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The beautiful and enchanting valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, which is called heaven on earth, attract millions of tourists from India and abroad every year. If you are also planning to steal some quiet time from the busy life and go on a trip to Kashmir, and you have limited time i.e. only 5 days, then this journey from Srinagar to Pahalgam can prove to be the best option for you. In this short but very exciting tour plan of five days, you can fully enjoy the culture, cool breeze, cedar forests and snowy peaks of Kashmir. However, before setting out on any trip, it is very important to know the correct route, places to visit and an accurate budget, so that you do not have to face any kind of financial or logistics problem while going there.
How to plan this beautiful trip to Kashmir, on which day to visit which place and how much your estimated expenses can be for this entire 5-day journey, let us understand each and every thing in detail through this detailed travel guide.
Your five-day magical journey starts from the city of Srinagar, which is called the crown of the country. On the first day, when you land at Srinagar Airport, go straight to your hotel or traditional houseboat. After some rest, enjoy Shikara ride in the world famous Dal Lake in the evening, which is a very pleasant experience for any tourist. When the sun sets while swimming on the cool waters of the lake, the view all around is worth seeing. After this, you can visit the historical Mughal Gardens of Srinagar like Nishad Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, where the architecture and greenery will fascinate you.
On the second day of the journey, you can leave Srinagar early in the morning and leave for Gulmarg, which is located at a distance of about 50 kilometers from Srinagar. Experience the thrill of the ‘Gondola Ride’, one of the highest cable cars in the world, in Gulmarg. Seeing the snowy valleys and alpine meadows here, all your tiredness will disappear in a moment. Come back in the evening and spend the night in Srinagar.
On the morning of the third day, after breakfast, pack your luggage and drive your car from Srinagar to Pahalgam. The distance from Srinagar to Pahalgam is about 124 kilometers, which takes about 3 to 4 hours by road. On the way, you will be welcomed by the famous Saffron Fields of Pamper, the ruins of ancient Avantipur on the way to Anantnag and beautiful apple orchards. You can stop at these places for some time and click photographs and also purchase pure saffron or local dry fruits. As soon as you reach Pahalgam, the greenery spread all around and the sound of the flowing Lidder River will give you a different peace.
Reserve the entire time of the fourth day to see the local and extremely beautiful places of Pahalgam. Here you can visit Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwadi. The beauty of Betaab Valley, famous for shooting films, is worth seeing. Apart from this, if you like adventure, you can go horse riding to ‘Bisran Valley’ (also known as Mini Switzerland), from where the panoramic view of the entire valley is spectacular.
On the fifth and final day of your memorable five-day journey, after sipping tea in the cool and refreshing atmosphere of Pahalgam in the morning, you will head back to Srinagar. On the way, if you have time to spare, you can buy traditional pashmina shawls, Kashmiri Kahwa teas, and wooden handicrafts from the local markets. After this, you can reach Srinagar airport on time and take your return flight, and return to your home carrying with you a box of precious memories of Kashmir.
Now the most important question is what will be the total cost of this 5 days and 4 nights trip. If you travel in a budget friendly manner, the per person expenditure can come to around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. This includes accommodation in a 3-star hotel, local transport or cab fare, and general catering. If you choose luxury resorts or include additional activities like Gondola ride, Betab Valley entry fee and pony ride, the cost can go up to Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 per person. It would be better that you book cabs and hotels in advance as per your convenience so that you do not face any inconvenience during the peak season.