Do you feel like you are up for a vacation? It is the perfect time for it, after all. With the festival season being so hectic, one is bound to need a break. Either a solo trip or maybe one with family or friends can cheer you right back up from the chaos that encompasses your daily routine. Are you feeling stressed, tired, and overwhelmed lately? Chances are that you might be in need of a well-deserved break. One holiday which can help you get rid of all that grime from work is one thing you should definitely take out time for. If anything, this would also help you when you are back to get on the hustle route.
One thing which might be bothering you about the idea in the first place is likely to be the financial aspect of it. The sudden plans for a vacation might ruin the family budget. After all, traveling has become a whole other hassle in itself, both monetarily as well as in a hundred other different ways. However, here is a way for you to travel to a dreamy location for less than Rs. 10,000. Yes, you read that right. You will be able to visit a beautiful place and have an amazing vacation all under the constraint of Rs. 10,000. If you are looking for a cold location, you would love to visit gorgeous Srinagar. Whether traveling with the family, on a honeymoon, for adventure, or for religious purposes, Kashmir is one of the top summertime tourist destinations.
The state offers a wide variety of stunning sites to delight the eye. There is a whole list of tourist attractions and vacation packages you can choose from this time of the year. The itinerary can be changed to include important extras like lodging, meals, transportation, and sightseeing based on the budget, the number of travelers, and the length of the trip.
The budget for the whole trip amounts to Rs. 10,000 or under for a holiday in Srinagar. Even though this trip to heaven on earth is not supposed to be easy on your pocket, you would be able to do it. You just have to simply uncover affordable options and budget-friendly routes to heaven. Lucky for you, this article does it for you right here!
Traveling to Srinagar
Romantic Shikara rides, daring paragliding, and sumptuous houseboat stay, all ensconced in the amazing natural beauty of green mountains, that’s Srinagar for you.
There are quite a few options to get to Srinagar in the first place, all at different prices. Traveling by airplane is the most convenient of them all. It would fly you all the way to Srinagar. Unfortunately, during the winter, airline tickets are particularly expensive. You can also opt for traveling by bus, which would drop you at Jammu. From there on, you can travel to Srinagar by another bus.
Taking a nighttime Rajdhani from Delhi to Jammu is advised. The 2,000 rupees train fee is for very smooth travel. When you arrive in Jammu, you can take a bus or an SUV to Srinagar or Anantnag. You should expect to pay between Rs. 450 and Rs. 1000 for the bus or SUV, depending on your mode of transportation and negotiation skills.
The train/flight charge is your sole substantial expense throughout your holiday. Once in the valley, public transportation is dirt cheap. To reach stunning areas nearby, grab a cab. You may spend the day touring the local market and observing how local Sumos travel for very cheap prices, something the local guides don’t inform tourists about, almost like a tourist scam!
Accommodation in Srinagar
You are faced with a lot of options to consider when choosing a mode of accommodation in a tourist place such as Srinagar.
Hotel Regal Palace is one place where you can stay on your trip. It is conveniently situated close to the Main Market (Lal Chowk Area). It is a three-star hotel with all the necessities that you might require. The price for the stay happens to be 3,500 rupees per night. The services in the hotel include a restaurant, room service as well as free WiFi.
Ideally situated, and only a 10-minute drive from the famed Dal Lake, is another great location, the Paradise Gateway. It is situated beside a renowned golf course (Royal Spring). In terms of the price, Rs. 4000 per night is the rate. The services entail Internet access, a restaurant as well as room service.
`The Pride Inn is also one location situated in Raj Bagh, one of Srinagar’s greatest neighbourhoods. Famous Dal Lake is 10 minutes away by car. Around Rs. 4,500 per night is the rate for the inn. Amenities and services here include Wi-Fi, a restaurant, dry cleaning, and room service.
All of these hotels, houseboats, and homestays were much under INR 1000 per night (some were even under INR 500), so if you’re traveling with two people, it’s even less! You can get great prices if you are an early bird in terms of making reservations or going when it’s slightly off-season.
In case you spend more than a day there, you might listen to highly suggested advice. You can choose a houseboat as your mode of accommodation for just one night. Thus, giving you the chance to take a Shikara ride early in the dawn, which provides you with an amazing experience. The remainder of your time can be spent learning about the local culture and spending less money by experiencing something like a homestay.
Activities To Explore In Srinagar
In its own way, Srinagar justifies Kashmir’s beauty. The city is home to some excellent Shankaracharya temples, Hazratbal shrine architecture as well as breathtaking scenery. A Shikara ride on Dal Lake or Nagin Lake is a must to see the gorgeous bitter cold peaks all around. Shikaras are light rowing boats in the shape of gondolas that may be seen all around the Dal lake.
There are many things you can try here in Srinagar as a tourist, some of which are described below:
- The Dal Lake: It can only be appreciated on a Shikara ride, which is the best method to do it. A one-hour ride will cost approximately Rs. 400. Additionally, you can always haggle for a better price.
- Houseboat: A stay in a houseboat anchored on the Dal overnight is an unforgettable experience. In Srinagar, there are many houseboats and you can reserve a room aboard one of them for about Rs. 2,000 per night.
- Garden Tour: The Mughals were renowned for their architectural prowess and the Mughal Gardens are a superb illustration of this exceptional expertise. For only Rs. 10, you can visit these gardens and be enchanted by their picturesque appeal.
- Shopping: Shops surrounding Nishat Garden and Shalimar Garden sell Srinagar’s famous handicrafts, including shawls and carpets. Shops authorized by the Ministry of Jammu and Kashmir have a set rate guideline and the best available price.
- Day Trip To Gulmarg: While on a Srinagar tour, make time to visit Gulmarg, where you may not only admire nature in all its grandeur but also take a Gondola ride to Khilanmarg. A round trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg will not cost more than Rs. 3,000, which includes transportation and the gondola ride.
Quick Tips
Go in the winter season: The time right now is perfect for your visit to Srinagar. Although it is a year-round attraction, the prices of houseboats and shikara rides are lower during the winter months, from November to March, and you may easily save up to 25% on their booking fee.
Negotiate: If you’re buying handmade items from a street vendor, make sure to haggle as hard as you can to get the greatest price.
Food
Even if not for seeing Kashmir, one should visit it for the local cuisine alone. Kashmiri Pulao, Kashmiri Wazwan, Kehwa, and Nun Chai, their traditional biryani and so many fruits along with dry fruits all feel like bits of heaven in your mouth. If you spend some time looking around, you’ll find the correct places, as well as several great pure vegetarian restaurants, thanks to the large influx of Hindu pilgrims here.
In light of various difficulties faced by the state, the courageous residents of Kashmir have worked tirelessly to revive Srinagar’s magnetic charm. It’s time to recognize their efforts while luxuriating in those houseboat vacations and delectable Kashmiri cuisine. One doesn’t wait until one can afford the best.