The Simple Travel
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Destinations
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Travel Insurance Guidelines
    • Visa Application Guidelines
  • Contact

Subscribe to our newsletter

Learn how to live a sustainable long-term travel lifestyle.

What's Hot

Top 27 Places to visit in & from Darjeeling|A travel guide to Darjeeling for the first-timer

September 4, 2021

How to Traveling to Shimla | Travel tips & Information

September 4, 2021

The ultimate Paris travel guidelines for first timers | Top attractions & things to do

September 4, 2021
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Simple Travel
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Destinations
    1. Asia
    2. Europe
    3. Travel Insurance Guidelines
    4. Visa Application Guidelines
    5. View All

    Experience the best of the Tagaytay Day Tour

    August 8, 2022

    The top 10 Malaysian restaurants in Manila for an appetizing menu

    August 5, 2022

    Sandakan Food: Top 16 Must-Try Restaurants in Sandakan

    August 3, 2022

    Top 15 fabulous halal restaurants in Manila for Muslims

    July 31, 2022

    The Top 22 Places to Visit in Italy in 2022

    July 8, 2022

    Top 15 Summer and Winter Activities & Things to do in Interlaken Switzerland

    May 24, 2022

    Top 9 Best Hotels in Interlaken reviews, Switzerland

    May 22, 2022

    What Can You Do In Lake Zurich, Switzerland?

    May 18, 2022

    How to become a SafetyWing Ambassador? – How Affiliate Marketing Works

    January 10, 2022

    What is the best long term travel Insurance?

    January 4, 2022

    Top 10 reasons why travel insurance is important

    December 17, 2021

    The Best Travel Insurance A beginners guide

    October 4, 2021

    Experience the best of the Tagaytay Day Tour

    August 8, 2022

    The top 10 Malaysian restaurants in Manila for an appetizing menu

    August 5, 2022

    Sandakan Food: Top 16 Must-Try Restaurants in Sandakan

    August 3, 2022

    Top 15 fabulous halal restaurants in Manila for Muslims

    July 31, 2022

    Experience the best of the Tagaytay Day Tour

    August 8, 2022

    The top 10 Malaysian restaurants in Manila for an appetizing menu

    August 5, 2022

    Sandakan Food: Top 16 Must-Try Restaurants in Sandakan

    August 3, 2022

    Top 15 fabulous halal restaurants in Manila for Muslims

    July 31, 2022
  • Contact
The Simple Travel
Feature Kashmir

How to Travel to Kashmir, Switzerland of India? Guidelines, Sites and Delicacies

September 22, 2021Updated:April 30, 2022No Comments
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp

Please enable JavaScript

Top of Switzerland - From the Air Cinematic Aerial Drone Footage (Tourism Video)

How to Travel to Kashmir, Switzerland of India? Kashmir, the land of pure beauty and nature, is one of the most desired tourist destinations in India. Kashmir is popularly called the Switzerland of India as it has some awesome sightseeing places that are worth a visit. The land of lakes, rivers, mountains and valleys is spread over an area of 140,000 sq. km and is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, pine forests and apple orchards. It’s a paradise on earth!

What is covered in this article?

  • PAP and details:
  • How to travel to Kashmir?
  • Places to Visit In Kashmir:
    • Srinagar
    • Sonmarg
    • Gulmarg
    • Pahalgam
  •  Temples & Mosques In Kashmir
    • Jamia Masjid:
    • Shahan-e-Hamadan Mosque:
    • Amarnath Temple:
    • Vaishno Devi:
  • Some delicacies of Kashmir:

PAP and details:

Some parts of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir fall under protected areas. Though the most popular attractions like Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Dal Lake, and Nubra Valley are open to all foreign tourists, some off-beat places that fall on the borders and protected areas require permission from the district magistrates to visit. According to the Indian Government’s restricted area permit regime, here’s what you need to know:

  1. The most popular tourist attractions in Kashmir don’t require any permits.
  2. Any foreign national can’t stay in the protected areas but can visit it with a local tour company associated with the authorities with a pre-drawn itinerary.
  3. The permits expire within 7 days for the respective areas.
  4. The areas and subdivisions requiring the permits are Khaltse, Nyoma, and Nubra Sub-divisions, turtuk valley area, chitkan and batalik area in Kargil, and some particular roads in Pangong.

Other articles you may read

Top 10 Best Places to Visit In India in December

Backpacking trips India: Top 7 destinations for backpackers in 2022

Is it safe to travel to India in 2022?

Indian Tourist Visa Opening Countries

10 best places to visit in Darjeeling West Bengal |A travel guide to India for the first-timer

How to travel to Kashmir?

How to Travel to Kashmir, Switzerland of India
Shikara boats / Lifestyle in Dal Lake. Local people use Shilara (a small boat) for transportation in Dal Lake. It is the most attractive destination for tourists visiting Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Image credit to Wikimedia commons

The best way to travel to Kashmir is to land at any major cities’ airports, preferably Delhi, and take a domestic flight to the Srinagar airport. Srinagar is well-connected to all the major cities of India and.

If you are flying from anywhere in Asia like Kuala Lumpur or Doha, you will find flights of Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Emirates etc. Before you travel to there you may need a travel insurance in advance. If you don’t know how to choose a travel insurance you can read our How to Buy The Best Travel Insurance: A beginners’ guide here

Places to Visit In Kashmir:

Kashmir has a long list of spectacular places s it attracts tourists multiple times in their like Dal lake, Shankaracharya Hill, Gulmarg Gondola, Sonmarg, Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, Nubra Valley, Aru Valley, Nishat Garden, Zojila Pass. However, it also beholds unpopular small places spread through Jammu and Kashmir. Most people start their journey from Srinagar.

Srinagar

Srinagar
Srinagar Kasmir, Image wikimedia commons

The jewel of the crown of Srinagar Dal lake is probably one of the most splendid wonders you will see in your life. With the picturesque view of the mountains, you will see the floating market in this high-altitude freshwater lake. The lake’s fresh water is sourced from the Jhelum river.

You can hire any shikhara or manual boat to roam around and in the floating market, and they generally cost around 550 INR per hour, but the accumulated cost will go down if you ride the shikara for a longer duration. You will see flowers, vegetables and jewellery and souvenir shops in the market to explore. If you want a unique stay experience, you can pre-book houseboats in dal lake for the whole stay or just one night. The costs are generally higher than regular hotels and starts from around 3000 INR per night.

Sightseeing in Srinagar:

  1. Dals Lake and early morning floating market
  2. Houseboats & Shikara ride
  3. Old Srinagar Masjids & Markets
  4. Local food tasting

Sonmarg

sonmarg
Sonmarg Kashmir

The next spectacular tourist spot of Kashmir is Sonmarg in the Ganderbal district, 80 km northeast of Srinagar. This beautiful valley through Zozilla pass is a must-stop on your way to Leh. This tourist spot is only open in the Spring after the snow is cleared and the roads are safe to travel. If you want to visit this picturesque valley, make plan your visit between March and early April.

Landmarks to visit in Sonamarg: Thajiwas park to visit beautiful scenery and glaciers, adventurous Srinagar to Sonamarg Road and the Sonamarg Market to experience the locality.

Gulmarg

How to Travel to Gulmarg, Kashmir
Gulmarg, Kashmir Image Wikimedia commons

Among the four wonders of Kashmir, the Gulmarg is one of the most amazeballs ones. Most renowned as a skiing destination Gulmarg is essentially a valley with thick snowfall during the winter, making it one of the most attractive skiing locations.

The cost of Gulmarg is higher than other places. The skiing places have two levels, and they all cost around ₹1200 for level 1 and ₹1900 for level 2. Gondola rides are another attraction of Gulmarg for those who want to be amazed by the views. In the Spring, the Gulmarg is a sight for sore eyes with beautiful meadows, green valleys.

Landmarks to visit in Gulmarg: Baba Rishi Temple and Rani temple with the scenic view on the way, the architectural structure of Imambara goom, and the St. Mary church are some beautiful landmarks in Gulmarg. If you are visiting Kashmir in winter or early Spring, you can also hit Draang to see beautiful ice structures.

Pahalgam

Pahalgam
Phalgam, Kashmir, Image Wikimedia commons

Pahalgam is one of the most diverse and rich locations and sightseeing places in Kashmir. Pahalgam in Anantnag district is approximately 90 km from Srinagar and is full of beautiful valleys, meadows, and adventurous trails. Pahalgam is on the way to another famous location, Amarnath temple, one of the most visited places by Hindus. 

Landmarks to visit in Pahalgam: Aru Valley and Betab Valley with beautiful streams of water and moments of quiet and peace to fill your mind. Sheshnag lake and Danyang valley for scenic beauty. Another two places that should be on your bucket list are and Lidder river. Staying at least one day in Pahalgam will give enough time to praise and love its beauty.

 Temples & Mosques In Kashmir

Jamia Masjid:

How to Travel Jamia Masjid Kashmir
Wikiemedia Image

Jamia Masjid is one of the most prime attractions and where the biggest ensemble for prayers take place. Built in 1400AD, Jamia Masjid is a must-visit place for seeing its Indo-Saracenic architecture. You will find a resemblance to pagodas as well as Persian influence in its turrets.

Jamia Masjid Entry Fee: Jamia Masjid is free to enter for everyone, but cameras are charged 2.72USD.

Tips: If you are a Muslim, you already know, but for the non-muslims, you have to dress modestly, cover your hands, feet and hair before entering the Masjid.

Shahan-e-Hamadan Mosque:

How to Travel to Kashmir, Switzerland of India

Situated in the old city of Srinagar Khanqah-e-moula or Shahan-e-Hamadan is the oldest mosque in Srinagar. It was built in 1314CE on the right bank of Jhelum to dedicate to the preacher Sayyid Ali Hamdani. You will see heavy British influence in its gothic structure and history stories bound to this place. While visiting, you will feel the love for Islam and the community in Kashmir and will get drenched in the beauty of the backdrop of mountains and rivers.

Entry fee: No entry fee

Restrictions: Religions other than Muslims are not allowed in the Masjid, and hence you may need permission if you want to enter.

Amarnath Temple:

Sadhu at Amarnath Cave
Sadhu at Amarnath Cave, Image Wikimedia commons

Amarnath caves are located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, a sacred and sought-after destination for Hindus. This is a Hindu shrine of Lord Shiva within a cave at an altitude of 5,486 km from sea level. The paved path of the cave leads to the frozen lingam of Lord Shiva. The road to Amarnath is one of the most beautifully adventurous treks through Pahalgam and the best time to visit the Amarnath is the summer months as the paths are clear and free of snow.

 For Amarnath yatra, you have to sign up for the registration as only 7500 deities are only allowed every day in the walking route exclusive of anyone under 13 or above the age of 75 and 6-week pregnant women. Amarnath yatra registration will cost you INR 100.

Vaishno Devi:

Vaishno Devi Temple Kashmir
Vaishno Devi Temple, Image Wikimedia commons

Vaishno Devi is one of the most enchanting and sought-after Hindu shrines that every deity wishes to visit once in a lifetime. It’s located in the Trikuta Mountains in Jammu & Kashmir. To reach the destination, you have to reach Katra. You can reach there either by any passenger train or by road while booking cars.

Katra is just 50 km outside Jammu and is the base camp for starting the journey to visit Vaishno Devi Ji. It’s a 12km climb to Vaishno Devi Bhawan Area. The alternate track that is now used for the pilgrimage is safe and provides stunning scenery from Indraprastha viewpoints and a unique experience for hike enthusiasts.

Some delicacies of Kashmir:

Some delicacies of Kashmir
Himalayan salts in Kashmiri

Spices: Kashmir is the land of few exotic and flavourful spices like mawal flower, Kashmiri saffron, Himalayan rock salt are probably the best souvenir you can purchase to take the scent of Kashmir back with you.

The exceptional food of Kashmir: To endeavour the culture of Kashmir, you must try few mandatory dishes while on the visit. Some prominent Kashmiri cuisine dishes are Mutton Rogan Josh, Gostava, Nadru Yakhni, Kashmiri Pulao, Yakhni Lamb Curry, Lyodur Tsachaman, Kashmiri Saag are a few of the local recommendations and are the exquisites that you can’t leave without tasting.

Kashmiri Kehva: This is something you will find probably everywhere in Kashmir in tea stalls. Kehva is essentially green tea brewed with spices such as saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and dried rose petals and is served with sliced almonds.

Shawls, fabrics and Jewels: Kashmiri Pashmina work on Shawls, blankets and this traditional handwork of Kashmir is a great gift and souvenir for any of your friends, family or yourself. Some of the other things that are traditional of Kashmir are its pieces of jewellery and silk which you can find in the Srinagar market.

How to travel to Kashmir: The District of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most spectacular places in India for tourists.  Jannat-e-Kashmir has a lot to offer and a lot to endeavour, and once you get immersed in its beauty and culture, you will never forget it. The list of visiting places are not restricted to the only ones mentioned here but more masjids in Srinagar city, beautiful rivers and viewpoints, treks and trails in different districts of Kashmir. But the mentioned ones are the ones you should never ever miss.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleFrankfurt in half-day-top attractions
Next Article Must see places in Milan Italy | Top 10 attractions and things to do

Related Posts

How to plan Manali to Spiti Valley road trip, Itineraries & travel options

February 24, 2022

The Ultimate Guide To The Best Places To Camping in Shimla

February 7, 2022

Top 27 Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in India

January 24, 2022

The Top 12 destinations for Backpacking trips India

December 31, 2021

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyright Disclaimer: Multiple articles on The Simple Travel website are guest posts written by various Approved Contributors and hosted by The Simple Travel. Approved Contributors retain ownership of their work and are free to post on our site. This includes any text or images they incorporate into their own work. All contributors are required to adhere to internationally recognised copyright and intellectual property standards. The Simple Travel takes its own responsibilities very seriously, so if you believe that any aspect of this work is abusive in any way, please contact us via email - admin@thesimpletravel.com - so that we can investigate.

Disclosure: Please keep in mind that some of the above links are affiliate links. As a result, when you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The price remains the same for you, and in some cases is even lower if we have negotiated a special deal for our readers. We use all of the companies listed here, which is why they're on this list, but we also need to keep The Simple Travel Blog running as smoothly as possible, which is exactly what you're doing if you buy or book something through an affiliate link! If you have any further questions about the companies we work with or any other companies you're considering, please email us, and we'll be happy to assist. For more information, please see our full disclaimer page.
You may also can read
Italy

The Top 22 Places to Visit in Italy in 2022

0

Whenever we think of visiting countries, Italy comes to our mind for its astounding locations.…

Top 15 Summer and Winter Activities & Things to do in Interlaken Switzerland

May 24, 2022

Top 9 Best Hotels in Interlaken reviews, Switzerland

May 22, 2022

What Can You Do In Lake Zurich, Switzerland?

May 18, 2022
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
About Us
About Us

We have named our blog “The Simple Travel” because we always travel to cost-effective destinations. Here, we tell people about the real-life experiences that we gain through travelling.

Read More


Contact Us

Trending now

Top 27 Places to visit in & from Darjeeling|A travel guide to Darjeeling for the first-timer

September 4, 2021

How to Traveling to Shimla | Travel tips & Information

September 4, 2021

The ultimate Paris travel guidelines for first timers | Top attractions & things to do

September 4, 2021
Search in the blog
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube
Term of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer

Copyrights © 2022 All Right Reserved by The Simple Travel.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.