Srinagar

Srinagar, with its glassy lake and colorful houseboats with its delightfully mild summer climate makes it India's top most tourist attraction. But visiting Srinagar without throughly checking the latest security situation is foolhardy.

Sights to see
Dal Lake
Parks and Gardens
ShalimarBagh
Nishat Bagh
Pari Mahal
Cheshmashahi Garden
Botanical Garden
Tulip Garden
Old City
Khanqah of Shah-i-Hamadan
Jama Masjid
Pir Dastgir Sahib
Rozabal
Naqshband Sahib
Hari Parbat
Sri Pratap Singh Museum
Shankaracharya Hill
Hazratbal
Around Srinagar
Sonamarg
Pahalgam
Gulmarg - India's famous ski-center
Srinagar to Kargil is a truely beautiful 200km drive takes you from Kashmir's very alpine valleys over the remarkable double loops of the 3529m zoji La.

What you can do
golf
Organised Tours

Where you can stay
Houseboats - Houseboat Owners Association Ph:0194/2450326
Or you can always stay in a hotel
Humza Hotel Ph:0194/2500857; www.incrediblekashmir.net
Hotel Akbar Ph:0194/2500507; hotelakbar.com
Residency Hotel Ph:0194/22473702; ww.hotelresidencykashmir.com
Lalit Grand Palace Ph:0194/2501001; www.thelalit.com
Where you can eat
Punjabi Rasoi (veg) Boulevard
Mughal Durbar (veg) Residency Rd
Lhasa Restaurent (veg & non-veg) Boulevard Lane 2
Coffee Arabica (coffee and cupcakes) MA Rd

Getting there and back
Airlines
Indian airlines Ph:0194/2450247; Shahenshah Palace Hotel
Jet Airways Ph:0194/2480801; Court rd
Jetlite Ph:0194/2106750; www.jetlite.com
Kingfisher www.flykingfisher.com
SpiceJet www.spicejet.com
 

Suru Valley

The main road tto Zanskar winds prettily threough the fertile valley of Suru Valley, where many rustic stone built villages sit beneath a panorama of high valley walls and mountains that reach a thrilling climax with amazing views of Nun and Kun. Perhaps the best panorama is approaching Panikhar. A steep but satisfying day trek crosses from the Panikhar bypass road over the 3900m Lago La then descends to Parkachik, from where a bus returns to Kargil at 7 am. Just beyond the Parkachik a large dust blackened glacier crumbles into the Suru River as the road starts to wind up to the splendid Pensi La.

Where you can stay
J&K Bunglows

Getting there and away
Busses from Kargil to Panikar and busses from Parkachik towards Zanskar can deliver you to this place.
 

Mulbekh

Across the gently terraced Wakha Valley, the Zanskar Mountains rise with majesty in a series of angular cliffs and craggs. Gazing the scenic valley from the top of Mulbekh's medieval castle site of which only the two mudbricked towers remain which house two buddhist Gompas.

To see
Serdung Gompa
Gandentse Gompa
Chamba Gompa
Shargol Gompa

where you can stay
Karzoo Guesthouse Ph:01985/270027
Otosnang Guesthouse Ph:01985/270028
Maitreya Guesthouse Ph:01985/270035
 

Visiting Jammu - City of Temples

Founded in 1730, Jammu and Kashmir's winter capital is still the major halt  for piligrims enroute to Vaishno Devi temple. It was the seat of power of the Dogra Rajas. Jammu lies on the bank of river Tawi. On the northern bank, climbling steadily from the bus station through narrow bazaar lanes to the Mubarak Mandi. While the train station the airport are on the southern bank.

Sights to see
NOTE: Bags, cameras, mobile phones and even pens might need to be deposited with security guards before visiting any of the main sites.

On the Northern Bank of Tawi
Raghunath Mandi
Ranbireshwar Mandir
Gupawala Mandir
Mubarak Mandi
Amar Mahal Palace

On the Southern Bank of Tawi
Bahu Fort
Aquarium
Har-ki-Paori Mandir
Mahamaya Mandir

Across Jammu Srinagar Route
Vaishno Devi shrine on a multishrouded  mountain of Tikri
Waterfalls of Udhampur
Kud and Panitop woods
Paragliding in Sanasar
Baglihar Dam
Jawaharlal Tunnel
The Titanic Viewpoint across the Kashmir Valley
Qazigund
Awantipora
Pampore

Where you can stay
Vaishnavi Dham Ph:0191/2473275; www.maavaishnodevi.org
Fortune Hotel Ph:0191/2561415; www.fortunehotels.in
Hari Niwas Palace Hotel Ph:0191/2543303; www.hariniwaspalace.com
Where you can eat
Jewels's Fastfood (veg & non-veg burgers, dosas, thalis)
Falak (Indian food) KC Residency Hotel, Residency Rd.
Cafe Coffe Day (veg & non-veg)

Getting there and Back
Airlines :
Indian Airlines Ph:0191/2456086 - J&K Tourism Complex
www.goair.in;
Jet Airways Ph:0191/2574312 - KC Residency Hotel
SpiceJet www.spicejet.com
Trains are available from Delhi, Amritsar, Indore, Agra, Kolkatta, Varanasi.
Buses are available from major cities as well.

Jammu and Kashmir - Paradise Lost

This land has been called a paradise on earth by many who travelled here. The serene landscapes, the snow capped mountains, the fertile valleies blooming in the youth of spring, truely make us feel that Gods too came down to roam these lands. The people here are humble and modest and quiet friendly. But there has been trouble in paradise for many years. The dispute of border with the neighbouring country has caused quiet an unrest in these areas and scarred the beauty of this land. Jammu and Kashmir is suffering under territorial disputes since the independence of India and three major wars have been fought while countless minor disputes erupted since then.

The known history of Jammu and Kashmir dates back to the post Ice age that is when they say the 140 km valley of Kashmir which was a lake back then was drained by an earthquake. In 3rd Century BC Emperor Ashoka transformed this Hindu kingdom to a major Buddist learning Center. Islam arrived into this region in the 13th and 14th century AD. 

The population of southern Kashmir is mainly Hindu and Sikh and its are visited by floods of piligrims. Zanskar is famed for its splendid isolation, the greatest attraction of this majestically mountain-hemmed, rugged Ladakhi-Buddhist valley is the week-long trek in or out. Indeed, when snow blocks Zanskar's one precarious road from Kargil, the only access is on foot along the frozen Zanskar River. Be prepared for cold nights even in summer.

The population of southern Kashmir is mainly Hindu and Sikh and its are visited by floods of piligrims.

FactsPopulation 10.1 million
Area 222,236 sq km
Capitals Srinagar(Summer), Jammu (Winter), Leh (Ladakh)
Main Languages Kashmiri, Urdu, Ladakhi, Hindi, Purig, Balti, Dogri, Punjabi and Pahari.

When to visit May to October(Srinagar), July to early September(Ladakh), December to March (skiing at Gulmarg)

NOTE: Before arriving read a wide range of sources to get a feel of the Situation. The problem is situations could esculate within hours with the intercommunal tempers ever raw, so caution must be maintained. Beware travel insurance policies might be voided if your home governament has issued specific advice against travel here.

 - Murmur meditative mantras in the mural decked gompas of the Indus valley

 - Ladakh's capital Leh is an escape from the daily humdrum of urban life. A peaceful and tranquil place to be.

 - Experience the stark magnificence of Ladakh or Zanskar on an unforgettable high-altitude trek.

 - The relaxed stay in the boat house over the silver sheeted Dal Lake in Kashmir.

 - Gasp at the unbelivebly beautiful valleies of Pangong Tso and the splendid Nubra Valley.


Festivals exclusive to Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu Festival (April, Jammu) three days of eating, drinking and dancing
Sri Amarnath Ji Yatra (Jul-Sep; Amarnath)  Especially in the eve of new moon when thousands of devotees come to venerate the Lord
Vaishno Devi Yatra (early OCt;) Hindu piligrim numbers swarming towards Vaishno Devi reach a climax in early October.

Festivals exclusive to Ladhak & Zanskar

Losar (Dec) Ladhaki New Year, celebrated in Buddhist homes  and gompas with feasts, rituals and dances.

Gu-Stor Rituals and masked dances celebrating the victory of good over evil are celebrated in gompas, including those at the following:

• Spituk
• Karsha
• Korzok
• Thiksey

Dosmoche (wide spread from feb to march) Buddist New year, masked dances, effigies representing the old year are burnt and cast into the desert.
Guru Tse-Chu (feb - mar) Masked dances and predictions of the future by oracles.
Matho Nagrang (Matho) Celebrated by monastry oracles performing blindfolded acrobatics and ritual mutilations.
Yuru Kabgyat (Lamayuru) Monastic masked dances.
Tse- Chu (Hemis) Birthday of the Padmasambhava celebrated for three days. Includes masked dances and the unfurling of Hemis famous three - storey, pearl encrusted painting on cloth called the Thangka.
Phyang Tsedup (jul-aug; Phyang Gompa) Ritual masked chaam dances celebrate the victory of good over evil and of Buddism over preexisting religions. Phyang's gaint thangka is unfurled every third year.
Ladakh Festival (1-15 sep) Unrepentingly touristy but entertaining cycle of events starting with a colourful, carnivalesque parade through Leh, then a repeating program of buddhist dances, polo, archery and music.
Chemrey Thekchhok Festival (nov; Chemrey Thekchhok Gompa) Masked dances and mystic rituals.

Trekking in Zanskar
Trekking is the area's top recreational activity. The area is filled with splendid scenery with its tiny hamlets surrounded by nature. Tents and essential provisions must be carried with you.
Summer Routes- Zanskar to Darcha
- Zanskar to Lamayuru
Winter Route- Chadar Trek