and so will your driver. it will be very difficult for him to drive on to srinagar. The road is difficult and prone to landslides so probably a local driver is better. you can hire a full sumo or the seats you want for getting you to srinagar. You can travel from katra on to srinagar.

The places to see are pahalgam, gulmarg, sonmarg & srinagar.

if you are travelling on your own then on your way to srinagar take a detour ( 80 km ) to visit pahalgam. you can decide to stay overnight.
Next day get to srinagar and do local sightseeing. Third day visit gulmarg.
Fourth day leave from sinagar for jammu. Next morning you can take a train back to new delhi.

Enjoy your trip.
mani

Vidugoyal

Dear IMER's,

Greetings!

We (2 + 2 kids 12 & 10) are planning to have a vacation in Srinagar (Kashmir).

We are planning to start our Journey from Delhi to reach Jammu Tawi on 24th May and from there we would head to Srinager by road.

As this is the 1st time we are going to kashmir we would like to visit all the major places of interest there.

Initially I thougth to go to srinagar by my own self driven car but it seems that the journey would be too long and that we would also waste 2 days one reaching to Jammu and One Coming Back From Jammu.

Do not wish to Catch flight directly to Srinager as we would miss the scenic beauty of the area.

Please help me in finalising my plans :

1. Days in Hand between 8 to 12
2. Budget No as such Budget allocated as yet
3. Hotel Preference : No Hi Fi Hotel, Just nice Bed and Breakfast Type.
4. Travelling - by car which should be on our disposal throught from pick up to dropping at Jammu Railway Station.

Would also like to have an idea from fellow imer's that what should be my Travel Schedule so that the trip could be a memorable one.

Some further questions are :

1. What budget should I consider for the Trip.

2. Are plenty of Taxis available, is there a relaible type of a car rental provider in Jammu or Srinager who can be contacted. what would be the approximate cost of hiring a Taxi for a day.

3. What should be our Travel plans for Road Trip from Jammu to Srinager, where to stop, where to eat and which Hotel to Stay.

4. Which all destination should we go. and which area are safe in Srinagar.

5. Can someone provide the telephone number of some good hotel in Patni top, Srinager, Jammu, Pahagaon, Gulmarg, Boat House, Driver/ Taxi wala, and ofcourse a guide, to get best of the rip.

Any Suggestions/ Amendment and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards/ Vidu Goyal

Vidugoyal

Dear IMER's

Just was wondering, no helping me!

Hey, Moderators, what r u guys doing?

We depend on IM for all our solutions, please reply.

Mods if u have any advice and suggestions please post.

Regards/ vidu

Radjesh

Vidu
The time difference between both your posts is just 5.5 hrs, how many answers did you expect?

For people to help you, please ask the right questions i.e ask specific questions, not generalized ones.

There are other related threads to Kashmir, go through them, you'll get an idea.

Balvar

Ques What should be our Travel plans for Road Trip from Jammu to Srinager, where to stop, where to eat and which Hotel to Stay.

Dear Vidhu, Start Early From Jammu say arnd 4 or %'o Clock in the Morning, & Stop of For Breakfast at Peerah,before Pantitop
The Place is Know for Its Rajmah & rice, with Desi Ghee, then Stop over at Patni Top for a while, from Patni top to Pagal Nullah & Ramban, Click some Photos over there. Then From Anantnag take a detour or Verinag (Source of Jhelum River Must See)& Join back the Highway for Srinagar Enjoy the green Tunnel & Kesar Fields.

Balvar

Which all destination should we go. and which area are safe in Srinagar.
First of all its Difficult for me to predict safe places in Delhi or leave alone Srinagar.
Places to see around Srinagar are Pahalgam (Must Vist Aaroo near Pahalgma, then Gulmarg (Gondola Ropeway) , Also there is Tourist Spot recently opened Dud Pathri (excuse me for my spellings)the route is Srinagar :: Badgam :; Dusd pathri. then with Srinagar Boulevard Road, New Latest Addition Tulip Garden., Hazratbal, Shankaracharya, of Course Dal, Although i Personally Like Wular Lake more. then Also try Out Sonmarg. From Sonmrag u can have a pony ride or Walk upto Thajwaz Glacier Base Camp, Also try out Rafting in Ferocious Sindh River. Also in case u want to be more adventoours Drive upto Zoji La.
Enjoy
Agar Firdoz Borh Zameen hamisto Hamisto Hamis

Vidugoyal

Dear Radjesh, I apologize for being so despo about getting some feedback from IMER’s. There is a mixed feeling of excitement and fear to go to Srinagar. Anyway, sorry pal, please excuse me for that.

Dear Balvar, Thanks a Ton for your detailed reply sure it would be great help; I know that you must have taken out time to write for me, Thanks once again.

To give you a brief change in the travel plant is that initially we thought of taking a hired car from Delhi for the entire tour but then some colleagues suggested that it would be too hectic. Hence, we changed to go by Train from Delhi to Jammu (depart Delhi on 23rd May and arrive Jammu 24th Morning) our return is by flight from Srinagar to Delhi on 31st May.

Now that we have 24 to 30th May in hand 7 full days in hand I can post very specific questions:

1. Can we go to Mata Vaisno Devi on 24th, We would like to take the Helicopter so that we can save time. Never Been to Vaishno Devi, hence would like to avail this opportunity. How to reach the Helicopter Area and what would be the time taken to be back on road for onward Journey to Srinagar. (Our family is still confused whether we should do this darshan or not) Please suggest.

2. Can you suggest a Taxi operator in Jammu whose Taxi (Qualis or Tavera) could meet us at Jammu railway station and then drive us to Srinagar. Could not fish out any useful information from the internet.

3. If we don’t do the Darshan we would be on way to Srinagar on 24th itself, what should be our First Night Halt point (we would not miss the Rajmah Chawal (btw what’s the name of the place), Should we have a Night Halt at Patni Top or Pagal Nullah or Ramban. Please suggest.

4. Enroute we would cross Jawahar Tunnel, Verinag as you have mentioned, Kesar Fields,

5. 25th Morning we drive and reach Srinagar – Which Hotels are within INR 2K and value for Money – Please suggest if possible. Visit Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, The Gardens etc. Night Halt Srinagar.

6. Now we require your help in determining the travel plans for 26,27,28,29,30 (5 Days).

7. The Places we wish to cover are : Gulmarg, (Would like to see snow if possible) Pahalgam, (Visit Aaroo), Gulmarg (Gondola Ropeway), Dud Pathri, Badgam,Wular Lake, Sonmarg. (would like to do some fly fishing if possible) Walk upto Thajwaz Glacier Base Camp.

Well, my basic requirement of the day is to fix up a car From Jammu to Srinagar, and if that is not met then would it be a better idea to send the car from Delhi to meet us at Jammu.

Awaiting your reply, thanks for the time and effort.

God Bless You.

Regards / vidu

Radjesh

Vidu
Chill out dude, now dont get too serious.

I am also planning to visit Kashmir in June, but havent even started the planning.

cutegaldiya

vidu

1. 24th u will reach jammu from there u reach katra. if u want u can take helecopter for vaishnodevi, i can give u some info...
everyday air deccan has flights. The flight from Katra to Vaishnodevi takes a total of 10 minutes. and u have to walk 2.5km distance from sanjhichat helipad to bhawan.The auto fare to helipad from katra bus stand is Rs.60... due to bad whether the helicopter sometimes can not go... So it is better not to go there assuming u can finish in one day...

2. when u will reach jammu ...u will gate many cars to reach katra...so don't worry about that

5. for hotel details see the 'HOTEL' section above...

i'll visit kashmir on october...the above info i got from one of my friend who visited kashmir last year...

Balvar

1. Can we go to Mata Vaisno Devi on 24th by helicopter Service
Ans :: Actually that’s good Idea as Mata Vasino Devi shrine is a very scared Place, but regarding the Helicpoter Service which is being run by Air Deccan cant be booked online as Kingfisher as taken over Air Deccan, So only way to book tickets for Helicopter ride is go there & book the same. But mostly people get the tickets for same easily.

2. Can you suggest a Taxi operator in Jammu
Ans: there are N Numbers of taxi Operators in Jammu, I suggest that you r goining to stay in a hotel in Jammu, so ask the hotel guy to arrange the taxi for u & you keep that Taxi with you for the Whole trip i.e From Jammu to Srinagar & Around Srinagar (for Gulmarg Etc), that woyuld save u the hassle of Arranging the Cab daily & as per my calculation would almost cost u the same.


3.If we don’t do the Darshan we would be on way to Srinagar on 24th itself, what should be our First Night Halt point
Ans: Approx the Road journey from Jammu to Srinagar is apporx for 8 Hours, & morever in summers I doubt that you would want to stay anywhere on Jammu-Srinagar Highway. But I recommend that u start early from Jammu or Katra.

4. Enroute we would cross Jawahar Tunnel, Verinag as you have mentioned, Kesar Fields, Also not to miss out the Green Tunnel. & the place known for Rajmah Chawal is Peerah, before Patnitop


5. Which Hotels are within INR 2K and value for Money –
If you reaqdy to Spend around 2-2.5K then I suggest that u stay in house boat, moreover its independent & most suited for a complete Family. Otherwise u can surf the Net, would find enough hotels arnd this range


6 & 7 Now we require your help in determining the travel plans for 26,27,28,29,30 (5 Days)
Gulmarg, (Would like to see snow if possible) Gulmarg (Gondola Ropeway) Gulamarg itself is a complete one day project as its approx 60 Kms from Srinagar.
Or u can stay at gulmarg for a night & then next day early morning visit Dud Patheri or muj Patheri After taking a Detour from Badgam. Then spend Shop arnd Srinagar, Plana Visit to Shankaracharya, Hazrat Bhal & Tulip Garden , Shalimar & Char Chinari. Also in case ur a Non- Vegetarian then don’t miss out the Kashmiri Wazwaan.
Sonamarg & Thajwaz can also be done in a day, but again u have to start early from Srinagar . I personally found Pahalgam to be avg, Kupwara , Handwara & Sopore are more Picturesque & Scenic, but these are worst insurgency affected areas also, u take a call urself. Rest In case of any further Queries Plz get back to me. I would try to do my Level best

brownboy66

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Vidugoyal

Hi, Brownboy76,

greetings of the day!

I apologize for being so kiddish, please excuse me for that, I hope you can understand what it feels to go to srinagar; fright, exitement, noting much available on internet. Hotel section in IM is not elaborate.

Well all said and done, please forgive me for my hurried and childish comments, I was really impateinet.

I hope you understand brownboy,.

But, belive me once i do this trip i would post all my experiece on J&K which are not available for a novice traveller like me for the benefit of all IMER's.

Regards / Vidu

Vidugoyal

Dear Balvar,

Thansk for your post, did a lot of effort for planning the trip, your inputs were very helpful. Now to get you appraised of what I have done is as follows:

1. Got myself booked in J&K tourism at Katra for 24 The Night
2. Got 4 seats for Helicopter Katra to te Shrine (doen reservation in Delhi) thats pawan Hans.
3. Got a good friend as Mr. Bhatt at TRC at Jammu, who promised me to help out very much.


So now I am closing as I am on way to trivandrum and catch you guys on Saturday.

regards / Vidu

Balvar

Dear Vidu,

I have Posted Seprate Thread of the my Trip Acoount of Kashmir, just go through it.I think it would help you