Sharad Kulkarni talks about his 5-day family trip to Kashmir and elaborates on how it was an amazing experience for all. He booked his package from TravelTriangle for INR 28,000 and it included his sightseeing, transfers, cab, and the hotels. His once in a lifetime experience to the heavenly state is worth reading.
Being a marketing guy, I travel frequently, but since most of it is for business, I look forward to personal trips with my family. Kashmir was on my mind since a long time and when I realised that I could put my Diwali break to good use, I was more than happy to visit the hills and spend some quality time with my loved ones.
I started looking for the perfect package and after ciphering through various travel websites and portals, I finally selected TravelTriangle. They offered me the best itinerary and quote. And so, after completing all the initial formalities, I was all set to go. Me, my wife, and our two children.
Kashmir Tour Packages On TravelTriangle
Visit Kashmir and experience skiing in Gulmarg, trekking through the breathtaking mountains lakes, trout fishing in Sonmarg and a romantic stay in houseboats in Jhelum River. Book packages inclusive of airport transfers, cab, resort, sightseeing, and meals.
Day 1: Jammu to Srinagar – The scenic car journey
We arrived early morning in Jammu and were subsequently taken to our hotel for freshening up. At around 10:30 AM, we left for Srinagar in a cab which was a part of the package. The scenery on the way to Srinagar was beautiful and the driver gave us detailed information about everything we saw on the way.
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We reached the Triden Kashmir Resort in Srinagar at around 9:30 – 9:45 PM and had dinner there. The head chef at the hotel was very warm and hospitable, and he proved to be a good friend throughout the trip.
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Day 2: Srinagar to Gulmarg – Snow fest
Gulmarg was around 1.5 hours away from our hotel and we left in the morning so as to reach there on time. It was heavenly to look at on the first sight, and believe me when I say it, my children nearly went crazy with joy when they saw the snow there. They seemed to be enjoying so much that everyone out there couldn’t help but smile at their sweet innocence.
We did the Gondola via the cable car and the view there was breathtaking. We enjoyed skiing and later also took a ride on the horses. It was an amazing experience in Gulmarg since I had never seen my kids enjoy anything so much.
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Since the main chef at the hotel was a friend now, he personally made Qawa for my daughter who had caught cold.
I also advised him on how to improve his already good food and hospitality. It was a good discussion and I am glad that they took my feedback seriously and in good spirit.
Day 3: Srinagar to Sonmarg – Of snowcapped peaks and breathtaking views
The next day again was an early departure for Sonmarg and this place was even more beautiful than the one I had seen before. The snowcapped mountains visible from this place were so beautiful that I cannot describe them in words. We were also taken to the highest point possible and it was there that I witnessed the true majesty of the Himalayas. Sonmarg was surely more scenic and beautiful than Gulmarg.
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Day 4: Srinagar to Pahalgam – Experiencing Betaab Valley
We left for Pahalgam in the morning but this time, on our way we also stopped by the apple meadows. This place was so serene and beautiful that I was mesmerized by it. I befriended the owner who incidentally was also from Bombay and he promised me to stay in touch. Those apples from the meadows were the best we had ever had!
We reached Pahalgam at around 2:30 PM and visited a famous valley called Betaab Valley. By the time we were to visit our second spot, it had already started raining and we decided to return. Our overnight halt was booked at Hotel Bombay Palace and it proved to be a pleasant stay.
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Day 5: Pahalgam to Srinagar – In the heart of Srinagar
The next day was scheduled for sightseeing in Srinagar, and on our way to the destination, we visited many gardens and tourist attractions, Shalimar Garden being one of them. We also got ourselves clicked in traditional Kashmiri dresses. It was a nice experience and later in the evening we set off for the houseboat stay.
We reached our designated houseboat between 6-7 in the evening but decided to stay in another one since there had been a small accident in ours a day before. I handled the situation and in the end, the new house boat turned out to be better than the one that was assigned to us. The time spent in the houseboat was fun and there was a Bengali family staying near us who turned out to be great companions.
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Day 6: An amazing farewell
We went for the Shikara ride in the morning and it was a fascinating experience to skim along slowly in the cool waters of Dal Lake and Nagin Lake.
Later after checking out of the hotel, we were taken to the airport and thus our journey ended.
High Points –
- Kashmir in totality is heavenly.
- Skiing, sledging, and the snow.
- The hotel Triden Kashmir Resort is very hospitable and comfortable.
- Gondola was awesome.
Low Points –
- No network in Jammu.
- The car driver wasn’t very flexible when it came to dropping us for some urgent work.
- TravelTriangle should be more responsive when it comes to the handover of vouchers to the customers.
Tips to future travelers –
- Your phone number might now work in Jammu, purchase a local calling card from there.
- Beware of the touts near tourist attractions since they can overcharge extensively, spend wisely and bargain.
Experience nature like never before! The beauty of Kashmir cannot be described in words. Visit and see it for yourself. Get the best holiday deals for Kashmir here.
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