Introduction:
COVID 19 Lockdown has put a huge toll on all of us with respect to mental and physical care. The only solution to escape from this stressful situation is to explore yourself to various places that will give a sense of change in the daily routine. What is a better option to choose than to visit Kashmir? In this article, you will get to know the whole Travel Guide to Kashmir after the Covid situation, so, read down to know more!
How to reach Srinagar?
The first important thing to know is how to Kashmir. There are many ways that you can choose to travel to Kashmir. They can be by road, by air, or by train plus road combination. If you travel by road it can take about 8 hours to travel 270 kilometers. During winters, due to heavy snowfall, there are chances of blocking of roads and hence they become inaccessible via road. So you must check out about this before you start traveling. If you decide to travel via Railways, then you can travel in it till Udhampur and then take a local bus or a tempo to reach Srinagar. But the best way to reach Srinagar is by air. If you go ahead with the airplane, you will get such beautiful sights that you will feel happy even before entering Srinagar.
What is the most effective time to visit Kashmir?
If you want to delve into snow and indulge in snow related activities, then the months of December to February are the best time to visit. You can also go in March if you want to enjoy the snow along with less severe winters. From April, you can experience snow only in Gulmarg and Sonmarg. The Tulip Garden of Srinagar opens only in April and this is also the best time to explore Srinagar. Srinagar’s peak season is in summer that is from May to July. Many tourists flock during this period as even the Amarnath Yatra is also done in July. Overall, you can visit Srinagar anytime based on your requirements and tastes.
What are the essentials to carry?
If you are traveling in winters, then it is advisable that you carry heavy jackets with multiple layers of clothes, a thermostatic water bottle, waterproof gloves, a set of woolen socks, and a postpaid sim. The network of Airtel is relatively better than other networks. They are not exhaustive in nature and you can bring some essentials as well but make sure you take the above articles as well.
What can be the best travel guide and activities to do in Kashmir?
The tour to Kashmir can be for at least 7 days. Making Kashmir as the base you can explore various places in Kashmir. You can choose to stay in Gulmarg and Pahalgam for a night. The first thing that comes to mind is the houseboats. This is an amazing experience that one never misses if they are in Kashmir. Apart from staying in Houseboats, you can also do the Shikara Ride in the most famous Dal Lake and do shopping in Meena Bazaar. Then you can also explore the local markets of Srinagar, especially the floating markets. If you have some more time, you can also make a nice food tour in Srinagar as Srinagar is famous for some delicious street food as well.
Then you can move to Pahalgam and stay there for at least for a day so that you can experience the whole place without missing anything. In Pahalgam, you can visit Kashmir Valley, Chandanwari, Betaab valley, Barisanath or Mini Switzerland, which are the most famous places. In these places you can either do trekking or travel via Pony. Aru Valley and Betaab Valley are beautiful places especially in the seasons of spring and summer.
Now is the time for Gulmarg, which again needs at least a day to explore. You can do the famous Gondola ride, which is in phase one and two. Phase one is the lower altitude one and phase two is a higher altitude ride. In Gulmarg, you can do skiing, cycling, sledging, and ATV riding in the winter.
Then is the day for Sonmarg, which is mostly a day trip. The main spot of Sonmarg is Zojila Pass, Vishansar Lake and the beautiful surroundings. If you go in spring or summer, then Sonmarg looks very beautiful and serene. After you completely enjoy the place you can travel back to home the next or same day.
