🇮🇳 Ultimate Guide to Kashmir, India by an Indian local

🇮🇳 Ultimate Guide to Kashmir, India by an Indian local

There's a reason it's called Paradise on Earth. If you're in India, or you're visiting India, it would be a grave crime to miss out on Kashmir. The beauty of Kashmir is unparalleled. Don't worry - even though the news portrays it as an area of political turmoil, it is safe for tourists. Also, don't let its remoteness daunt you - I've listed all the information you need to go there. This guide includes: ✈️ How to get to Kashmir 📶 Connectivity 💰 Paying for things (Currency, Tipping, Bargaining) 🚗 Getting around Kashmir 🛌🏿 Where to stay 🍚 What to eat ⛰️ What to do 👛 Approximate budget - Designed for both locals and international travellers - Prices are listed in USD ($) and INR (Rs.) If you want a detailed day-to-day plan, check out my other guide "Kashmir in 7 Days: Detailed Itinerary"
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✈️ How to get to Kashmir

Within India

✈️ By Flight

Several major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad will have either direct flights or 1-stop flights to Srinagar. Use any of the travel apps listed below to book your domestic flights.

💸 Flight prices can fluctuate heavily based on season location and airline, so I won't be able to provide an estimate for this.

🚂 By Train

Srinagar is also accessible by train from several places in India. However, if you're not used to train travel in India, I would recommend against it especially for your first time.

ℹ️ Indian Railways are not the best when it comes to speed, comfort or cleanliness. Apart from Shatabdi, Rajdhani or Duronto trains - the journey will be long, tiring, and not very luxurious.

💸 Approximate rates

AC 3-Tier ticket: Rs. 2500 / $30

Book train tickets on👇

OR use any one of the Indian travel apps below

🚌 By Road (Bus or Car)

You can also opt to reach Srinagar from Jammu by road. It usually takes 8-10 hours. Take a flight/train to Jammu, and then opt for a private car or a bus.

Out of the two I would advise you to opt for a private car. Buses are cheaper, but they would take longer and won't be very comfortable. Hiring a car and a driver (or renting a self-drive car) would be faster and much more comfortable.

💸 Approximate rates

Car + Driver: Rs. 10,000 / $120 one way

Bus: Rs. 1000 / $12 one way

Book bus tickets on👇

Book cabs on any of the Indian travel apps listed below👇

OR

Contact me for a local driver's phone number ☎️

From outside India

If you're coming from somewhere outside India, the best way is to first arrive in Delhi by flight.

Indira Gandhi International Airport
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International airport for Delhi & NCR region
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From Delhi, you opt for a direct (non-stop) flight to Srinagar (SXR)

Use any of the below platforms to book your flight👇

Top travel apps in India

Used by locals to book travel (flights/trains/buses/cabs) in INR👇You will need an Indian SIM card to sign up.

📶 Connectivity

The state of Jammu & Kashmir is restricted when it comes to connectivity. Its highly likely your prepaid SIM card will not work.

Only Airtel Postpaid or BSNL Postpaid SIM cards will work here, so please buy one for your journey, or switch from a prepaid to a postpaid connection.

This is also a relatively remote part of India, so don't expect WiFi or even high-speed mobile data in most places (except larger hotels).

💰 Paying for things

🔶 Currency

The local currency is Indian Rupee (INR). 

Cash is still king, so carry lots of cash (and keep it securely).

Credit cards and debit cards can be used sparingly within the city or at bigger hotels.

🔶 Tipping

Not mandatory at all but also not frowned upon. Bigger restaurants and hotels usually deduct a 10% service charge in their bill - so no need to tip in those cases. Of course, if you're particularly happy with the service you can always leave a tip of Rs. 50 - 200 / $1 - $3

But when you're dealing with more flexible service providers, like your car driver who will cater to you for 6-7 days, it's usually implied that you tip them some amount at the end of your journey.

For example, if your total is Rs. 25,000 (~$300) for renting the car, you can tip your driver Rs. 1000 - 2000 / $12 - $25

🔶 Bargaining

In India, you're expected to bargain at smaller shops, street vendors and tourist areas. If you don't, you're going to get scammed, especially if you don't look like a local. So do your research about usual rates before you go.

🚗 Getting around Kashmir

Within Srinagar

If you're spending most of your time in the city, you can opt for public transport like local buses, autos and taxis to travel short distances.

As of 2023, Uber does not operate here.

Outside Srinagar

Rent a car or a bike from Srinagar to explore areas around Kashmir like Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg. It's preferable to do this through people rather than on a website or app, because you can bargain accordingly.

Ask your hotel reception to arrange a car and driver for you, or reach out to me for the number of a trusted driver (extra cost).

🛌🏿 Where to stay

In Srinagar, you have two options: houseboats and hotels.

Houseboats will give you a unique experience of living on the beautiful Dal Lake. This must be experienced at least once. You can opt for a houseboat during the summer months, when the temperatures are warmer, up until October. Between November to February, it's more advisable to stay in a hotel.

When opting for a hotel in Srinagar, look for ones which are near tourist areas like Dal Lake or Lal Chowk. Outside Srinagar, look for hotels which are in quieter, remote places but still near the tourist attractions.

Tips

ℹ️ If you want cheaper rates, don't book your hotels online. Find a hotel you like on Google, and call them on the phone to reserve your booking offline.

ℹ️ During off-season, you can even choose to not book any rooms in advance - instead ask your driver to take you to a good hotel. It will be much cheaper on spot, and you can inspect your rooms before you pay (as well as bargain).

Here are some of my preferred places to stay in Kashmir👇 

Walisons Hotel
@travelwithmimi
Affordable and cosy accommodation. Great location right near the Dal lake.
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The Pahalgam Pines By Sarwar Resorts
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Premium resort, with a good location and excellent rooms and views
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🍚 What to eat

Kashmiri Wazwan is one of the most mind-blowing things you will ever taste in your life. And I'm not exaggerating. I had it back in 2017, and 6 years later I still cannot find anything that can hold a candle to it.

Eat the best meal of your life at👇

Ahdoos Restaurant
@travelwithmimi
The best Kashmiri Wazwan restaurant in Srinagar. A must-try when you're here. Delicious local food at affordable prices.
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Approximate price: Rs. 1500 / $18 for two

Here are some real photos from our meal👇

⛰️ What to do

Dal Lake
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An urban lake, the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir. Great for boating and shikara rides.
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Gulmarg
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A small town, hill station and popular skiing destination, about 50km from Srinagar.
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Sonamarg
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A beautiful valley 85 km away from Srinagar. Perfect for a day trip.
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Pahalgam
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Another picturesque valley against the backdrop of Lidder River. Colourful meadows and snow-kissed mountains look like a scene straight out of a beautiful painting.
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👛 Approximate budget

Rs. 45,000 - 50,000 / $544 - $655 per head for 7 days

Even during peak season, this budget should suffice for a mid-ranged comfortable 7-day trip to Kashmir (including transport, flights, food, and hotels). Shopping not included.

During off season, or if you opt for cheaper modes of travel, this can be even lower. So Kashmir is definitely an affordable and fantastic holiday option within India!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm a 31 year old female travel planner, travelling all around the world for 10+ years. I specialise in Asia & a few parts of Europe like Turkey, Spain & Italy. My mission is to craft an unforgettable, amazing travel experience just for you! My itineraries are highly personalised, and cater to your specific travel style and needs. I understand the value of spending your hard-earned time and money on a trip - so I'll do everything I can so that you're happy with the final outcome. I'm especially good with crafting itineraries for mid-range travellers: the type who are neither extreme budget backpackers nor the high-end luxury travellers. I can help you optimise your budget so you end up spending only on the experiences that are worth it. Go ahead and browse my guides and services. Subscribe to my Thatch profile to keep up to date! Let's get started. Contact me at: 📩 hello@travelwithmimi.co 📷 IG: @travelwithmimi.co 🖥️ www.travelwithmimi.co
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