Mumbai airport

    coincidentally this month's issue of National Geographic Traveller
    magazine features Ladakh as cover story , the place I'm heading to.

    Mumbai - Srinagar Via Amritsar , 4 hours flight including 30min transit


    transit at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport ,
    Amritsar , India.



    our original itinerary :

    Srinagar & Leh , Kashmir 10D/9N trip :
    13 April - 22 April 2014

    Day 1 : Srinagar  | Dal Lake houseboat , local sight-seeing
    Day 2 : Srinagar  | Mughal Garden , Chasm-e-shahi , Shalimar Bagh
    Day 3 : Gulmarg
    Day 4 : Kargil via Sonamarg
    Day 5 : Leh , Ladakh
    Day 6 : Thiksey , Hemis
    Day 7 : Leh - Nubra ,
                via Khardung-La ( highest motorable road in the world )
                stay at Nubra for one night
    Day 8 : Nubra - Leh , Disket Monastery
    Day 9 : Pangong Lake via Chang-La
    Day 10 : Leh Airport

    the costs : Rs23000 @ RM 1200
                     includes hotel , breakfast & dinner , transports
                     exclude flight ticket

flight tickets : Mumbai-Srinagar : Rs8000
                      Leh-Pune : Rs 6000

total costs : Rs23000 + Rs8000 + Rs6000 = Rs 37000


   

    the original plan , roadtrip from Srinagar to Leh , Ladakh via Kargil

    the road from srinagar to Sonamarg is closed due to heavy snow
    up to 30ft tall.
    this is the only land road from Srinagar to Leh , Ladakh.
    We were supposed visit Sonamarg and Kargil en route , but
    we have to re-route our plan and go to Leh via flight instead.
    this was the tour agent's fault , as they didn't look forward for
    the weather conditions beforehands , and didn't provide plan B for us ,
    and that in turn costs us time and extra money.

   ............................................................................................................
    the revised trip :

    Day 1 : Srinagar  | Tulip Garden , Dal Lake houseboat
    Day 2 : Srinagar  | Dal Lake , Gulmarg
    Day 3 : Pahalgam
    Day 4 : Lal Chowk , transfer to Srinagar Airport
    Day 5 : Delhi - Leh , Shanti Stupa , Leh Palace
    Day 6 : Thiksey , Hemis , Tibet Market
    Day 7 : Leh - Nubra ,
                via Khardung-La ( highest motorable road in the world )
                stay at Nubra for one night
    Day 8 : Nubra - Leh , Disket Monastery
    Day 9 : Pangong Lake via Chang-La
    Day 10 : Leh Airport

    with this revised trip , the roadtrip from Srinagar to Ladakh is cancelled.
 
   we have to buy flight tickets from Srinagar to Delhi ,
   then Delhi to Leh , and that adds up Rs9000 more to our trip total costs.

  ............................................................................................................

  the agent :
  Swastik Travels
 ( based in Delhi , bad agent , i don't recommend this )
  swastikleisureholidays@gmail.com | +919210669303

 however , its partner in Srinagar and Leh , Ladakh is good.

 our driver in Srinagar , Mr Jimmy was very good , and very helpful.
 he has his own travel agency too , and highly recommended :

 Around The Earth Tour & Travels ( recommended )
 based in Srinagar , Kashmir
 atearthtnt@gmail.com | atetourandtravel@yahoo.com
 9906614555 | 9906784470 | 9018385685

Auspicious Hotel , Leh , Ladakh ( recommended )
theauspicioushotel@gmail.com
9419177864 | 9910076255

 ............................................................................................................

quick tips :

- try to look for travel agents based in Srinagar / Leh itself , because they
  know the weather , road conditions etc of their place better.
- don't travel during winter ( December to march ) due to heavy snow.
  even in summer , snow is still available in Sonamarg throughout
  the year.
- best time to visit is during spring / summer , when Tulip Garden is
  reopened after winter , and road conditions are good.
  September/October is Apple season in Kashmir.
- i heard people saying ( and also stated in many flight websites )
  that hand luggage is not allowed to be brought
  onto the flight in Srinagar and Leh airport , but from my experience ,
  i have no problem with that. i brought a backpack along with my
  DSLR in it onto the flight.
- Srinagar and Ladakh are politically hot areas in India , with constant
  threat from terrorist ( so they say ) . but from my experience , i think
  these places are safe. police and army are everywhere to protect
  civilians.
- airport security is very tight. after check-in , we have
  to go into a special room to identify our luggage , and they will sign it off
  to be put into flight's cargo. Luggage will be thrown away
  if we failed to do so.
- bring passport when travelling in Ladakh.
  Ladakh is a border of India with Pakistan and Tibet , and travelling
  in ladakh will require permit. Hotel / Agents will help in obtaining
  the permit.
- no phone lines at all if we use service providers from other states
  of India. and no internet at all. internet is available at cyber cafes
  or hotel wifi . And if we use Kashmir SIM cards , only phone calls
  available , and no sms / internet . so make sure the hotel is providing
  wifi before checking in.