Dear Friends, before going to the main content of the travel plan I just want to share my personal experience which I feel could be important to convey when we think about planning the solo trip to Kashmir. I also had many questions arising in mind about the safety concerns, public transport, local provisions, and many more other things. But I also had to look a way forward from these and we could not remain stuck within the hurdles.
So let me tell you guys, initially I also had some fear feel about this trip as it was my first long-duration solo travel and I would have to discussed with different local walks, find the path, and following to make a plan. But when I entered "Srinagar", people themselves started to mingle with me with open-mindedness. They only guide me on where to book the stay and how to travel by public transport, what are the spots to be covered. So I found people are so cooperative here. I felt very comfortable with them. Also, I could see many military groups monitoring on the street every 50 meters for keeping the protection and maintain the peace. I used to say "Namaste Sir, Jai HInd Sir" to them and with the same respect, they used to reciprocate me. This thing was making me feel very secured and I think that was important for me actually to built my confidence. By seeing alone several times Army persons asked me about my details like my name, where I came from, where to go etc. and to show ID card as well. But this was for our safety purpose only. Even if I needed any location details or information, I used to ask them. So overall it was a very good experience for me, I enjoyed it a lot even being alone with the new people, new ambiance and new place.
I'm listing few FAQ below which could be helpful for trip planning.
- Is it safe to Travel Solo? - Yes, as I shared above I feel very safe and never get stuck anywhere. People are so supportive. You can easily roam. Defence forces are there for your protection :)
- Any prior permission required to roam in Kashmir? No, not required.
- Any check post there or ID cards required? Do Army asks for IDs? Yes, you should carry an Adhar card. At some tourist places they ask.
- About Network, SIM card and 4G? - You should have only a Postpaid SIM card. Prepaid SIM cards won't work in Kashmir. Also, 4G is available in Srinagar but nearby Sonmarg I got only 2G/3G network on Vodafone. In Pahalgam no Vodafone network. (BSNL/Airtel should be available)
- Do Offline maps work? Even this trick for my trekking didn't work for me. The map didn't show the route in the mountain areas. It was misguiding on distances. In town or nearby, you can use it where if the network is not available.
- Is public transport available in Srinagar? Yes, usually shared taxis like Tavera and Sumos are available in Kashmir. Also, it is cheaper.
- Is train available? Jammu is connected by train from major cities of India but no train to the Srinagar. Only one local train runs from Banihal which connects to Srinagar (I could not find ticket booking from IRCTC app).
How to reach?
By Flight:
Srinagar has an international airport and is well connected to other major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, etc.
Hotel or Boathouse booking?
What to do?
- Shikara Ride: Shikara ride in Dal Lake is the prime attraction in Srinagar. It is good to choose the evening time and can take a joy of very peaceful and touching surrounding nature. The Lake view is surrounded by mountains and its crystal blue reflections satisfy and make it pleasant to the eyes. You can also do the shopping floating shops. Just beware about the false prices and try to negotiate it at your best.
- Fare can vary from 250 Rs for 1 hr ride to 800 Rs/- for 3 Hrs ride. Also depends on how you negotiate the prices. They might asks for 1200 to 1500 Rs/- also for 4 person.
- The Shankaracharya Temple: Temple is around 5 KM from Dal Lake. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the path through a deep jungle. One can enjoy having trek over there. Phone or camera is not allowed to carry. There are 300 Steps to reach the temple from the base. The temple is on the summit of the same name at a height of 1,000 feet (300 m) above the plain and overlooks the city of Srinagar.
- Chashma Shahi Garden:
- Nishant Garden: Entry Fees 25 Rs /-
- Shalimar Mughal Garden: If you have visited Chashma shahi or Nishant, you can skip the Mughal garden.
- Dachigham Zoo: Entry fees 25 Rs /-
- Hari Parbat Fort: It is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the site of a Durrani fort, built-in 1808. It has the famous Shakti Temple on the western Slope and Muslim shrines of Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and Akhund Mullah Shah on the southern slope.
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