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Anyone been to Kashmir?

F

Farang

Lifer
I land in Mumbai on May 15 and am coming to realize that I have really screwed myself--I start with 17 days of free time before I have to be in Bangalore to study. The problem is India--the whole damn country--is on fire, with a heat index upwards of 110F in cities like Delhi and Jaipur. The only escape seems to be Kashmir, which is a balmy 75 degrees.

My ideal plan would be to rent a motorcycle and travel that way, but because it seems as though bus distances are extremely long and/or 4WD is used to get from place to place, that might not be an option. Also obviously the security situation might not allow it.

Kashmir is also relatively expensive to get into and back from Mumbai to Bangalore, so I was also thinking of starting in Delhi, getting out as quickly as possible because of the heat, and doing places in northern India like Dharamsala and Shimla. I'm afraid these will be packed with tourists or tourist facilities, though.

Anyone with experience in either area please chime in.
 
Keep in mind that Kashmir is one of the few states in India with an active militant insurgency. Due to the dire situation there, the Army has a strong presence there. Be prepared for random road-blocks, bombs under bridges, suicide bombers, artillery shelling from across the border, sporadic (if existent) cellphone service.

The sights are breathtaking, and if you keep to the main tourist routes, you should be OK.

Alternatives to visiting a terrorist-ridden state are Goa and the Kerala backwaters. You could also hop onto a boat from Bombay and go to the Lakshadweep islands.

Edit: Some photos from Kashmir
 
Thanks.. I'm aware of the conflict in Kashmir and feel it is still within my comfort level if the reports I'm reading are correct. Goa is not the type of place I want to visit alone, plus I'll be meeting friends in Bangalore and am sure we will hit it sometime later. Kerala is my backup choice if Kashmir proves too expensive, but again it is right near where I'll be living so I don't feel an urgent need to go there.
 
I went there as a little kid cause my dad worked on the IT systems there ages ago. Cna't remember anything about it though.
 
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Originally posted by: Barack Obama
I went there as a little kid cause my dad worked on the IT systems there ages ago. Cna't remember anything about it though.
Click to expand...

Did you attend a madrasa?
Click to expand...

ahahahaha

my parents went on their honeymoon there, but ofcourse that was like 25 yrs ago. it was awesometacular from what they tell me but things have obviously changed since then.
 
Kashmir is relatively safe now as compared to a few years ago ... I'd say go for it. Tourism is booming there now & you shouldn't have any problems
 
I remember seeing it when I was small and it was the most beautiful place on the earth. Screw those farking terrorists for making it such a awful place to live in :|
 
I was pretty close to the region about a month ago, but I didn't go. I've had friends that have gone, and they said it's quite safe now (that's relative to previous conditions of course).

You could alternatively consider something around Sikkim, Darjeeling, etc. Darjeeling is pretty dirty, but there are a lot of little Himalayan towns that are beautiful. They probably don't touch the natural beauty of Kashmir though.
 
The last time I was there, the sun beat down upon my face, and the stars to filled my dreams.
At the time, I was a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been.
I remember while I was there I sat with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen.
They talked about days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed.
 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
The last time I was there, the sun beat down upon my face, and the stars to filled my dreams.
At the time, I was a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been.
I remember while I was there I sat with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen.
They talked about days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed.
Click to expand...

Did they wanna rock?

Yea, yea yea did they wanna ROCK?!

edit: I think I'm going to have to buy an ipod now to bring some zeppelin with me. thanks for making my trip more expensive jackass
 
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: Fritzo
The last time I was there, the sun beat down upon my face, and the stars to filled my dreams.
At the time, I was a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been.
I remember while I was there I sat with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen.
They talked about days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed.
Click to expand...

Did they wanna rock?

Yea, yea yea did they wanna ROCK?!

edit: I think I'm going to have to buy an ipod now to bring some zeppelin with me. thanks for making my trip more expensive jackass
Click to expand...

If you do, get the Page & Plant version of Kashmir from their No Quarter CD with the full Egyptian band. AMAZING piece of work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79alLViD4GY
 
Kashmr is off-limits to tourists. It requires a special visa.

Check with the Indian consul, but the last three visas I got specifically excluded Jammu & Kashmir.

 
ive been into the mountains, in northern india, might be punjab, called simla a few times. really beauiful up there and nice n cool
 
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