Kashmir is a popular destination for tourism owing to its good climate, natural beauty, adventure sports, and several places of historic importance. Jammu and Kashmir is also known for its handicrafts, local cuisine, and is a shopping hub for people across the globe. If you plan to visit J&K, here are some things you should consider before you book a tour.
16 Things to Do Before Your Tour to J&K
Know the best time to visit Kashmir. For snowfall, the winter season, from December to February, would be a good time to visit. However, the best time to visit Kashmir to see nature at its best and enjoy a moderate weather, is from March to August, also because this span covers two seasons, spring and summer. Before visiting J&K, decide which season you would like to explore and schedule your trip accordingly.
What should you carry while traveling to Kashmir in winter? Take winter wear such as sweaters, scarves, jackets, and woollen scarves, if you are touring in winter. Carry a moisturizer and lip guard or any other skin care products to protect your skin from the cold.
How to prepare for a summer tour to Kashmir? If you plan to visit during the summer, carry a sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses, caps, and summer clothing.
You will have to go through many security checks at the Srinagar airport. So keep a few hours in hand. Before boarding the plane, get your luggage identified.
According to the latest travel advisory given by the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, while this blog was written, international tourists coming from high-risk countries will be screened at the Srinagar airport. Those who test negative will have to undergo a 7-day home quarantine, while those who test positive will be sent for institutional quarantine and given treatment.
In many districts of J&K, visitors will be allowed entry in public parks and tourists spots only after they provide vaccination certificates and Covid-negative reports to the enforcement teams.
During your stay in Jammu and Kashmir, you will have to depend on the local transport. App-based taxi services such as Ola and Uber are not available in J&K. If you plan to drive down, remember to carry the original documents of your vehicle, as the police keep a stricter check on cars from states outside J&K.
You would most likely be walking on hilly terrains, especially so, if trekking or hiking in the mountains of Kashmir is on your itinerary. Therefore, carry a sack to keep your cell phone, a camera, daily tickets (if any) and eatables. Most importantly, remember to carry a pair of good sports shoes.
There are frequent power cuts in Jammu and Kashmir. So don’t forget to carry a torch and a power bank for your mobile phone. Very few electronics stores are present in Kashmir, so carry memory cards and any other electronic goods that you may require on the trip.
Carry your original identity proofs. Being a conflict zone, there are a lot of security checks at various places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Take post-paid SIM cards with you, as roaming is blocked for security reasons. If you are a foreigner, you will require to buy a local SIM.
Carry sufficient cash with you on your tour to Jammu and Kashmir, as you may find it difficult to find ATMs in the region.
The weather in Jammu and Kashmir is quite unpredictable, so you may fall sick due to sudden weather changes. Hence, it is important to keep emergency medicines with you.
Women should carry headscarves, as it is mandatory to cover one’s head when entering a shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
Roam around during the busy hours and for safety reasons, avoid getting outside your hotel or resort during the late night or early morning hours.
Your tour to Jammu and Kashmir would be incomplete without shopping for the local handicrafts. So don’t forget to take a few shopping bags with you.
Decide the primary purpose of your tour to J&K and finalize the places to visit here, based on your preference. When in Jammu and Kashmir, you cannot afford to miss a visit to the Mughal gardens, a shikara ride on one of Kashmir’s lakes, a houseboat stay and a tour to some of the old monuments.
Following these dos and don’ts of traveling to Jammu and Kashmir will ensure that you have taken all the necessary precautions while also not missing the fun of visiting this beautiful place in India, rightly nicknamed as the Heaven on Earth.
