Kashmir
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Rekindle your love for pristine India’s paradise valley, Jammu and Kashmir. Moniker as Paradise on Earth, Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its deep and spellbinding valleys, snow-capped mountains, timeless beauty of its gardens, plentiful wildlife, hospitable locals and a rich craft culture.
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Destination
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Included
Airplane TransportBreakfastDeparture Taxes -
Not Included
5 Star AccommodationPersonal Guide
1
Day 1:Arrive into Srinagar
- Arrive into Srinagar Airport / Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (SXR), Srinagar.
- You will be met by our associate chauffeur at the arrival hall and escorted to your Hotel / Houseboat.
- Check-in to Hotel or Houseboat.
- Evening enjoy a relaxing two-hour Shikara ride along the pristine Dal Lake to watch the spectacular sunset with the reflections in the Dal Lake – “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”.
- Dal Lake, the largest lake, spread across 18 square kilometers and has a shoreline of about 15.5 kilometers encompassed by a boulevard lined with parks, houseboats, and hotels. The interiors of Dal Lake possess floating gardens, locally known as Rad. Glide through the narrow canals of Dal Lake, witness living of the villagers in Dal Lake and lakeside craft shops. You will also come across even floating cafes on Dal Lake. Do not miss a chance to taste hot Kahwa, a traditional green tea (Kahwa is an exotic mix of Kashmiri green tea leaves, whole spices, nuts, and saffron, which was traditionally prepared in a brass kettle known as samovar). Very often peddlers will come to your shikara to sell their goods like shawls, jewellery, Ice Cream, etc.
- Return and stay Overnight in Houseboat / Hotel.
2
Day 2:Srinagar to Gulmarg
- Have breakfast at Hotel / Houseboat.
- Check out Hotel / Houseboat.
- Meet our chauffeur and proceed to Gulmarg located 60kms north of Srinagar at an average altitude of 2650m.
- Gulmarg, the meadow of flowers, is one of Asia’s premier hill resorts famous for its legendary beauty, exquisite valleys, gorgeous streams, fascinating slopes for every sort of skiing and hiking. Gulmarg is also home to one of the highest golf courses in the world.
- The skiing season in Gulmarg usually commences just before Christmas (mid-December) and continues till early April.
- Enroute you get to see the beautiful Tangmarg town and drive ahead on a scenic drive of 14 kilometers to Gulmarg.
- The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there. The roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages.
- Depending on the season, nature’s colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes.
- After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides.
- Arrive into Gulmarg early in the afternoon and check-in at the hotel.
- After lunch, proceed to experience “Gulmarg Gondola” ropeway. The ropeway stretching 2.5 km connects the bowl-shaped Kongdoori valley with Afarwat. It is the world’s highest cable car using gondolas and the only one in the world that takes skiers and tourists to a height of 4,390 m.
- Descend back to Gulmarg after an hour’s experience of Gondola ride.
- Before heading back to the hotel and If interested, indulge in a Pony ride.
- Return and Stay overnight at Hotel.
3
Day 3 :Gulmarg to Pahalgam
- Have breakfast at Hotel.
- Check out Hotel.
- Meet our chauffeur and proceed to Pahalgam – “The Valley of Shepherds” via Pampore where thousands of hectares of land are used for saffron cultivation, Avantipura and the village of Bijbehara.
- Pahalgam is in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 m). Distinguished by its lush green meadows, the village is flanked by dense pine forests and giant, snow-flecked crags.
- Pahalgam is associated with the annual Amarnath Yatra. Chandanwari, located 16 kilometers from Pahalgam is famous for its snow bridge and is the base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra that takes place every year in the months of July-August (month of Sawan).
- Arrive into Pahalgam by late afternoon and check-in at the hotel.
- Rest of the day is free for own activities.
- Stay overnight at Hotel.
4
Day 4:Pahalgam
- Have breakfast at Hotel.
- You have an option to visit either to Chandanwari or Aru Valley.
- Chandanwari is connected by road however, to go up to the caves you need to either walk or take a pony ride or a Palanquin ride.
- Chandanwari has been the location of several movie scenes.“Betaab Valley” (Hajan Valley) is the place where famous scenes are shot for the movie Betaab.
- At Chandanwari, the Sheeshnag River is captivating with its sheer force and clear waters. You can get an opportunity to do sledge riding and get up to some heights, up to the fifth point, which is also a route that yatris take to reach the Amarnath Cave.
- Carry something for rain and cold weather as the weather can be very unpredictable at the place.
- During the summers from mid-April to mid-June is a good time to visit the place.
- Aru Valley is located 15 km away from Pahalgam in Deep Peerpanjal ranges at an altitude of 7,900 feet. The valley is the meeting point between two branches of Lidder River coming from north and west of the valley. The location of the village among the snow-capped peaks and grasslands make Aru Valley a tourist delight.
- Aru valley is reachable by walking along a mountainous path. You have an option to take a pony ride. However, we recommend that you explore the valley on foot to get a full sense of its serene environment and scenic beauty. There are about 20 alpine lakes, peaks, and meadows around the Aru Valley.
- The Aru Valley village also serves as the starting point for trekking to Kolahoi glacier. The Kolahoi is the largest glacier in the Kashmir Valley and is located near Mt. Kolahoi (5425m), the highest peak in the Valley.
- Return and Overnight stay in Pahalgam.
5
Day 5: Pahalgam - Srinagar
- Have breakfast at Hotel.
- Check out Hotel.
- Meet our chauffeur and drive to Srinagar.
- Arrive into Srinagar. Check in to Hotel.
- Later, proceed for sightseeing of picture-postcard Mughal Gardens on the bank of Dal Lake with the Zabarwan Mountain in the backdrop. (Tulip Gardens will be included during April & May)
- Drive 11kms to visit Nishat Bagh (Garden of Joy) a terraced Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake. Nishat Bagh garden is the second largest Mughal garden in Kashmir valley. Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan, builds the bagh in 1633AD. Rising from the edge of the Dal Lake, it has twelve 12 terraces representing twelve Zodiacal signs. Out of all the terraces, the second terrace is considered the most impressive in view of the twenty-three niches provided in the arched recess just behind the cascade.
- Drive 15kms to visit Shalimar Bagh (Abode of love) Mughal garden linked through a channel to the northeast of Dal Lake. Mughal Emperor Jahangir built the Bagh for his wife Noor Jahan, in 1619. The garden is beautiful during the autumn and spring seasons due to the colour change in leaves of the famed Chinar trees.
- Return to Hotel en route if interested, visit a Carpet weaving factory.
- Stay overnight at Hotel.
6
Day 6: Srinagar - Departure
- Have breakfast at Hotel.
- Check out from Hotel.
- Meet our Chauffeur and drive to Srinagar Airport (SXR) for your homebound flight.
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