Kashimr Valley Tour Package @Rs.11,600 Per Pax Min For 4 Pax       

By Surabhi Shantanau ( Kashmir Expert and World Traveller)                

Brief description Karismatic Kashmir Package

The valley, so beautiful, place so divine as if God as architecture has handpicked his most angelic creations and planted in the valley of Kashmir. The Colossious Mountains, the mish-mash of Dal lakes, its floating Garden and pure mountains air will make will sooth your body and distress your mind from the businesses of life. The valley invites you to its calendar picture beauty and is waiting for you to bless you with state of well being and divinity.Karismatic Kashmir is the 5nights/6days package created by www.holidaytravel.co is a journey embellished with the charismatic marvels of Kashmir.

Overview of the Karismatic Kashmir Package.

Srinagar, the capital town of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is a charismatic valley encircled by the divine Himalayas. It is situated  at the altitude of 1585m at 34°5' N and 74°47’E.It can be reached by road thru National highway NH 1A via Chandigarh. The town of Srinagar is well connected to Leh and Jammu by the direct flight to Srinagar Airport (IATA:SXR) and Roadways. Srinagar is connected to rest of Indian cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Ahmadabad by stop over flights via New Delhi (876km).

Influenced by Buddhism and ruled by Mughals and Sikhs, the Soul of Srinagar is the interfusion of their beliefs and their tradition. Find the influence of Mughals and their aesthetics’ sense of Architecture in Mughal Gardens created by them. Be it the Shalimar Bagh or Nishant Bagh, it’s the paradise on earth. Traverse thru the calm waters of Dal Lake in Shikara boats and eye soak yourself to its pastoral surroundings. Get mystified by the floating boat market on Dal Lake.

The Karismatic Kashmir is well planned journey to the towns of Himalayas. Let the chapters of journey unfold in front of you and take you to the mystical towns of Srinagar,Pehalgam,Sonemarg and Gulmerg. Experience the Skiing and Cable Car in Gulmerg, visit the Thejwas Pass or go for a trek in pony in Sonemarg. We at www.holidaytravel .co ensure you a comfortable stay, comfortable transfers with unparallel hospitality in Karismatic Kashmir Package

Accommodation and Meal Plans

Accommodation in houseboat in Srinagar for 4 nights and 1 night stay in standard deluxe room of hotel in Pehalgam .The package comes with MAP plan and includes Breakfast and Dinner. While in Srinagar guests are also served Bed Tea in houseboats.

Itinerary of  Karismatic Kashmir

Day1: Arrival at Srinagar and check in at the House Boat

Guests are received at the Airport/Bus stand and are taken to the House Boat(Hotel on Boat) for Check-in. The houseboats are the hotel on the boat with all amenities of the hotel. Experience the nostalgia of living in the boat house right at the lake. Sip a coffee on the sundeck and watch the picture postcard scenery of the lake. Srinagar is the town where people retire from their business early. So before dinner visit Lal Chowk for the souvenir shopping. Have a traditional authentic dinner in the common dining hall of the house boat itself.

Day2: Visit to the Gardens created by the Mughals and Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Start your day with early morning tea at the sundeck of your boat house followed by the breakfast at the boat house. The tour stars with the visit to 17^th century Mughal gardens. Pride of Srinagar and venue for the many song sequences of Bollywood Hindi movies, Nishant garden,Chasme-e-Shahi and  Shalimar Bagh have been the inspiration for poets, lovers and writers. Reserve your evening for a Sail on the placid water of Dal Lake in traditional Shikaras.

Day3: Full day Excursion of Gulmerg

After breakfast at hotel guests are taken to the snow covered town of Gulmerg .A heaven for Skiing enthuastic, it serves as the sought after destination for the regular visitors who come every year for this sporty activity. Take a cable car ride and sooth your eyes with the panoramic view of the Himalayas and its small town Gulmerg.Return to Srinagar after the excursion and have a dinner at houseboat.

Day4: Full Day Excursion to Sonemarg

After the morning breakfast at the at house boat hotel the guest are taken to full day excursion of the Sonmarg(80km from Srinagar).Situated at the altitude of 2740 meters it’s a God’s Arcadia of green grass land and  tranquil lakes .The whitewash glaciers serves as the perfect adventure treks for the sporty few. The guests are taken to places like Baltal and Krishnasagar Lake in Sonemarg.

Day5: Depart from Srinagar and check in at the hotel at Pehalgam

After having the breakfast at the hotel, guests are taken to the Pehalgam .Pehalgam is about 98km from Srinagar with travel time of three hours. Check in to the hotel at Pehalgam. Later visit the Ovira wildlife century or a temple of Matrand(Sun God)

Day6: Departure from Pehalgam to Srinagar Airport

Have a breakfast at the hotel. After check-out from the hotel guests are dropped to Srinagar Airport/Bus station as per their requirement.

Inclusions in the Karismatic Kashmir tour Package

1. Four nights’ accommodation at the deluxe house boat in Srinagar and one night accommodation at deluxe room in hotel at Pehalgam.

2.Complimentary traditional non-alcoholic welcome drink on arrival.

1. Breakfast and dinner at the house boat in Srinagar/hotel at Pehalgam.
2. Full day sightseeing tour of Srinagar with visit to Mughal Garden like Nishant garden,Chasme –e-Shahi and Shalimar Bag by Non-AC car
3. 45 minutes Shikara ride in Dal Lake.
4. Full day sightseeing tour of Pehalgam covering Tulian lake,Sheshnag Lake  Ovira wildlife century or ruins or Mattan and Martand as per guests choice.
5. Full Day sightseeing tour of Gulmarg.
6. Full day Excursion to Sonemarg covering Baltal and Krisnsagar Lake.
7. The tour also covers Ovira wildlife century in Pehalgam
8. Two way return airport/bus transfers from the Srinagar.

Exclusions of Karismatic Kashmir Package

1. Any Airfare/Railway fare/Bus that guests incur before arrival at Srinagar
2. Laundry services, room services and any other items of personal nature.
3. Any other services not mentions in Package inclusions.

4.Horse ride charges in Pehalgam and Sonemarg

1. Skiing lessons and Cable car ride at Gulmerg .
2. Lunches
3. Camera and Video camera charges
4. All the entry fees, like of Mughal Gardens /Ovira Wildlife sanctuary.
5. Extra bed for the child is chargeable.

Please note: It is essential to carry the ID cards. There will be compulsory charge of INR500 per night for the Blower for room heating during October to March.

Houseboats in Srinagar

Unique to Srinagar, the concept of Houseboats was introduced by than rulers. These are the beautiful accommodation with to 2-4 rooms bedroom apartment with common dining hall and sundeck on the boat itself. Have the incredible experience of living right at the edge of lake in these concept houseboats. They are edged around the Dal Lake and Nagin Lake and are serviced by the owner. The couple can have one of the many bedrooms while the whole houseboats are lent to bigger groups tourist.

Shelter Group of House Boats Srinagar

 Shelter Group of house boats is a houseboat of budget range. It is not located on Dal Lake but have proximity to the Lal Chowk .The Lal Chowk is the local market and have few good shops selling woolen apparel, stoles and shawls. Equipped with clean and hygienic rooms with attached washrooms and serviced by the efficient staff, the stay at the Shelter Group of houseboats it is value for money. The guest has choice to opt for two or three bedroom house boats. Enjoy the complementary bed tea by the owners/houseboat boy.

Mumtaj Super Deluxe House Boats

Mumtaj Super Deluxe House Boats situated right at Dal Lake offers the panoramic view of the placid Dal Lake.The guest is provided with all the modern amenities in this luxurious this abode. Find the cultivated classiness in the well designed rooms ornamented with the fine arts of local Kashmiri craftsmen. Mumtaj Super Deluxe House Boats have number of boathouse with the combination of 2 to 4 bedrooms. The bigger groups of tourists are recommended to hire the full houseboat.

Hotels in Pehalgam

The hotel in Pehalgam ranges from budget to the luxury type.

Budget hotels in Pehalgam

The guest have option to stay at B& B: Sunshine Hotel (Lalipora Bridge) or Hotel Baisarn(Chandanwari).They offer the standard deluxe rooms with clean and hygienic sanitary facilities. Paristan Resort loacated at Chandanwari is the recommended abode for families and couples because of its picturesque location.

The Pehalgam Hotel (Luxury Hotel)

For guests looking for the luxurious abode “The Pehalgam Hotel” is highly recommended. Came into existence in 1931 it offers the amenities like Fitness centre, Swimming Pool,Wifi and authentic Kashmiri cuisines in its restaurants. It is ranked No1 by trip advisor and have to its credit Certificate of Excellence in 2013 due to its exceptional services.

Restaurants in Srinagar/Pehalgam/Gulmerg /Sonemarg

Ahdoos Resturant in Raj Bagh, Srinagar has received certificate of excellence by trip advisor due to its authentic Kashmiri food and great ambience. The Moti Mahal Deluxe in Srinagar are famous for serving Mughal cuisines. Bengali guests can find good Bengali food in Asha Bengali restaurant located at Badami Bagh. Few good restaurants in Pehalgam are Trout beat, Dana Pani and Volga restaurant. Dana Pani is the pure vegetarian restaurant serving home style food.

In Gulmerg, two of the best dining options are Pine Palace restaurant (located at Cable Car base point) and Highland restaurant. Restaurant Hillpoint is located in the main market area of Gulmerg and provides the quick fast food to its guest. For the North Indian guests Bakshi’s Green Punjabi Dhaba is the recommended restaurant.

Appropriate Time to Visit Kashmir

The appropriate time to visit Kashmir valley is between the summer seasons of April to September .During this period the temperature ranges from 14 degree in night to 30 degree during the day time. Temperature may suddenly drop in evening therefore it is advisable to keep comfortable woolens in your travel bag. The guests traveling with kids are advised to carry warm shawls and inners for their young ones because of any unexpected change in climate. Winter season starts from October and last till March and is marked by frozen lakes and snow capped mountains. It attracts the tourists for winter sports like skiing.

Route Plan for Karimastic Kashmir 

Srinagar is approachable from all the major cities of India by hopping flights via New Delhi. Depending on the flight it may take 3-6 hours due to stop over at New Delhi. Srinagar is however directly connected to Chandigarh, Leh and Jammu by regular flights. There is no direct Railway connection to Srinagar. Nearest Railway Station is Jammu(300km away from Srinagar )and can be reached from Mumbai ,Jabalpur,Kolkatta and even as far as Kanyakumari. Thereafter the guests can reach Srinagar by Bus.  If visiting by road, the tourist can came to Srinagar via Chandigarh taking the NH A1.Depending on their requirement guest are picked up Srinagar Airport/Srinagar bus station and escorted to the Houseboats of their choice.

Events in Srinagar                                                         

 Tulip Festival of Srinagar is an initiative of the Government to promote and revive the tourism of Kashmir. It takes place in the April of each year and showcases over 50 varieties. Started in 2007 ,it has become the major and eagerly awaited event of the valley

Places of interest in Srinagar

Moughal Gardens

Nishant Bagh &Shalimar Bagh

Shalimar Bagh and Nishant Bag are in close proximity to each other. While Shalimar Bagh was curated by Akbar for his beloved Queen NoorJahan,the Nishant Bagh was designed and built by by Asif Khan(brother of Noorjahan) and was built in middle of seventeen centaury.  Nishant bag is terrace garden with about 11 cascading terraces and fountains terraces. Both the gardens have a aura that spellbound the visitors with its quiescent bucolic surroundings.

Dal Lake

Dal Lake is spread over 26sqkm and is integration of small lakes, causeways and channels .This lifeline of Srinagar houses floating vegetable gardens and tourist houseboats. A traditional Shikara rides on the Dal Lake take the tourists thru the calm waters.

Places of interest in Pehalgam

The mystical journey to (98km from Srinagar) Pehalgam unfolds beautiful postcard scenery and divine landscapes to its visitors.

Ovira Wild life Sanctuary

Spread over 26sqkm the wildlife sanctuary is lesser known wildlife sanctuary of India It has have a mini zoo that houses Black Bear, Deers and Leopards.

Temple of Martand

Located at about 36 km from Pehalgam and known for the ruins of ancient Hindu sun Temple “Surya”, the Sun God is frequented by the likes Historians and Archeologists .The courtyard of the temple is centered by the holy shrine of the deity.

Places of Interest in Gulmerg

The Gulmerg is the heavenly destination for the tourists looking for the skiing. With the year around glaciers it has become prominent ski destination. The town to its glory has a Cable car (Gondola ride).Established in collaboration with French and Indian Government it has become the major revenue generation. There are two phases of Gondala ride. Gulmerg to Kungdoor(INR600) and Kungdoor to Aparwat(INR 800).The guests also have a option of Chair lift from Kungdoor to Mary shoulder for INR300.The children below three years are free in Gondala Cable Car. However the kids are not allowed in Chair Lift.

Places of interest in Sonemarg

Krishnasagar Lake

Dedicated to Hindu God Lord Krishna, Krishnasagar Lake is set amidst the reposeful surroundings of pine trees. The lake is famous for its water sports and serves as a trout fishing ground.

Thajiwas Glacier

It is the base camp of treks and Himalayan expeditions and is about 4.8km from the Sonemarg.The guests can take pony ride up to some distance.

Special Jammu AND Kashmir TOUR Packages 2014-2015

03 Nights/04 Days in Srinagar (Kashmir)             

Itinerary:

Day 01 : Pick up Srinagar Airport  and transfer to Houseboat                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Day 02 : Srinagar to Gulmarg  day trip
Day 03 : Srinagar Local Sight seeing
Day 04: departure to Srinagar Airport

03 Nights/04 Days in Katra      Itinerary:

Day 01 : Pick up Jammu Railway station/ Airport  to katra hotel                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Day 02 : Katra Darshan
Day 03 : Katra sightseeing
Day 04 : Drop Jammu Railway station/ Airport

05 Nights/06 Days in Katra & Srinagar.

Itinerary:

Day 01 : Pick up Jammu Railway station/ Airport  to Katra hotel                                                                                                                                                                                         
Day 03 : Katra to Srinagar house boat stay
Day 04 : Srinagar to Gulmarg full day excursion
Day 05 : Srinagar to Phalgam over night
Day 06 : Phalgam to Jammu  

05 Nights/06 Days in Srinagar (KASHMIR).

• Day 01 : Pick up Srinagar  Airport  Transfer to Houseboat                                                                                                                                                                                                             
• Day 02 : Srinagar to Phalgam over night stay
• Day 03 : Phalgam to Gulmarg over night stay
• Day 04 : Gulmarg to Srinagar  sight seeing
• Day 05 : Srinagar to Sonamarg  Day trip
• Day 06 : departure to Srinagar Airport    

07 Nights/08 Days in Srinagar (KASHMIR).

:

• Day 01 : Pick up Srinagar  Airport                                                                                                                                                                                                               
• Day 02 : Srinagar to Phalgam over night stay
• Day 03 : Phalgam sight Seeing over night Stay
• Day 04 : Phalgam to  gulmarg over night Stay
• Day 05 : Gulmarg to Srinagar sightseeing over night stay
• Day 06 : Srinagar to Sonamarg over night stay
• Day 07 :Sonamarg to Srinagar via sightseeing kheer bhawani , dumping park  
• Day 08 : departure to Srinagar Airport   

• 04 Nights/05 Days in Srinagar (KASHMIR).:

• Day 01 : Pick up Srinagar  Airport & transfer to house boat                                                                                                                                                                                                               
• Day 02 : Srinagar to Phalgam over night stay
• Day 03 : Phalgam to Srinagar  sightseeing  over night stay
• Day 04 : Srinagar Gulmarg day trip
• Day 05 : departure to Srinagar Airport

09 Nights/10 Days in JAMMU TO JAMMU.

:

• Day 01 : Pick up Jammu Railway Station /Jammu Airport  to Katra                                                                                                                                                                                                             
• Day 02 : Katra Darshan / sight seeing 
• Day 03 : Katra to Srinagar
• Day 04 : Srinagar to Sonamarg over night stay at hotel
• Day 05 : Sonamarg to Srinagar via mansbal lake  
• Day 06 : Srinagar local seeing like Mughal gardens , old city etc
• Day 07 : Srinagar to Gulmarg over night stay
• Day 08 :Gulmarg to Phalgam over night stay
• Day 09 :Phalgam sight seeing   
• Day 10: departure Phalgam to Jammu

03 Nights/04 Days  Shree Amaranth yatra   

:

• Day 01 : Pick up Srinagar  Airport  to Sonamarg over night Stay                                                                                                                                                                                                                
• Day 02 : Sonamarg to shree amaranth Darshan and back to Sonamarg hotel
• Day 03 : Sonamarg to Srinagar local sight seeing  Overnight Stay at houseboat
• Day 04 : departure to Srinagar Airport

Itinerary

• Hotel Using at Katra Region:

• Hotel Using at Kashmir Region:

Kashmir Valley Tour Package Inclussion :

• 4 nights stay in Srinagar Deluxe Houseboat / Or Super Deluxe House boat with breakfast & dinner.
• Return airport transfers in Srinagar.
• Full Day Site-Seeings of the Srinagar City. ( All attractions in Srinagar).
• Shikara Ride in Dal lake.
• Veg/vegetarian or Jain Meal available in this kashmir package.
• Full day Excursion to Gulmarg.
• Full Day Excursion to Pahalgaam.
• 1 night stay at Pahalgam Hotels.
• All sightseeing & transfers by non AC cars as per itinerary.
• All meals as specified.
• Shikara trip on famous Dal Lake in Taxi Shikara.
• Complimentary welcome drink on Arrival (non Alcoholic)
• Complimentary mineral water bottle per day per room.
• Unlimited shikara crossing from Ghats to jetty
• Surprise gift on departure.

Kashmir Valley Tour Package not Include :

•     Alcohol and Laundry , Phone, Fax, Driver Tip
•     Cable Car (Gulmarg)
•     Horse Ride (Pahalgam)
•     Compulsory Heating Stove supplement of Rs: 500 net per night per room extra from mid Oct up to 31st March.

Day 1 : Srinagar
Receiving of guests at Srinagar airport- Meet & greet and transfer by to Houseboat/Hotel. Welcome drink on arrival. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in the houseboat/hotel. 

Day 2 : Srinagar Local sight-Seening :
After breakfast visit the Mughal Gardens, Chashmi-e Shahi (The Royal Spring), Nishat (The Garden of pleasure) & Shalimar Bagh (Abode of Love). In the afternoon enjoy a Shikara ride on the Dal Lake. Overnight in the houseboat/hotel. 

Day 3 : Srinagar - Gulmarg -Srinagar  :
After breakfast full day excursion of Gulmarg - the most beautiful summer resort in the valley. It is popular for its highest golf course and skiing in winters. You can enjoy a pony ride and also enjoy a Gondola ride (cable car) to Khilanmarg (at your own cost). Return to the houseboat/hotel by evening for overnight stay. 

Day 4 : Gulmarg - Sonmarg -Srinagar :
After breakfast Drive to Sonamarg, and full day excursion of Sonmarg which is one of the most beautiful drive from Srinagar. Sonmarg also called Meadow of Gold is located at a height of 2690 meters. You may take a pony ride (at your own cost) to Thajiwas Glacier where snow remains round the year. Return to the houseboat/hotel by evening for overnight stay. 

Day 5 : Srinagar - Pahalgam :
After breakfast Drive to Pahalgam, and full day excursion of Pahalgam. Take a pony ride to one of the many beautiful spots around Palahgam (at your own cost). Return to the houseboat/hotel by the evening for overnight stay. 

Day 6 : Pahalgam - Srinagar :
After breakfast time free till departure. Transfer by car to Srinagar airport .