Srinagar. Review on Srinagar

Go visiting Kashmir. I visited there last year in Feb 99 inspite of the fact that I was not sure whether the place is safe or not.I was proved wrong. There are lots of travel agents in Jammu or Katra(40 kms from Jammu)who will take some money from you prior to your reaching Srinagar. These agents will then take you to Srinagar in a luxury bus and put you in one of the ''Big Shikaras'' or ''House boats''

The stay includes food and site seeing plus a car will be provided for the entire day. Depending upon how long you want to stay, the package includes a 4 day stay or a 7 day stay in Srinagar accordingly the cost per person will increase. It is suggested to take these package tours to Srinagar as they take care of you throughout and it is still a safe bet. The owner of the Shikaras/House boats will cook food for you etc.

There are loads of places to see. One day will go in visiting Gulmarg - the snow capped mountains / hills with temperatures reaching -40 degrees and snow all over if you visit in Dec-Feb-Mar period otherwise there will not be any snow but lush green valley, one of the biggest golf courses in Asia is there which of course will be covered with snow all through Dec-Feb period. Taking a ride on the cable car -called 'Gondola' is a breathtaking experience. One more day will go in visiting Sonmarg which is enroute to to Kargil - Leh on National Highway 1A. Another mesmerizing place snow capped and beautiful. Another day goes in visiting places like Hazrat Bal, Shiv Temple, the famous Dal Lake and plenty of Mughal gardens.

Since the time these militant activities have started in Kashmir, the economy of the state has disappeared. People have nothing to do. They only wait for tourists. One can get real cheap shawls - panchmina etc for throw away prices since the number of tourists now is far too less vis-a-vis earlier days. I did not have time else I wanted to proceed to Leh which is about 6 hours drive from Sonmarg.

You cannot stay in hotels there as all of them have been occupied by the military forces. The only possibility is to stay in houseboats. There are about 2500 of them on the Dal Lake. The most beautiful place is Gulmarg / Sonmarg / Pahalgham. It is but a paradise lost and one can feel it throughout the city. The homes are charred and the schools are closed or occupied by the military. It takes abround 9 hours to drive down to Srinagar. One can fly from Delhi as well but driving is best since you get to see the beauty of the valley.

I would say it is the best place to see. One need not go to Zurich to see beautiful Valley and Snow. It is very much here in Kashmir. Overall it is one swell of a place worth a visit now that things are very much in control and normal life of people has returned. I took a Tata Sumo on my way back to Delhi