This article, and the next ones in the series, are an account of my first visit to Kashmir. While writing this Kashmir Travelogue, I am really hoping to give you a true picture of how you can plan a trip here, things you should keep in mind, places you must explore, and experiences that you must gain.
Forbidden paradise is what I was calling it before the trip actually. My thoughts on Kashmir were the same as the rest of the world. The very idea of visiting Kashmir makes people nervous and it did the same with me.
But then things changed when I went and spent some time there, rode my bike through its valleys, and got talking to its people. My trip to Kashmir was much more than enjoying the lush green mountains and clicking numerous photos. It was an experience in itself, one that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram. For all other details on Kashmir like mobile connectivity, public transport, taxi services, and several other tips, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide.
For getting the best hotel rates, and taxi charges, and to organize your trip to Kashmir, you can speak with Kunal @ 9910 402 252. Give him my reference and you will surely get a discounted rate.
Kashmir Travelogue
The first time I landed in Srinagar was about a decade ago while returning from Ladakh. Was I nervous back then? Yes definitely. I stayed in the city for a night and got out first thing the next morning.
The same routine followed in the coming years as well. Kashmir was just a stopover while we went riding to Ladakh. The only place I visited in all these years was Dal Lake in Srinagar city and that was pretty much it. Never did it occur to me to spend some time in Kashmir itself and visit the place that is known as a Jannat for its scenic beauty.
But after exploring the Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal, Ladakh, and Spiti for years, Kashmir was bound to happen sooner or later.
Where to Go?
It all really started with a simple idea and that too several months in advance. A close friend of mine, Shoaib, and I were talking about how it had been a long time since we were out on a long trip together. We agreed we must plan a trip to someplace new sometime soon.
We talked about a few places and I suggested Kashmir, which neither of us had really been to. After that, there was not really much of a discussion and we both immediately agreed.
Next came the question of when. Through my blog, I met a Srinagar Local a few years ago. Faisal runs a motorcycle rental agency in the city. I called him and he suggested that we should plan for either August or September as it would be all lush green then.
Neither Shoaib nor I could afford to be away from work in September, and visiting Kashmir before or around the 15th of August did not sound like a good idea. Hence 3rd week of August was finalized.
