Delhi to Kashmir Travel Guide | Air vs Road vs Railway | Price | Schedule | Time

 Delhi to Kashmir travel guide

                              “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.”

These are the lines spoken by the Mughal emperor Jehangir when he first laid eyes upon the beautiful landscape and natural tranquility of Kashmir, meaning If there is ever a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here. It has been most spoken, sought after, most beautiful, serene and attractive yet very controversial tourist spot. Thankfully, the things are getting better in the valley of lakes and houseboats after a disturbing era of insurgency of 20 years. Kashmir is home to some of the highest and most beautiful parts of the Himalayas. It is necessary to dispel a doubt here that the entire Kashmir is not violent or affected by the insurgency. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is comprised of three major parts; the largely Hindu Jammu, a Buddhist dominated Ladakh and the Muslim majority Kashmir valley. 

• Laddakh is almost unaffected by the violent disturbances of Kashmir valley.
• Jammu is comparatively safer and Kashmir valley is getting better day by day; so you can travel to any part of the state including the Kashmir valley without any worries, if the security situation is normal over there.

The most beautiful city in the entire Kashmir valley is Srinagar. The scenic views of the valley vary according to the location you are at. The mountain peaks look heavenly from a distance, the sunlight and the clouds appear to be out of this world and deep blue sky makes us feel at peace and rejuvenated. Srinagar is also called the city of lakes. It is famous for enchanting Dal Lake, HazratBal shrine (Dargah) and the Mughal Gardens referred to as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh. Pahelgam is another beautiful valley with a wildlife sanctuary, ropeways and wonderful tracking routes. Gulmarg is known for its exemplary scenic beauty, ski resorts and the highest golf course in the world. 

How to reach Jammu and Kashmir from Delhi?

Kashmir is located at a distance of 860 km from New Delhi. Renowned for its natural beauty, Kashmir is well-connected to New Delhi by airways, roadways and railways. However, the best way to reach Kashmir from New Delhi is by a direct flight that takes around 2 hours. National Highway 1A is the national highway connecting various cities of Jammu to each other and to the rest of India. One can also take JKSRTC (Jammu Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation) buses to travel within the state and the nearby states. Hire a cab or drive down to Kashmir from New Delhi, which takes 14 hours. The areas covered during the journey include New Delhi-> Panipat -> Patiala -> Hoshiarpur-> Pathankot -> Udhampur-> Srinagar. Approximate cost of cab per kilometer ranges from INR15 to INR90, depending upon the show type of car. Ideal for group travelers.

The flight frequency from Delhi to Jammu is in plenty and from there you can board any state run bus or travel agency for further rendezvous with the tourist spots.

Flights from Delhi to Srinagar:

Roadways

the roadways is the most extensive mode of communication in this area. There are lots of buses ready to commute passengers from Delhi to Jammu. There after there are private vehicles ready to convey you to different parts of Kashmir.

Railways

Take a direct train from New Delhi to Jammu Tawi, which takes 12 hours. Jammu Tawi railway station is located at a distance of 297 km from Srinagar that can be travelled by cabs, buses and flights. Not recommended as there are no direct trains from New Delhi to Kashmir.