Kashmir Travel Blog

Quick Answer: Travellers from the UK typically fly direct or via one stop to Delhi or Mumbai, then take a short domestic flight to Srinagar Airport (SXR), Kashmir’s only airport. Most UK citizens need an Indian visa arranged before travel, commonly through India’s e-Visa system, and the main Kashmir circuit, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, […]

Quick Answer: Travellers from the USA typically fly into Delhi or Mumbai on a long-haul international flight, then take a short domestic connection to Srinagar Airport (SXR), Kashmir’s only airport. Most US citizens need an Indian visa arranged before travel, commonly through India’s e-Visa system, and the main Kashmir circuit, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg, […]

Quick Answer: The best Kashmir travel agency for you is a local, Srinagar-based operator who owns or directly controls real hotels and vehicles rather than subcontracting everything, answers questions on WhatsApp before you pay anything, and has real, checkable reviews. Happy Jacks Tours and Travels is one such local operator, family run from Srinagar with […]

Quick Answer: Kashmir generally offers more dramatic, higher-altitude scenery, Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens, and genuine snow-sport terrain in Gulmarg, while Himachal Pradesh offers a longer-established tourist infrastructure, easier road access from North India, and hill stations like Manali and Shimla that suit a wider range of budgets and trip lengths. Neither is objectively better, […]

Quick Answer: Srinagar’s essential sightseeing fits comfortably into two days: Dal Lake with a shikara ride and a houseboat night, the Mughal gardens (Nishat, Shalimar, Chashme Shahi), Shankaracharya Temple for a valley view, and the old city around Jamia Masjid for a different, more local side of the city. Srinagar Sightseeing at a Glance What […]

Quick Answer: The only practical way to reach Gulmarg from Srinagar is by road, about 52 kilometres and 1.5 to 2 hours by private taxi through Tangmarg. There is no train or air option, and shared taxis exist but a private cab is far more comfortable for the hill climb. How to Reach Gulmarg at […]

Quick Answer: Srinagar to Sonamarg is about 80 kilometres, a 2 to 2.5 hour drive. A one-way private taxi with Happy Jacks starts from Rs 2,500 in a Swift Dzire, with an Innova Crysta from Rs 4,500, each with a local driver for the day. Srinagar to Sonamarg at a Glance What Detail Distance About […]

Quick Answer: Srinagar to Gulmarg is about 52 kilometres, a 1.5 to 2 hour drive. A one-way private taxi with Happy Jacks starts from Rs 2,500 in a Swift Dzire, with an Innova Crysta from Rs 4,500 and a Toyota Fortuner from Rs 9,000, each including a local driver for the day. Srinagar to Gulmarg […]

Quick Answer: The genuine Kashmir shopping list is short and specific: real Pashmina shawls, Kashmiri saffron, hand-knotted carpets, papier-mache items and walnut wood carving. The real risk is not finding these items, it is finding fakes sold as the real thing, so buying from a known shop rather than the first houseboat vendor who approaches […]

Quick Answer: Most good Kashmiri food in Srinagar is found in and around the Lal Chowk and Residency Road area for Wazwan-style restaurants, while Dal Gate and the boulevard near Dal Lake have a mix of Kashmiri and multi-cuisine options aimed at visitors. For genuinely local eating, ask about a specific dish rather than a […]