Srinagar

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Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

	srinagar Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 Sleep 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 11 Get out 12 External links

Understand

The city has become safer to travel since 2003, however the streets are still lined with armed soilders. Any building of value will also have a sandbag bunker and razor wire for protection. If arriving from the airport, you will also notice hundreds of large, Western style vacation homes. These were built prior to the rebelion when domestic travel to Kashmir was booming. Since the fighting, most of these homes are empty, being squatted or have been usurped for military use. Most people visit the city in the summer months. The temperature at this time is cool to pleasant. Light sweaters may be needed for occasional cool nights in the summertime. In winter, you will need full winter gear and expect snow and few places to have hot water.

Get in

Many people take the train to Jammu followed by a taxi or bus ride to Srinagar. Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV (fits up to 9 people, or 5 comfortably plus luggage) costs approximately Rs.1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day. To reduce costs many people choose not to take an exclusive taxi, and share the Sumo taxi with other travellers. This costs about Rs. 150-350 per person. For a comfortable trip, make sure you get a middle seat.

Flights are operated by Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Spice Jet and Air India from Delhi to Srinagar, or with a stopover at Jammu. The frequency is once or twice a day by each airline. The cost is approx Rs. 2,500 from Jammu and approx Rs. 2,500-5,000 from Delhi one way. The airport is still quite small and all flights originate in Dehli, pick up passengers and then return. It is also still heavily fortified and expect to see many soilders with guns. Winter flights can easily be canceled and leave you stranded. Tickets are easy to purchase in town, but the airport requires a ticket for entrance. A taxi into town should be Rs. 350 and direct to Gulmarg is 1,200-1,500.

Foreign travellers on visas are required to register upon arrival to the hotel or houseboat.

Get around

Auto-rickshaws can be found everywhere. Taxis and buses area also available. Motorcycles can also be rented for enthusiasts.

Negotiate a price with a rickshaw driver before getting in, or just act like you know and pay the driver upon arrival. Drivers usually don't speak English but there will always be a passer-by to help translate for you.

Sleep

Srinagar is popular for its houseboats, which are DO NOT float around the lake. It is a great and unique way to enjoy your stay in the city. Houseboats are accessible either by road,or by a short "Shikara" boat ride. Each houseboat usually has 2-5 bedrooms plus bath, dining room, living room, upper deck (good for sunbathing).

Many travelers tell stories of bad experiences while staying on a houseboat, others enjoy their stay greatly. To avoid bad experances do not prebook a houseboat before arriving. With the security situation, the majority are empty and you should be able to get a better price in person, and to get a better feeling of if you'll like the place and the owners. Boats with land access have the advantage of alowing you to leave if you feel uncomportable, or just like going for a walk, although they tend to be noiser.

There are houseboats on Dal Lake and Nagin Lake. Dal Lake houseboats are cheaper, but quality can be shabby, and their proximity to the center of the city makes the area noisier. Houseboats on Nagin lake upscale and more expensive but are much more beautiful, and the Nagin lake location is serene. Price on Nageen Lake per person in September 2005 was 500 rupees per night including 2 meals. Expect to pay up to 3,000 for a couple on the delux boats. Boats on the Jhelum river are cheaper yet, but still comfortable, and close to the bus station, good if you are just transiting Srinigar to or from Ladakh.

See

• Shalimar Bagh, the Moghul garden in front of the Dal lake built by Emperor Jahangir.

• The white mosque is also beautiful but be careful, women can enter only the first part of the mosque.

• Nishat Bagh.

Do

All the hotels organize excursions (1,2,4 days) to see the Himalayan mountains.

Buy

• Be careful, everybody try to sell you cashmere or pashmina shawls. Be aware that many times those tissues are fake and synthetic. You can buy nice leather products, or jewellery. The way to determine whether the shawl you are buying is of good quality, they will pull it through a ring - the wedding ring test. Secondly, the weave pattern on a good pashmina is more faint than on a "silk pashmina" or other wool pashmina. You do not need to "be careful" that people will try to sell you this, this is the local specialty, it is THE place to buy this product.

• You can also buy embroidered felt mats called Namdahs but the colours of the wools may be a bit too bright in most shops. The Government Emporia supplies might be better than the other private shops.

• There are also chainstitch rugs in two styles - English design or kilim design - it will be evident what is meant when you see them.

• carpets.

Eat

Be sure to try the authentically Kashmiri lamb dish Rogan Josh.

Drink

Kashmiri tea is black, sweet and made with cinnamon and cardamom. It is delicious.

Sleep

Pine Palace - Zero Bridge. Rs. 800/night/double. Has Generator. Interent, travel agent food with in walking distance.

Get out

External links

Official tourism website for Indian Kashmir 1 (http://www.jktourism.org/cities/kashmir/index-k.html)