Kashmir is called the heaven on the Earth and if you have always dreamed of visiting snow-clad mountains, this is your chance to make your dream come true. Now whether you plan your trip according to the below itinerary or just have a good read. We promise it’ll be one of a kind adventure. So grab a cup of coffee, get into a cozy blanket, because you are in for one chilly ride. This is a travel story to Kashmir.

Bhoomika Singh is an avid traveler who loves exploring and has multiple places on her checklist. Let’s dive deep into her wonderful 4 day trip to Srinagar and Gulmarg. 

Day 1: Srinagar

Embarking upon a much impromptu trip, Bhumika arrived with her family in Srinagar, Kashmir on 15th Jan 2021 by flight. They booked Hotel Asian park for INR 7000* a day, which had food included in the tariff, and later went to local shopping.

They hired a cab for the local commute, which cost them INR 2100* for each day. Later that day they went to Dal Jheel, opted for a Shikara ride, and visited Pari Mahal, Moghal Mahal.

Day 2: Gulmarg   

Their beautiful trip was planned by Travel My Kashmir, a travel agency and may I add, she stressed a lot on the fact that everything went so smoothly. From air tickets to hotel bookings, lodging, tour, and travel. For their second day, they went from Srinagar to Tangmarg through their cab and changed it to another cab for INR 2000* (round trip). Booking The Khaleel Palace Hotel for INR 7500* for 2 days, they headed out for adventure sports. Gulmarg having received fresh snowfall overnight presented a breathtaking view with a large number of Skiers and Cyclists for cycling (INR 200*/- per person). After having the time of their life, in fresh, whiter than white snow, they visited St. Mary Church. This was the end of their eventful day. 

Day 3: Gulmarg  

For their 3rd day, they booked the Gondola, which is a cable car that allows you to experience the magnificence of the landscape. They are essentially 2 phases, which is nothing but altitude difference. The prices for phase 1 are INR 1600*/- per person, whereas for Phase 2 are INR 2500*/- per person. Phase 1 also hosts several sports activities, which are highly recommended if you do visit the place. However, Bhumika and her family did Snow cycling (INR 2000*/- per person) and Motorbiking (INR 2500*/- per person). The evening of the same day they also went to a 5-star hotel, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa for evening snacks. Bhumika highly praises her time spent there. 

Day 4: Srinagar

For their last day, they stayed at the hotel, Rose Petal (INR 7000*/- per person). While keeping the day light, they went shopping in and around the local markets and went to Chai Jaai. A cafe with mesmerizing ambiance, colorful walls, authentic taste of Kashmiri beverage served in amazing hand-crafted crockery, makes it a must-visit place.

Later that day, they also went to The Zero Bridge, which is an old wooden arched bridge, which makes a scenic location to take those picture-perfect snapshots. 

Bhumika suggests planning your trip prior, especially if you are traveling on a budget. And make sure to book hotels in advance too, because the winter season is the peak season where most of the tourists visit Kashmir. So there are high chances that you may not find rooms, and even if you do the tariffs will be extremely high. Pick and choose your guides carefully along with where you shop, you don’t want to pay more than you need to.

Try and talk with the locals, take a good sniff of your surroundings, carry enough cash on you. Also, take note that only postpaid SIMs work there, so make sure you either port your SIM or buy a new one. You might also have an internet issue with the high altitudes, so travel mindfully. 

So this was Bhumika’s adventurous trip to Srinagar-Gulmarg. For more photos and videos check out their Instagram handle: @_.bhumika22

For more such unique and authentic stories stay tuned and follow us on our Instagram handle: @indiachalk