May 04, 2013 12:12 PM
9810 Views
We 2 family of 4 adult & 3 kids went to Kashmir from Mumbai by flight for 10 days from 19th April to 28 April 2013.
19th Srinigar houseboat
20th Sringar to Sonmary Stay at Snowland
21st Sonmarg to Pehalgam Stay for 3 night at forest hill
24th Pehalgam to Gulmarg stay at gulamrg Pine spring
25th Pehalgam to srinigar stay at Marvilla guest house
26th to yusmarg
28th Back to Mumbai
We had 10 day in hand so stayed at all location so travel will be less.if you go by tour operator they mostly make you stay at Srinigar were hotel is cheaper but you will have to travel to & fro on the same day which will be tiring.
We visited the tulip garden on first day itself as it is open for 45 day only in march , April, and was lucky to see the tulip flower in full bloom
Sonmary 80 km 3 hr from srinigar is worth staying for a day were you will get some hotels like snowland resort or snowland hotel to stay, as it is an upcoming location there are no fixed rate for poneys so need to bargain.We were fortunate to see snowfall at sonmarg.The hotels are situated such that you can see mountain in the front & river at the back
Sonmarg to Pehalgam is 170 km 6 hr travel by car we stayed for 3 night visited Baisarn by horse were you can experience steap climb on horse, scary for the faint hearted .Baisarn is a beautiful location were you can take postcard photos.other location are Aru vally , chandanvadi & bettab valley. Aru valley you can walk to the points and need not take a horse for the point visit. Chandanvali you will see snow which if you got at sonmarg or gulamrg you can skip. Beetab valley is on the way to chandanvadi & you can get photos from the top.
From pehalgam we went to gulmarg 140 km which take around 5 hr. Gulmarg main attraction is gondala.You can take the Gondola ticket online from https://gulmarggondola.com/gondola_tickets.php so that you need not stand in the long line.
In the center of the golf course there is a 150 year old St Mary's church which can be reached by walking.Horse ride need not be taken. Gumboot & coat is recommended if you want to play in snow as the normal sport shoes will get wet and you may fall sick.
From gulmarg we came back to srinigar and went to yusmarg the next day which is another tourist point like pehalgam,
Here also you can take a horse ride to doodgaga water fall, were there is no water fall but river stream.
Back to Sringar we visited the many garden & pari mahal
Point to be kept in mind for April visit.
Visit Tulip garden first as it is for limited period only.
Take umbrella & thermo coat as per local saying mumbai ka faction & kashmir ki weather ka no barosa.
Take gandola ticket online.
Book good hotel as it will change the whole trip experience.( in 4 to 7 K per day MAP plan )range Hotel snowland in sonmarg, forest hill at pehalgam, pine sping in gulmarg)
Buy Saffrron only if you are sure it is original, other things to buy is apricot & Badam, shalls come from Punjab.
We tried the local food like mutton gustoba & kwaga drink but was disspointed.
Our local hotel, food, site seeing, coasted only 65k as hotels did not charge for kids, which the tour operator will charge you
Enjoy you trip to Kashmir
