Leh - Kargil to Srinigar Transport Hazards?

Bowkes

I'm planning on travelling from Ladakh down to Srinigar to catch a flight back to Delhi at the end of September.
I will be travelling by bus, jeep or possibly taxi from Kargil with my bicycle having completed cycle touring here.
Considering previous terrorist activity in the area what recommendations can anyone give ?
i.e.; travel by quickest means possible direct to the airport (I won't have time to stop and look around Srinigar anyway!), travel by daytime or night time ?
I suspect trravelling by bus will mean having to get dropped in the middle of town with the attendant hassle of trying to find onward travel to the airport with attendant bicycle and bagage.
I understand most of the flights leave Srinigar for Delhi between around 9am and early afternoon so this is a contributing factor.
Any thoughts ?

patilsushant001

Unless you hire a private vehicle, you would not get dropped directly to the airport. In any case, I will suggest to travel in the daytime because driving through these roads is not safe in daytime as well.

Also, I don't see much of terrorist activities inside Srinagar.
They are mostly concentrated close to LOC areas.
Have a safe and nice journey!!

vistet

Large car bomb in central Srinagar a few days ago , and a number of grenade attacks over the last months , last (failed ) attack the 16th .

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patilsushant001

Certainly, I don't deny that there is nothing at all..
But, compared to a few years back, situation is much better!!
Of course, if you are very much unlucky, this can happen to you anywhere in the world.

Dimitrz

I don't think Bus is a good idea unless its a luxuray bus .... you wont survive the bumps

It should be okay to arrive in Srinagar and check into a decent hotel near the lake or airport....... directly going to airport would be too tiring and cutting it too close ...In Srinagar you should have some kind of buffer time.

Ideal plan reach Srinagar by evening and catch the morning flight just avoid too crowded place and don't check into any sleazy part of town and keep your eyes and ears open without getting paranoid

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Bowkes

Thanks Dimitrz,
Have booked a shared jeep and will be looking for place to stay on Dal gate on arrival.

Dimitrz

Cool check into a hotel rather than Houseboat - unless you don't mind people constantly trying to sell you stuff

Bowkes

Hi Dimitrz,
Thought i would let you know that all went well on the trip from Kargil to Srinigar.
The shared 'jeep' though fairly new only looked the part and was a pretty uncomfortable way to travel - actually a 7 seat MPV with shagged-out shock absorbers meaning the back seat passengers got thrown up and down the whole time and one guy was constantly sick.
Apart from that got dropped in a completely indistinct area of town and had to be directed for several kilometers to the centre by locals. Once there, the touts were o.k. and I enjoyed a nice relaxing ride on a shikara whilst staying in local hotel on the boulevard.
The airport security was awesome and there was no sign of any trouble. I would definitely make more time next time to stayover and look around.
Bowkes

patilsushant001

Great!! Actually, if you really want to do a relatively comfortable ride, you should travel by a 4 wheeler in well maintained conditions like scorpio, tavera etc..
Anyways, Srinagar and Kashmir valley is also a beautiful place. Even, I could not spend much time there. Planning to make a dedicated trip to that region

Dimitrz

Well thats why backseats are less expensive , I dont think you would have had a better experience than that unless you had booked a private taxi

Hmmmm ideally you all should have made it clear that you want a drop in DalGhat Tourist reception centre - I guess that the taxi fellow wanted to return asap so dumped you guys at the closet point as per him. well no harm done atleast you saw a bit more of Srinagar than what you bargained for

Yes isn't it - to be very honest the security and safety situation is much better than what is projected globally - Just because westerners have not seen a bomb go off they assume even a minor incident is a prelude to something bigger

Hope you had a memorable and good trip ( even the bumpy taxi ride) waiting to see your photos and trip log