Following my first posts about traveling on a budget, this post implements one of those points: Travel in the offseason. I chose to go to Srinagar, a city located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in Northern India. This post will share my experience, accommodations, culture, and budget for my trip to the City of Srinagar, arguably one of the most beautiful places to visit.
A little about Srinagar
Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city is known for its natural environment, gardens, waterfronts, and houseboats. Srinagar is an incredibly beautiful place known to draw nearly 2 million visitors yearly, with 1.6 million in 2022 as of October. The majority of these visitors come in the summer months to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful weather. The other portion of the visitors come in winter to enjoy the snowy landscape and amazing ski slopes of Gulmarg, home to the highest Gondola in the World. I decided to try visiting between these two tourist seasons to see everything Srinagar had to offer at a fraction of the price.
Accommodations
One of the main attractions in Srinagar is the famous houseboats on its various lakes. The idea of these houseboats started in the late 1800s when it was not permitted in Kashmir for foreigners to purchase land in the state. A foreigner was able to find a way around that by purchasing a boat to put in the water, evading the law that prohibited purchasing land. From then on, it became very popular many other nationals began to copy this idea so much to where no other houseboats are allowed to be on the lakes. Only residents can own and operate the houseboats and cannot be sold and must remain within the family that owned it. These boats are beautiful to look at. These boats are made entirely from wood inside at out. Check out the picture below of the hand carved elements to this work of art. Some of these boats are over 100 years old, it’s amazing how good they look!
These houseboats can vary in size from 2 bedrooms up to 5 bedrooms to accommodate individuals or even large groups. Staying on a houseboat is a must when traveling to Srinagar, and in my opinion, even better than staying in a hotel. In the summer months, the price for one room in a houseboat can range from $60 to $80 per night. My off-season stay cost me less than $35 per night, including my breakfast and dinner on the boat. Though it may not have the commodities of a typical hotel room, the experience is unmatched, beginning with the Shikara, or little boats, chauffeuring you across the lake to your hotel on the water.
The offseason on a houseboat definitely came with its challenges as well. My November trip caught the beginning of the winter front with weather plummeting to 25 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Since these boats don’t have the luxury of modern heating, the electric heated blankets they provided were a lifesaver. Getting showered wasn’t the most relaxing thing either, having to step out of warm water into the artic-like conditions of your room, but I didn’t come to Srinagar to enjoy a hot shower.
Food
Kashmiri food can very similar to other parts of India, but it does have influences from Pakistan and other countries in the middle east. Although it does share a lot of similarities with the rest of India, one key difference is wazwan. In the Kashmiri language, waz means ‘cook’ or ‘cooking’ and wan means ‘shop’. The concept has changed over time and has transitioned to a multi course meal of Kashmiri cuisine. The majority of these dishes are meat dishes typically consisting of lamb or chicken. If you are planning a trip to Kashmir, enjoying the concept of wazwan is a must! When you think multi course meal, at least for me, it sounds expensive, but I was able to enjoy my meal for under $10. You can’t beat the price for the amount and quality of food you get! Good for your budget and better for your stomach!
Another food experience that is a must when traveling in Kashmir is kahwa. The word Kahwa is Kashmiri for “sweetened tea”. Kahwa is a tea made from Kashmiri green tea leaves, saffron strands, cinnamon, cloves, dried rose petals, cardamom, and almonds. Enjoying tea is very common in many Asian countries, but kawha is a special blend local to Kashmir. Kahwa is so popular and considered one of the best teas in the region because so of the best saffron in the world comes from the local saffron gardens. While making your to-do list when coming to Srinagar, stopping in at the local restaurant and enjoying some Kahwa is essential.
Experiences
The biggest attraction to Srinagar is its landscape. The Kashmir Valley is a beautiful combination of lakes, rivers, and mountains. Just outside the city of Srinagar are hiking trails through the snowcapped mountains rich with flowing streams of melting snow. Many tourists will visit the largely popular city of Gulmarg. Gulmarg is the popular ski destination in the winter, but an incredibly hiking experience in the summer months. This location has drawn many tourists over the last 100 years, but in recent years the city of Budgam has become the hidden gem of Kashmir for its beautiful mountain views. This is where I decided to visit. With just an hour drive out of Srinagar, I had arrived at the gigantic mountains covered with snow. If you don’t feel like walking up to the trail head, take a horse ride up the mountain to enjoy the amazing views.
Coming in the offseason does have its disadvantages and those are the options you have to weigh when planning your trip. When looking up other attractions in Srinagar, you are met with beautiful tulip gardens exploding with colors. After talking with one of the locals, the tulip garden actually only lasts about 15-20 days before the season is over. So unless you plan to be here exactly for those days, you better cross that off your list.
Comparison In season and off season
Yes, there are other aspects of travel that are difficult to compare. Some may like the idea of many tourists while you’re traveling. Some may be willing to pay the higher prices in exchange for the elevated experiences. It all depends on why you’re going and what you want to do in the place that you are visiting. I want to get the most value out of my money so that is the lens in which this is written. Feel free to write a comment about other aspects of my visit and I’d love to share my thoughts.
Is it worth it to travel off season?
This question can change based on your desired outcomes of travel. I was able to visit Kashmir for 5 days and I believe it was worth it for the price that I paid. As someone who wants to experience as much as I can for a smaller budget, traveling to Kashmir in the off season is the best way to get the most value for your budget.
Drop a comment below and I would love to share more about my journey and hear some of your thoughts as well.
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