Jammu and Kashmir Tourism And Travel Guide

Known as ‘Paradise on Earth’, Jammu and Kashmir is one of India's most favoured tourist destinations. The state is popular for its picturesque beauty, the pashmina shawls and the many blue lakes that dot the Himalayan terrain here. The state is a religious amalgamation with natives practicing Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. There's naturally a lot of cultural diversity to be explored here. And don't forget the mouth-watering Kashmiri cuisine 'Wazwan'. For those of you planning to visit the Valley, here's a detailed travel guide of Jammu Kashmir to fill you up on all the details you need to know for your tourism here.

By Air: There are three airports in Jammu and Kashmir with regular flights from all major cities of India. You can fly to Sheikh Ul Alam Airport in Srinagar, the Jammu Airport in Jammu or the Kushook Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh depending on which part of the valley you are headed to. Some of the popular airlines flying to this state are Spice Jet, Air India, and Jet Airways.

By Rail: If you are traveling by train, you need to disembark at Udhampur, Jammu Tawi or Banihal railway station. Jammu's Jammu Tawi Station is well-connected to other cities in India - Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Trivandrum to name a few. Udhampur railway station is also located in the Jammu region. The Banihal railway station is located in Ramban district and has rail connectivity to Srinagar and access to Jammu by road.

By Road: If you are traveling by road, you have to go via National Highway 1A as it connects to different cities of Jammu and Kashmir. There are comfortable and cost-effective private buses traveling from neighbouring cities like Manali, Shimla, Ludhiana, and Delhi. You can also avail government-owned buses as well as travel in a four wheeler.

Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas Srinagar is the summer capital. The winter months of October to March are the best time to visit the Jammu region whereas the summer months from April to October are ideal to visit the Kashmir region. It's best to avoid the hot and humid months of May and June if you are planning to visit Jammu. March and April mark the spring season and early summers in the Kashmir valley - the hills are lush green and flowers blossom all around, making this a beautiful and vibrant time. 

Shikara Ride: Your trip to Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without a shikhara ride on the waters of Dal and Nagin lakes. The rides can be availed from 6 am to 5 pm all days of the week. The price may vary from 150 INR to 250 INR per person. So take your special someone sailing across the pristine waters reflecting the snow clad mountains all around.

Adventure sports: The state has numerous adventure sports to offer to those who are seeking thrill. Some of these include skiing, paragliding, river rafting, mountaineering etc. Visit during the summer months to make the most of these activities. Jammu and Kashmir is an adventure seeker's paradise.

Visit Buddhist Monasteries: Ladakh is predominantly a Buddhist region and the hills are dotted with monasteries and gumtis. If you are seeking spirituality and want to escape to from the hustle and bustle of the chaotic city life, a visit to a monastery is a must. Located 20 km away from Leh, Thiksey Monastery is the largest in Ladakh and is iconic for the various Shakyamuni Buddha statues in it. Some other popular monasteries are Stok, Spituk, Diksit and Likir monastery.

The rich flavours and taste in Kashmiri cuisine are a heartwarming experience for foodies, especially non-vegetarians. ‘Rogan josh’ and ‘yakhni’ are the most popular mutton dishes, whereas ‘dum olav’ (made with potatoes) can be enjoyed by vegetarians. Don’t forget to try the street food served in this state; the most recommended ones being ‘kaladi kulcha’ and ‘gul gule’.

Jammu and Kashmir can be considered as a shopper’s paradise. Kashmiri shawls and carpets are a must in your shopping list, especially the 'Pashmina' wool shawls. The dry fruits available in the markets here are of the best quality in India. Handicrafts are also a popular shopping item here and there is an entire string of government handicraft emporiums in Srinagar.