How to reach Kashmir? That’s a question many ask. The way to get to Kashmir is likely to differ according to the options you have from your city, town, or region, your personal traveling preferences, etc. For instance, people who are short on time may prefer traveling by air. On the other hand, those seeking fun and wish to enjoy J&K’s amazing countryside, may choose to travel by road. Those who prefer to travel on a budget, may want to take a train to reach Kashmir. But, depending on the mode of transport, where can you reach in Kashmir? Let’s answer this question.
Where is Jammu and Kashmir?
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, turned into a Union Territory in August, 2019 is situated in the northernmost part of the country. It is a landlocked region that shares borders with Himachal Pradesh on the south, Punjab on the south west, the Union Territory of Ladakh on the east, and China on the north. Besides, some of the western and a considerable northern part of the region is occupied by Pakistan.
How to Reach Kashmir by Air?
You have a few options to reach Kashmir by air. Although you can choose Jammu Airport, Srinagar Airport or Leh Airport to land in Kashmir, the most common one among these is Srinagar’s Sheikh-ul-Alam Airport. It is because Srinagar is well connected with many major cities in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Leh is another option, which is connected to Mumbai, Delhi and Srinagar. You may choose to land at either, based on your journey plan, flight availability and the place that you plan to visit in the beginning.
How to Reach Kashmir by Train?
If you want to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by train, you will have to take a train to Jammu Tawi Railway Station in Jammu. The railway station is well-connected with various cities in India such as Udaipur, Kanpur, Delhi, Pune and Mumbai. Some of the railways traveling to Jammu include Shalimar Express, Delhi Anand Vihar-Katra Special Express, Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express, Lucknow-Katra Special Express, etc.
However, remember, traveling to Srinagar can take around eight to ten hours from Jammu by road. So, you should have enough time on hand and include the traveling time while planning your itinerary.
How to Reach Kashmir by Road?
To reach Kashmir by road, you can take a bus from Delhi or Chandigarh. These cities have regular buses operating to Srinagar. Jammu and Srinagar are connected via National Highway 1-A. While leaving from Srinagar, you can take buses from J&K SRTC bus station. However, it must be remembered that buses either arrive early in the morning or late at night. So, you must plan your bus journey accordingly.
Now, what about reaching Kashmir by a cab? You can hire cabs, taxis or jeeps to travel to Srinagar. Many suggest booking cabs for a longer duration, as it could prove a relatively cheap option.
Nevertheless, as mentioned below, traveling between Jammu and Srinagar can take up to ten hours and sometimes even more due to traffic or bad weather. So, you must have enough time and should be mentally and physically prepared to tackle these challenges.
So, now that you know how to reach Kashmir, you may want to plan your Kashmir trip in the upcoming high season. We wish you a happy, safe and memorable journey.
