Visit to Kashmir in end January- Help needed

sreekanthv

Hi,
I plan to visit Kashmir in end January with my wife in end january (26 jan to 31 jan)and have booked the to and fro flight tickets
having gone through a number of threads i have some doubts which i request some of you to clarify

1- It will be cold in january end- will we get some winter clothing for hire in Kashmir

2- should I do the booking for houseboat from mumbai itself or will i get a better deal after reaching there- currently i saw a good deluxe house boat costs about 2100 with b/f and dinner. Is that reasonable

3- I wish to visit both gulmarg and sonamrg. What will be the approx taxi rates to these destinations (return) as i dont intend to stay at these places.

4 I would also like to visit pahalgam - is it necessary to have night halt at pahalgam or can i return back to kashmir from pahalgam.

I would also need help with some romantic destinatinations which i dont want to miss.

I shall be greatful for all the help i receive

Sreekanth

Golden Chapati

Booking houseboats out of Srinagar can be hit or miss, equally trying to arrange them when you arrive can be a real headache and does not guarantee you'll have get a decent one. It depends on the level of luxury you want, but I can recommend a houseboat on which I lived for around 3 weeks in the summer if your interested. All prices on the boats are supposedly linked to government rates, but in reality they are very negotiable. 2100 sounds expensive to me, but then the locals will obviously take less from smelly backpackers whilst realizing professionals will be able to shell out more. As I said, give me a IM and I can contact my friend to see if he's available for business.

Pahalgam is nice, but its higher up so I'd expect it to be colder. Brown castle is a nice hotel there with reasonable prices, family run with friendly staff. A night or day trip (transport irregular) to Aru is worth a shot. You could make pahalgam in one day, it took me around 3 hours on a clapped out 350 Bullet so I expect shorter in a Jeep and longer on the bus. It is worth staying at least a few nights up in that region, since it is very friendly and beautiful. Avoid the larger hotels in pahalgam, continue up the hill to the smaller village over the bridges. As mentioned, Brown Castle is a good choice.

Any more questions IM me.

Cheers.

Ross

Ms Princess W

It'll be pretty cold here. I don't know about warm clothing "for hire" as you say, but certainly warm attire is going to be needed.

rs. 2100 sounds about right, of course it depends on the level of HB you want. I think a Deluxe on either lake would go for around that with meals, though. I believe it's far better to come to Srinagar and then book here, so you can see what you're getting. Just my opinion

Be aware of weather/road conditions when you consider your day trip plans to Sonmarg & Gulmarg, too

sreekanthv

Thanks Princess for the help
Is late january an off season period in kashmir. In such case i may be able to get a better rate for houseboat on reaching.

also some other posts mentioned that the roads to gulmarg and sonmarg remain open throughout the year. do they get closed in january due to snow

Ms Princess W

Yes, it's off-season, but prices can vary greatly even so. But if you come here and then book (or reach a houseboat owner directly by telephone or e-mail, not going through a travel agent in Mumbai or wherever in other words), I think you'll be able to bargain more effectively.

Yes, the roads remain open, meaning they're not routinely shut down for the winter or anything, but some heavy snow could force the roads closed, or make travel a bit risky. I haven't lived here through the winter myself yet, so this is just what I've heard from folks here. Hopefully you'll not have any trouble getting to these places

ashwinnaagar

you wont be able to visit sonamarg as its closed. It's better if you stay in pahalgam,its 3.5 hrs from srinagar.

antoajayraj

Can someone please give more insight on the weather conditions and road conditions during this time.. ?

ashwinnaagar

Srinaagar-max will be around max:10-15c min around 0-2c. Gulmarg and pahalgam will be much more colder.

sunnykashmir

hi
its better to stay in some nice cosy hotel in january as its the coldest month of the winter in kashmir, there are num of hotels with central heating ( broadway, grand mumtaaz etc), in pahalgam the best in winters is pahalgam hotel, mountview, heevan, pine n peaks and in gulmarg hotel highlands park/hilltop/pine palace.
you would certaily enjoy in jan hopefully with snow around

goodfriend

HI SHREEKANT

me and my wife were in kashmir in oct, on day 1 i directly went to pahakgam from airport, it took apprx 3 hrs, and Rs. 1800/-, they have a very systematic prepaid taxi stand outside airport, pahalgam is worth staying for 2 nights, by going to pahalgam first you can save hotel shuffling, and do some good time management, its going to be very cold in pahalgam, i stayed in mantoo cottage, but its closed in winters,

and in srinagar i stayed in hotel new park, a very nice peaceful hotel, i had a lake facing room on the 2nd floor, we were very comfortable in this hotel with good staff and spacious rooms, infact we saw some house boats to stay in but we realised that we are well settled in the hotel... but shikara rides were too good.... and we did gulmarg as a day trip from srinagar...

if you need any more info... let me know....

cheers

[quote=sreekanthv;841426]Hi,
I plan to visit Kashmir in end January with my wife in end january (26 jan to 31 jan)and have booked the to and fro flight tickets

Bhaswaran

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sreekanthv

HI goodfriend. How much did it cost you for a night at hotel new park and what was the cost of taxi for day trip to gulmarg.

I was checking with a few hotel guys who insisted on hotel pick and drop. Is it easy to locate and pick up and drop at the airport

Sreekanth



[quote=goodfriend;860371]HI SHREEKANT

me and my wife were in kashmir in oct, on day 1 i directly went to pahakgam from airport, it took apprx 3 hrs, and Rs. 1800/-, they have a very systematic prepaid taxi stand outside airport, pahalgam is worth staying for 2 nights, by going to pahalgam first you can save hotel shuffling, and do some good time management, its going to be very cold in pahalgam, i stayed in mantoo cottage, but its closed in winters,

and in srinagar i stayed in hotel new park, a very nice peaceful hotel, i had a lake facing room on the 2nd floor, we were very comfortable in this hotel with good staff and spacious rooms, infact we saw some house boats to stay in but we realised that we are well settled in the hotel... but shikara rides were too good.... and we did gulmarg as a day trip from srinagar...

if you need any more info... let me know....

cheers

goodfriend

hi

hotel new park cost me 1000/- per night , this hotel was suggested to me by mr. mantoo of mantoo cottages in pahalgam, his family has stake in this hotel and we had become friends, so they chatged me least possible cos othe guests were paying more.... but it a nice hotel and well placed ... and two blocks away from it they have a well organised taxi stand with all the rates on display... you can trust them...

in my case i took a taxi from hotel they charged me 1800/- for pahalgam return ... it was a scorpio ... but i didnt like the owner/ driver of the vehicle, his name was tariq... avoid him... the all have a habit of taking you to a handicraft shop where they might have an understanding but this can be managed easily by saying that you are not intrested....

and you need not take a hotel pickup facility if it costs more than 400/-... or say 500/- ... outside the airport there is a well organised prepaid taxi stand airport to city will cost you max 400/-

will give you more info if you need

will also tell you my hilites of the trip and what you shud must do in srinagar

cheers

[quote=sreekanthv;862053]HI goodfriend. How much did it cost you for a night at hotel new park and what was the cost of taxi for day trip to gulmarg.

I was checking with a few hotel guys who insisted on hotel pick and drop. Is it easy to locate and pick up and drop at the airport

Sreekanth

sreekanthv

Hi,
I have negotiated a package for 6N/7D in srinagar with an inclusion of breakfast, dinner with a deluxe houseboat for 19000.
The package includes a day trip to gulmarg, an overnight trip to pahalgam and a local sightseeing.
The rates are based on houseboat stays at 2200/night and travel at 2000 per day
I am travelling with my wife and a small kid and at 19000 I am at a stretchon my budget. will it be be cheaper to go for a booking after I reach kashmir.
Please help