Travel connections to Jammu Kashmir and Leh
Travelling by Air
Kashmir and Leh are very popular holiday destinations in
India frequented both by Indian and foreigners, Kashmir holiday
packages, Leh Ladakh holiday packages
are the most selling tour packages with India tour operators.
Jammu, Srinagar and Leh are very well connected by air.
Jammu is connected by non-stop flights to Srinagar, Delhi, Jaipur and
Chandigarh, while Srinagar is connected to Jammu, Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai.
Leh is connected to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. Airlines that fly to the region
include the state-owned Air India, and several private carriers such as Jet
Airways, Spice Jet, Go Air and Indigo.
The reporting time for flights from Jammu, Srinagar and Leh
is two hours prior to departure, due to stringent security checks.
On flights departing from Srinagar and Leh, passengers are
not allowed any cabin luggage, except for a camera or a laptop bag, and a small
handbag for women.
Travelling by Rail
Jammu Tawi is the main railhead in the state.
Contact Swan Tours for booking tickets, International
travellers should note that bookings can only be made by registering Indian
mobile numbers.
However, even with the quota, foreign tourists may find it
convenient to book IndRail Passes, from India or abroad, for travel in India by
train, especially given that trains in India can be booked for up to several
weeks in advance.
All railway stations in India have a licensed porter
facility as well as waiting/retiring rooms that are safe to rest in, in case
one is arriving by a late night train. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are usually
available at major stations, but it is a good idea to hire a pre-paid
taxi/auto-rickshaw to avoid being over-charged.
There is no rail network in Ladakh.
Kashmir Railway Line
The Kashmir railway line, from Jammu to Baramulla, will link
the state of Jammu & Kashmir to the Indian Rail Network, and is currently under
construction. The line is formally known as the
Jammu-Udhampur-Katra-Qazikund-Baramulla Link. There are 30 proposed stations
along the railway line, passing through some very remote areas. The railway
line is expected to provide all-weather transportation in the state.
The first section of the line, from Jammu to Udhampur, was
inaugurated in 2005. Many local trains run on this line. Once the line to Katra
is completed many more trains are expected to run on this line, easing the
passage for thousands of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi. The section of the line from
Qazikund to Baramulla in Kashmir Valley was completed in 2009. However, due to
difficult terrain and weather conditions, the construction of the line to link
Jammu and Kashmir is proceeding slowly.
Travelling by Road
Travel by street is the only way to discover the Jammu &
Kashmir and Leh in India, and the immeasurable road network is exactly the
lifeline of the state.
The roads are largely well-maintained, but some of the
interior roads can get rough due to inclement weather conditions.
National Highway 1 (NH 1), which links Attari on the
Indo-Pak border in Punjab to Delhi, has four important offshoots — 1 A, 1 B, 10
and 1D — which run through Jammu & Kashmir.
Ladakh is very popular with biking enthusiasts, several of
whom ride to Ladakh from Manali.
Buses run frequently from Jammu to Srinagar and from
Srinagar to Leh, and are the popular mode of transport with most tourists. The
only other alternative is air travel.
Due to heavy snowfall from October to May, many roads in
Kashmir and Ladakh are often closed. The closing of roads is subject to weather
conditions, so make sure to check before finalizing your travel plans.
Road Line
The arterial NH 1A runs from Jalandhar (Punjab) to Uri, via
Jammu, Banihal and Srinagar.
NH 1B connects Batote in Jammu region to Khanabal in
Kashmir, passing through Doda, Kishtwar and Symthan Pass.
NH 10, running a mere 8 kms, connects Domel to Katra. It was
recently renamed NH 144.
NH 1D connects Srinagar to Ladakh, via Kargil. The other
road which connects Ladakh to the rest of the country is the Leh-Manali highway
(a part of NH 21), which passes through Baralacha-la and Tanglang-la. Both the
highways are maintained by the Border Roads Organization.
For more information on holiday packages in India contact
Swan Tours, one of the leading tour operators in India.
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