KASHMIR

Beware Man... You are on the way to Heaven !!

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Is it safe to get a taxi at the srinagar airport ? We are 4 of us with luggage. Any idea of the cost ?
Are there Prepaids available to the Hotel ?
Does one Bargain at the shops for woollens etc ?
How much time will it take to reach Srinagar airport from Gulmarg by Taxi on my return ? My return flight is at 12.30 noon.

Thanks for this offer of helping.

Karry

Are you finding it safe there?

Are you renting a houseboat on the Dal?

Have you heard any horror stories?

Are there many other foreigners there?

What's the scenery like?

Thanks!

I have the same questions as the last post - planning a motorbike trip manali - leh - srinagar - delhi in June / July and any info on security mainly and also road condition is welcome.
thanks

-I walk dayly everywhere,and,nobody disturb me.
-I stay at Negeen lake.
-Horror stories?????
-Last week I had seen around ten foreigners,most in Dal gate.
-I think now is the perfect time to came here:Spring's weather,cheap accommodation.
after a month will start the indian holiday.it's the high season in Kashmir.
everything will be more expensive.

Any Mitfahrer !!
I plan to leave Delhi in a small car on 20th April. Can carry 3 Pax who can share fuel and expanses. Reachin Shrinagar 3rd day.

wet on red, kashmir is a great place to go. I was there in 2005, september.

If you want to know about safety, you should do a google search to find out when last incidents were and the latest in political news. Or if you are not going for a while, also keep a watch on here. Things get discussed if anything happens.

I was only in Srinagar so the only scenery i know is in the city and the drive up to Ladakh. Sonamarg looks quite good. I liked Srinagar a lot as a destination. Its an interesting town and the lakes are lovely.

There are still not many foreign tourists going to Kashmir. When i was there i would see about 2 per day and at the floating veg market, i saw about 10. In June there will be many indian tourists and i am not sure if this is still the case in July and August.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Is it safe to get a taxi at the srinagar airport ? We are 4 of us with luggage. Any idea of the cost ?
Are there Prepaids available to the Hotel ?
Does one Bargain at the shops for woollens etc ?
How much time will it take to reach Srinagar airport from Gulmarg by Taxi on my return ? My return flight is at 12.30 noon.
<hr></blockquote>

Hi Sandy
Take the prepaid taxi/bus from the airport to town. It costs about 350r pp according to chinar (who i tend to think is a tout as he's not a traveller). That sounds more or less right. Its a fair drive. I thought it was a bit less, but make sure you ask the tourist policeman before settling on a price with a taxi driver. (or at least, that's what i'd do). The pre-paid taxi-bus only goes to the TRC as far as I know.

don't forget to collect a few maps (10r each), before leaving the airport.

If you are already booked in a hotel somewhere, then take a taxi. It should be safe but agree on a price first. (most of) The Kashmiris aren't bad people, though they are poor (apparently) and desperate for your business as you will notice by the crowd at the airport. That however, is the only place, you are likely to be overwhelmed by touts.

I noticed that the pre-paid taxi-bus took a while to appear, ditto the tourist policeman. I think he was giving all the touts a chance to get my business first (which is somewhat decent of him i think) but once we met, he looked after me well. He suggested i go to the TRC for further advice from the tourist police. I really enjoyed that little experience. You might not. I was on my own so its different.

Shopping for woollens. I don't think it will be that cold in Srinagar but you might want a lovely shawl. You would bargain hard for shawls because they are mostly sold in the tourist shops. The best quality of anything handcrafted can be found at the Govt Emporium on Residency Road, (not the other ones). Another place to shop for woollens is at the outdoor market/bazaar at the Jama Majid in the old city (you will go there anyway, its a beautfiul papier mache done up mosque.). I am not sure where else to go as i didn't notice any clothing shops. At the bazaar you will bargain but not as much as if in a tourist shop because most of the customers here are locals. Trust your gut on whether the shopkeeper is trying to get too much the better of you. I bought some white cotton scarves and cotton pantaloons (with bells on) from this place. The cotton is lovely - not very warm though. :-)

What are you going to do in Gulmarg. I think it might be a disappointing destination from accounts i have heard - except if there's snow of course, but i am still skeptical about that. If you are trekking, i think sonnamarg sounds better. Sorry i know nothing about distances on this score. Your houseboat owner will know. Unless you are staying at a hotel, in which case, your hotel owner will know. But measure the time from airport to town and don't forget that you have to be at the airport 2 or 3 hours before departure. I can't remember which. But ask when you get there.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Is it safe to get a taxi at the srinagar airport ? We are 4 of us with luggage. Any idea of the cost ?
Are there Prepaids available to the Hotel ?
Does one Bargain at the shops for woollens etc ?
How much time will it take to reach Srinagar airport from Gulmarg by Taxi on my return ? My return flight is at 12.30 noon.
<hr></blockquote>

Hi Sandy
Take the prepaid taxi/bus from the airport to town. It costs about 350r pp according to chinar (who i tend to think is a tout as he's not a traveller). That sounds more or less right. Its a fair drive. I thought it was a bit less, but make sure you ask the tourist policeman before settling on a price with a taxi driver. (or at least, that's what i'd do). The pre-paid taxi-bus only goes to the TRC as far as I know.

don't forget to collect a few maps (10r each), before leaving the airport.

If you are already booked in a hotel somewhere, then take a taxi. It should be safe but agree on a price first. (most of) The Kashmiris aren't bad people, though they are poor (apparently) and desperate for your business as you will notice by the crowd at the airport. That however, is the only place, you are likely to be overwhelmed by touts.

I noticed that the pre-paid taxi-bus took a while to appear, ditto the tourist policeman. I think he was giving all the touts a chance to get my business first (which is somewhat decent of him i think) but once we met, he looked after me well. He suggested i go to the TRC for further advice from the tourist police. I really enjoyed that little experience. You might not. I was on my own so its different.

Shopping for woollens. I don't think it will be that cold in Srinagar but you might want a lovely shawl. You would bargain hard for shawls because they are mostly sold in the tourist shops. The best quality of anything handcrafted can be found at the Govt Emporium on Residency Road, (not the other ones). Another place to shop for woollens is at the outdoor market/bazaar at the Jama Majid in the old city (you will go there anyway, its a beautfiul papier mache done up mosque.). I am not sure where else to go as i didn't notice any clothing shops. At the bazaar you will bargain but not as much as if in a tourist shop because most of the customers here are locals. Trust your gut on whether the shopkeeper is trying to get too much the better of you. I bought some white cotton scarves and cotton pantaloons (with bells on) from this place. The cotton is lovely - not very warm though. :-)

What are you going to do in Gulmarg. I think it might be a disappointing destination from accounts i have heard - except if there's snow of course, but i am still skeptical about that. If you are trekking, i think sonnamarg sounds better. Sorry i know nothing about distances on this score. Your houseboat owner will know. Unless you are staying at a hotel, in which case, your hotel owner will know. But measure the time from airport to town and don't forget that you have to be at the airport 2 or 3 hours before departure. I can't remember which. But ask when you get there.