Amir Wani has rightly said in one of his poems, If there’s heaven on earth, it has to be in Kashmir! The picture-perfect landscape, enchanting valleys, snow clad mountains, lush green blooming gardens, gushing streams, Kashmir is a land of unimaginable beauty. Although there is always a civil unrest in the area due to conflict with nearby Pakistan but calm has been restored and travellers are allowed to explore the beauty of this heavenly land. But one has to be a bit careful and follow some of the useful advices while planning which will make travel plan easier, safe and memorable. It’s a definite come back destination!
1. Research properly about the place where you want to visit, the weather, temperature, hotel, cab, sightseeing spots, political condition - curfew, protest, etc. Plan an itinerary in advance. The main tourists’ destinations in Kashmir are Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar and Sonmarg.
2. Carry your ID proofs - Passport, OCI card, Visa, DL as well as other permits and documents like flight tickets, hotel reservation mail etc. Better keep extra xerox copies as you might be required to show at many places at the times of need due to military security.
3. Avoid going to remote locations, stay on the main area and don’t roam unnecessarily where you don’t have business to visit. If things go wrong at any point in Kashmir, stay inside hotel to remain safe. Don’t be dependent on Google maps.
4. Organise a post-paid connection before travelling to Kashmir. Better take BSNL or MTNL as the network connectivity is better.
5. Carry first aid kit and keep general medicines while travelling as the tendency to get sick at new place especially at mountains/peaks is relatively high for a new tourist.
6. Be careful with your alcohol limit as Kashmir being the Muslim prominent state doesn’t have any liquor stores. It is available at hotels only for in-house consumption.
7. Dress sophisticatedly and avoid revealing outfits to grab any unwanted attention. I know dressing is a personal choice but wearing short dresses may seem disrespectful to the conservative sentiments of locals.
8. Avoid planning any late-night trips. The shops & markets usually get shut down by 8 PM and it is not safe to travel in night.
9. Beware of pick pocketers and handle your cash & other documents carefully.
10. If you're flying out of Srinagar airport, do get there with plenty of time to spare (at least three hours before departure), as there are lengthy and multiple security checks.
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India is a vast country and a mystery to most. Those who live in it, those who now live outside of India or those who are just visiting. We, at NRIClub™, serve as a centralized hub of information for the residents, non-residents and travellers who are not familiar with various aspects of this great country.
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