Visiting Kashmir in 2021 – How Safe?

 

By Suneeta Mohanty

Four women in their forties just came back from a fabulous trip to Kashmir, cherishing each moment spent in the magnificent land. I was lucky to be part of the all women gang who visited the ‘Paradise on Earth’, during the last week of February 2021. In all the six days there, not for a single moment did we feel unsafe or in a perilous situation. Kashmir is no doubt one of the safest places to visit in the country.

Off to Srinagar

Many eye brows were raised and a tsunami of opinions flooded us when we zeroed in on our destination. Most people dissuaded us but we gave a deaf ear. Nevertheless not all opinions went wasted and I must mention a handful of apprehensions managed to build a nest in our hearts even before we boarded the flight.

Reaching Srinagar, I was really impressed to see the dedication of the airport staff who meticulously guided us to the para medicos who took our nasal swab, did the rapid test and gave permissions accordingly. Our driver Suhail, a fine gentleman welcomed us with a hearty smile in the chilly morning.

Tune with the local culture

On my way to the hotel, two things stood out significantly, policemen and army with guns everywhere; and females in all age group, covered from head to toe. I was amazed to see the confidant gait and the fearless eyes of the fairer sex as they walked to their schools, colleges, offices or to the bus stop.

We are hard core believers of the saying, ‘When in Rome, do as Romans do’. Well now our dress code is fixed and we adhered to it throughout the trip. I feel it is very important to be dressed decently, respecting and tuning with the local culture.

Liquor in Srinagar

As I reached the hotel, I was pleasantly surprised with the warm hospitality. Being an avid traveller, I could immediately sense the keenness of the staff to make us feel comfortable. I was again impressed looking at the menu card which read, ‘Strictly No Alcohol’ and for us girls, it meant a lot.

Selling of alcohol though not officially banned in Jammu and Kashmir, is available at few places in Srinagar. It is confined to some licensed shops in the outskirts near the Army Cantonment or in the five star hotels.

Respect local sentiments

After lunch we started off with a local tour. Our research had indicated no greenery at this time of the year and so we confined our visit to Mughal Garden and looked forward to feel the local culture, taste some Kashmiri delicacies and interact with the Kashmiris. We tasted butter bread, kahwa and some veg and non veg kebabs.

There were many pure veg restaurants which also offered authentic Kashmiri dishes. We spent the evening lazing around talking to people, watching the sunset at the outer Dal and capturing the beauty of the Nigeen Lake. Some locals wanted to know our take on Kashmir and we just said, it’s awesome and moved ahead. I feel it’s very important not to voice out thoughts and respect the sentiments of the people. One question which a lady caretaker at Hazratbal shrine asked was ‘Aapko Kashmir kaisa laga’ and before we could find words to describe its beauty, she gave us a serene look and said ‘Mehfooz’. Nodding our heads, we said ‘yes’.

Stunning Seasons

Kashmir has a unique beauty as each season unfolds an unparalleled exclusivity of the land. We wanted to feel the snow and so we selected February. The winter, spring, summer and autumn are equally beautiful. While winter covers the land with a white sheet of peace, spring fills it with a colorful hue. Summers are all about the sound of the gushing streams, the Chinar leaves, the fruit laden orchards making it an enticing landscape, autumn churns the heart with a lovely breeze, roads carpeted by golden leaves and a magnificent panorama.

Keep Connected

Only post paid mobile connection work in Kashmir. We had BSNL and Airtel post paid numbers but in most areas BSNL would not work. We were happy to find Airtel SIM working even as we went up in the cable car at Gulmarg. It stopped working at the Kongdori station which is at a height of 2600 mts.

Adventure Ride prices at Sonmarg and Gulmarg

We had a wonderful time enjoying the rides at the tourist sites. However we missed out on the most important thing - visiting the tourist office prior to it. The charges everywhere was exorbitant and we had a difficult time bargaining for each ride. At Gulmarg the intervention of a tourist official helped us to reduce our sledge ride from Rs.2000 to Rs.500, and a drive in the jeep from the parking to the Gondola from Rs. 2000 to just Rs. 250.

Must buy things from the right place

The land is a popular shopping haven. From pashminas to carpets to wooden and papier mache handicrafts to spices with saffron topping the list. There are several shops enroute Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Gulmarg or even Jammu. Most drivers would entice you to shop in their favourite places telling that it belongs to society with rates cheaper than in the city. It is better to explore places like Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Government Art Emporium or the shops in Zaina Kadal Road. We found a large variant in prices but could not help it as we had already made our purchases from the shops recommended by our driver. Insist on visiting the Government Arts Emporium and Kashmir Shawl Museum, where you can get authentic stuff with lesser price.

Our learning from the trip was not to get into unnecessary discussions on politics, caste or any issues that might raise eyebrows. Stick to the main tourist areas, visit tourist office, keep a local contact, do not listen to your local guide or driver’s suggestion to visit a particular shop… Just enjoy the beauty of the land…be an ideal tourist. Kashmir is a place where tourists are highly respected.