JAMMU KASHMIR TOUR

An overview of Jammu Kashmir Tourism

Jammu and Kashmir has two very different halves joined by one road. The Jammu division, at the foot of the Trikuta and Pir Panjal ranges, is where the Vaishno Devi shrine above Katra draws the largest number of visitors in the union territory. The Kashmir valley, beyond the Jawahar tunnel at Banihal, is a broad basin at about 1,600 m with Srinagar and Dal Lake at its centre and the hill stations of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg on three sides. Ladakh, now a separate union territory, is reached from Srinagar over Zoji La and Kargil and is listed here because many of our guests combine the two.

From Delhi the whole region is a road trip. NH44 reaches Jammu in about 12 hours, Katra 45 minutes later, and Srinagar a further 8 to 9 hours on. We run chauffeur-driven cars, Innovas and tempo travellers from Delhi on these routes, with the same vehicle and driver for the full trip. The packages below differ in how far they go and how many nights they take; the road, the driver and the inclusions are the same on all of them.

Best time to visit Jammu Kashmir

Katra and Jammu are best from October to March, when the plains are cool and the trek is comfortable. The Kashmir valley is at its best from April to June for gardens and meadows, and again in September and October for clear skies and autumn colour. Gulmarg holds snow from December to March, when the upper gondola stage may close on bad days. Ladakh roads open from about May to September.

Circuits we run from Delhi

Maa Vaishno Devi yatra, 3 nights 4 days. Delhi to Katra and back with two nights at the base town for the 12 km climb to the Bhawan. The simplest of the four and the one most families do first.

Patnitop and Srinagar, 7 nights 8 days. A hill halt at Patnitop breaks the drive in, then Srinagar, Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam with a night in each hill station and the return through Jammu.

Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg, 6 nights 7 days. The valley circuit without the Patnitop detour, for groups that want the maximum number of nights in Kashmir itself.

Leh Ladakh, 11 nights 12 days. Delhi to Manali, over the passes to Leh, out to Nubra and Pangong, and back through Kargil and Srinagar. A high-altitude trip for the summer months only.

Route notes for Jammu and Kashmir trips from Delhi

• Delhi to Jammu about 580 km and 12 hours; Jammu to Srinagar about 270 km and 8 to 9 hours through the Jawahar tunnel; Srinagar to Leh about 420 km over two days.
• Vaishno Devi needs a free yatra registration slip from Katra; Nubra and Pangong in Ladakh need an Inner Line permit arranged at Leh.
• Included on every package: chauffeur-driven AC vehicle from Delhi, driver's charges, fuel, tolls, parking and state taxes.
• Not included: hotels and houseboats, meals, shikara, pony and gondola tickets, the helicopter to Sanjichhat, and local union taxis where they are compulsory.
• Mobile networks: prepaid SIMs from other states do not work in Jammu and Kashmir; carry a postpaid connection.
• Suits: pilgrims, families and small groups who prefer one vehicle for the whole trip rather than flights plus local taxis.