srinagar and leh and Traveler's cheque VS cash!!

nitin k · Jul 6th, 2008, 22:05

hi i am traveling to srinagar -leh - Delhi on a 22 days trip!!
it's my honneeyymoon ...!!

except other specific suggestions...
i need a advice on carrying cash or travelers cheaque??
sould i carry half amount in cash and half in cheaque?? or all cash??

i am confused!!
i have never used traveler's cheaque before??
will it help in leh and around??

please help!!

Ms Princess W · Jul 6th, 2008, 22:14

In my opinion it is always, ALWAYS safer to use traveler's checks or plastic than cash, no matter where you are going!

nitin k · Jul 7th, 2008, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms Princess W

In my opinion it is always, ALWAYS safer to use traveler's checks or plastic than cash, no matter where you are going!

i am asking particular about leh!

nitin k · Jul 7th, 2008, 18:53

nobody??

nayan · Jul 7th, 2008, 20:26

We had taken the entire amount in cash, but we were doing all the night stays in leh.
As far as I can remember you will be travelling all over. So really cannot advice.

nitin k · Jul 8th, 2008, 14:32

anybody?? plz help

amarshah · Jul 8th, 2008, 14:55

Nitin, use ATM instead of travelers cheques. You can encash them at Srinagar or else Leh. ATM also you will find is all major locations. Else cash. You will get few TC exchange options in Leh and Srinagar

nitin k · Jul 10th, 2008, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by amarshah

Nitin, use ATM instead of travelers cheques. You can encash them at Srinagar or else Leh. ATM also you will find is all major locations. Else cash. You will get few TC exchange options in Leh and Srinagar

bur i have been reading that ATMs are not working and out of cash most of times

and i don't think it is good to carry 60k all the time!!

amarshah · Jul 11th, 2008, 11:29

they worked when i was there atleast at kargil, Srinagar, Leh (couple of times), Manali.

WOW you intend carrying a lot of $. Do re-check if you require that much in the first place. Also talk to SBI for Travelers Cheques in Rupees which you can encash from SBI, Leh

Yogesh Sarkar · Jul 12th, 2008, 13:30

Based on what you have posted in your earlier post, I don’t think you will need to carry 60k, since you will be already spending 6k out of it on flights. Also since you are spending a lot of time in Srinagar, which has ATM facilities, you can simply carry ~30k and then take more out of the ATM day before you start for Leh (wild guess but it would mean carrying around 40k or so).

If you guys don’t want to do that, then carry enough for food, accommodation and travel for around 10days and use the ATM in Leh, in case its not working, you can always ask hotel/shopkeepers to charge your debit/credit card and give you cash (haven’t done that personally but have heard from a few travelers that it is possible).

amarshah · Jul 12th, 2008, 14:18

Nitin, also if you have a SBI a/c carry few blank cheques with you. You can withdraw money from the bank itself. SBI has core banking so should not be a problem...

nitin k · Jul 14th, 2008, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Based on what you have posted in your earlier post, I don’t think you will need to carry 60k, since you will be already spending 6k out of it on flights. Also since you are spending a lot of time in Srinagar, which has ATM facilities, you can simply carry ~30k and then take more out of the ATM day before you start for Leh (wild guess but it would mean carrying around 40k or so).

If you guys don’t want to do that, then carry enough for food, accommodation and travel for around 10days and use the ATM in Leh,

so i am taking 40 k then !!
and in cash only for srinagar than pull out some money there before leaving for leh.
thanks for clearing the picture !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

ATM in Leh, in case its not working, you can always ask hotel/shopkeepers to charge your debit/credit card and give you cash (haven’t done that personally but have heard from a few travelers that it is possible).

i have done than in Delhi sometimes but i am also not sure about this in leh!!

has somebody else done that before??

fake_empire · Jul 21st, 2008, 04:25

Hi there, I was in Srinagar 3 years ago. It was fine changing TCs. In fact totally fascinating at the bank - the entrance was between a gap in a wooden fence topped with barbed wire and past heavily armed security. Men and women were given a full frisking (women soldiers for women customers), then had to surrender our cameras before being allowed to enter. Of course we got our cameras back when we left.

We then headed to Sonamarg where we started our 8 day trek. (Epic! And still one of the most awesome things I've ever done). The only massive downer was when we came to settle our bill with the guide, he wouldn't accept travellers checks!!! Oh no. You will understand when you drive through Sonamarg. We tried and tried to explain the legitness of them, but he said no way. So on the back end of our massive 8 days of hiking, we had to catch a 3 or 4 hour bus to Srinagar and back to change more TCs!! VERY frustrating.

As for Leh, we had no probs changing TCs at the bank. Just don't be in a hurry. It's a slow, old-school service. Part of the great Indian experience though!!

Not sure of your plans from Leh, but if heading south to Manali by road, be stocked up with cash. Not much in the way of banks on that 2-day road.

Have fun.

Jul 6th, 2008, 22:05	#1
nitin k pappu walah member Join Date: May 2008 Location: delhi Posts: 64	srinagar and leh and Traveler's cheque VS cash!! hi i am traveling to srinagar -leh - Delhi on a 22 days trip!! it's my honneeyymoon ...!! except other specific suggestions... i need a advice on carrying cash or travelers cheaque?? sould i carry half amount in cash and half in cheaque?? or all cash?? i am confused!! i have never used traveler's cheaque before?? will it help in leh and around?? please help!! __________________ Everywhere I go I find a poet has been there before me... --Sigmund Freud Austrian psychologist (1856 - 1939)

Jul 8th, 2008, 14:55	#7
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 681	Nitin, use ATM instead of travelers cheques. You can encash them at Srinagar or else Leh. ATM also you will find is all major locations. Else cash. You will get few TC exchange options in Leh and Srinagar __________________ Cheers Amar Year 2008 Trips - http://amards14.googlepages.com/

Jul 12th, 2008, 13:30	#10
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,045	Based on what you have posted in your earlier post, I don’t think you will need to carry 60k, since you will be already spending 6k out of it on flights. Also since you are spending a lot of time in Srinagar, which has ATM facilities, you can simply carry ~30k and then take more out of the ATM day before you start for Leh (wild guess but it would mean carrying around 40k or so). If you guys don’t want to do that, then carry enough for food, accommodation and travel for around 10days and use the ATM in Leh, in case its not working, you can always ask hotel/shopkeepers to charge your debit/credit card and give you cash (haven’t done that personally but have heard from a few travelers that it is possible). __________________ My Travelogues \| My Blog \| Ladakh Travel Guide

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Jul 6th, 2008, 22:14	#2
Ms Princess W Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Minnesota for now Posts: 70	In my opinion it is always, ALWAYS safer to use traveler's checks or plastic than cash, no matter where you are going!

Jul 7th, 2008, 18:53	#4
nitin k pappu walah member Join Date: May 2008 Location: delhi Posts: 64	nobody??

Jul 7th, 2008, 20:26	#5
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 699	We had taken the entire amount in cash, but we were doing all the night stays in leh. As far as I can remember you will be travelling all over. So really cannot advice.

Jul 8th, 2008, 14:32	#6
nitin k pappu walah member Join Date: May 2008 Location: delhi Posts: 64	anybody?? plz help

Jul 11th, 2008, 11:29	#9
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 681	they worked when i was there atleast at kargil, Srinagar, Leh (couple of times), Manali. WOW you intend carrying a lot of $. Do re-check if you require that much in the first place. Also talk to SBI for Travelers Cheques in Rupees which you can encash from SBI, Leh

Jul 12th, 2008, 14:18	#11
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 681	Nitin, also if you have a SBI a/c carry few blank cheques with you. You can withdraw money from the bank itself. SBI has core banking so should not be a problem...

Jul 21st, 2008, 04:25	#13
fake_empire Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 11	Hi there, I was in Srinagar 3 years ago. It was fine changing TCs. In fact totally fascinating at the bank - the entrance was between a gap in a wooden fence topped with barbed wire and past heavily armed security. Men and women were given a full frisking (women soldiers for women customers), then had to surrender our cameras before being allowed to enter. Of course we got our cameras back when we left. We then headed to Sonamarg where we started our 8 day trek. (Epic! And still one of the most awesome things I've ever done). The only massive downer was when we came to settle our bill with the guide, he wouldn't accept travellers checks!!! Oh no. You will understand when you drive through Sonamarg. We tried and tried to explain the legitness of them, but he said no way. So on the back end of our massive 8 days of hiking, we had to catch a 3 or 4 hour bus to Srinagar and back to change more TCs!! VERY frustrating. As for Leh, we had no probs changing TCs at the bank. Just don't be in a hurry. It's a slow, old-school service. Part of the great Indian experience though!! Not sure of your plans from Leh, but if heading south to Manali by road, be stocked up with cash. Not much in the way of banks on that 2-day road. Have fun.

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