Kashmir and Jammu: What are your visit recommendations?

Hi everyone,

I’ll be landing in Srinagar on October 23rd. I’ve decided to visit this region of India that I haven’t explored yet to discover new landscapes and, especially, their crafts. I don’t have anything planned so far. I’ll be staying for about two weeks before heading back to Pushkar. I’d love any tips you can share—small towns or villages to visit, ideas for affordable and authentic accommodations, workshops to check out, and so on. I’m open to all your suggestions! I might head toward Jammu, where a host has offered to put me up for a few days. Thanks in advance, and take care!

Good evening, I assume you've heard about the houseboats on Dal Lake? Back when I passed through Srinagar (I think it was 1991) after arriving from Kargil and trekking across Zanskar on foot, the region was tense (Indo-Pakistani conflict) and there weren’t many travelers in the city. We stayed on those houseboats for next to nothing, half-board included. I won’t give you more details since I haven’t been back, but it remains a wonderful memory for me. If you get the chance, don’t miss this experience.

Thanks Djamal Yeah, I saw on Booking that there’s the option for houseboats. I’ll check it out more closely when I’m there

You know it won’t be very warm in Srinagar in November. It’s at 1,600 m or higher, I think. Usually it’s sunny at this time of year 😄

Hi Julie,

I visited Jammu and Kashmir back in 2009.

I first arrived in Jammu by train from Amritsar—a pretty nice city, but it didn’t seem essential to me either. It’s probably changed a lot since then.

Not far away, there’s the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Katra, one of the most sacred for Hindus. I didn’t go there.

I then took a flight from Jammu to Srinagar because it was the easiest way at the time, but I haven’t kept up with the new roads and train lines between the two cities. Maybe they’re finished now.

In Srinagar, you can stay on a houseboat on Dal Lake. It’s really beautiful, but it does mean taking a shikara (boat) every time you want to go somewhere, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—just something to keep in mind. Merchants in shikaras also pass by each houseboat to sell food, jewelry, and more.

It’s a must to visit the old city, but also to explore the surrounding mountains and forests like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, or Aru, where you can hike or go horseback riding. I visited the last two and especially loved the horse rides in Sonamarg and, even more, in the small village of Aru, where semi-nomadic Gujjar people live.

It’s a great memory, but I also remember that Kashmiris are real businesspeople and charge sky-high prices—you’ve got to negotiate hard! Kashmiri woodwork and papier-mâché crafts are stunning, and you can bring back small souvenirs or larger pieces. Kashmir is also famous for its beautiful carpets. And I can’t forget the walnut pastries—I could make the trip again just for those!

Good evening and thanks for the info... Aru seems to match what I'm looking for, so I'll check it out! Apparently, there's now a train between Srinagar and Jammu, and it takes about 2.5–3 hours, from what I've been told. I'll go with that option, which will let me see the scenery.

I loved Aru—it’s stunning and so typical of the Kashmiri countryside. The landscape is very alpine and peaceful. The Gujjars sell yak butter there, which is highly prized in Srinagar. I have a few photos of Aru but don’t have access to them right now. I’ll send them in two days.

Okay for the photos 🙂