Ex Srinagar - Kashmir Holiday Package With Naranag & Dachigam

Early Morning you will visit the Floating Vegetable Market and enjoy beauty.

Vegetable Market: There are several floating markets in the world- floating markets such as the rowing shops in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam or Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Bangkok. India also has its floating market which gained international prominence when a Japanese photographer featured it in a tourist guide in Japan in 1960. The Floating Vegetable market Srinagar is a completely unorganized market. Here individual sellers gather in the middle of the lake at the crack of dawn to sell their produce. Most of the produce sold here is grown in the floating gardens of Dal Lake. The rich ecosystem of the lake produces a variety of vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, water chestnuts and the famous Nadru or the lotus stems which is a delicacy in Kashmiri cuisine. We also saw other vegetables like carrots, radishes, turnips and various types of fruits. There are also people selling flowers.

After finishing the early morning tour of floating market you will proceed back towards the Houseboat. After finishing our breakfast at Houseboat we will start our tour for Dachigam National Park.

Dachigam National Park: Dachigam National Park is a national park located 22 km from City. It covers an area of 141 square kilometers. The name of the park literally stands for "ten villages" which is in the memory of the ten villages that were relocated for its formation. These ten villages were living in this region before the World War I in the beginning of 20th century. The park has been a protected area since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. It was initially created to ensure a supply of clean drinking water for Srinagar. It was upgraded and declared a National Park in 1981. The main animal species that Dachigam is known for is the Hangul or the Kashmir stag. Other species include, Musk Deer (roose kat), Snow Leopard, Himalayan serow, Kashmir grey langur, Leopard cat (nt), Himalayan black bear (vu), Himalayan brown bear, Jackal, Hill fox, Himalayan weasel, Yellow-throated marten, Jungle cat, Long-tailed marmot, Otter

After breakfast you will start your drive towards Pahalgam. On the way visit the famous Awantipora Temple.

Pahalgam: Pahalgam (2133 mts) also known as 'The valley of Shepherds or Trekker's Paradise. Pahalgam is the most famous place for Indian Film Industry. One can just enjoy the town of Pahalgam trek to some of the most beautiful places on earth. One can trek to Kolohoi Glacier or to Sonamarg. Pahalgam is also the entry point for the famous Amarnath Cave, a holy site for Hindus.

Awantipora Temple: Built by King Avantivarman between 855-883 AD, these fascinating temples still hold the interest of both religious devotees and history buffs till date. The majestic pillars and carved sculptures of various deities hold testimony to the architectural brilliance of that era. The two main structures, the Avantiswhar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Avantiswami temple to Lord Vishnu, are also the perfect spots for great photography.

Saffron Fields: Saffron is a rare spice which grows only in few places in the world. Derived from the flower of Crocus Sativus or Saffron Crocus, the spice has exceptional medicinal properties and is commonly used in cooking and traditional medicines. In Kashmir, saffron grows in a small town known as Pampore which is about 13 kilometers away from Srinagar. During autumn months, when the flowers bloom, you will be able to see rows and rows of purple flowers in Pampore. A walk amidst these flowers is certainly a beautiful experience.

In Pahalgam, one can also visit Betaab Valley | Aru Valley | Chandanwari as well as take a horse riding trip to Baisaran meadows (By Local Cab | Pony).

Betaab Valley: Sprawling fertile pastures, snow-capped mountains and meandering streams are characteristic of this valley and add to the aesthetic appeal of this place. Apart from being well-known for this stunning landscape, the valley is also a renowned as a famous trekking base and camping site for travelers who want to explore the nearby regions.

Aru Valley: Located 12 km from Pahalgam, despite being a small village Aru Valley is captivating with its scenic meadows and activities like horse riding, hiking and trekking. This place is an excellent choice for people looking to spend their holidays in luxury as well as those looking for some adrenaline pumping adventure.

Baisaran: Baisaran is a beautiful destination 6 kms away from Pahalgam. With tranquil meadows, pristine lakes and picturesque setting, you can just stroll down the area or sit down to have a picnic. The place also has very many options of fun games and rides, pony rides, zorbing etc. The place is a popular tourist attraction in the area

After breakfast you will leave for Gulmarg.

Gulmarg: Gulmarg (8700 ft i.e. 2652 mts), known as 'Meadow of flowers. Discovered by the Kashmiri romantic poet in the 16th century who was inspired with its grassy slopes covered with wild flowers. It is one of the India's premier Hill resorts. Gulmarg today is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty - It also turns into India's premier Ski resort in winter.

Gulmarg Gondola: Gulmarg Gondola is the second longest and second highest cable car in the world. The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley. The second stage of the ropeway, takes skiers to a height of (12,293 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (13,780 ft).

In Gulmarg, one can also visit Strawberry Valley, St. Mary Church | Maharani Temple as well as you can enjoy the golf at the famed 18 hole golf course. (By walk | Pony)

Strawberry Valley: A hidden attraction in Gulmarg is Strawberry Valley, unexploited by tourism and still holding its nascent beauty and charm. The emerald meadows with budding red strawberries look like a picture straight out from Garden of Eden. Covered in pristine elegance, with clear blue skies overhead and verdant green meads all along, a visit to Strawberry Valley is a delight to the naked eye and an enthralling experience altogether. Surrounded by dainty houses in the distance and mighty hills in the backdrop, the valley offers a getaway you would not want to come back from.

St. Mary Church: Standing tall, even after a 100 odd years, is this Victorian architectural wonder of the Saint Mary's Church located near the Golf Course in Gulmarg. This might well be your messiah to experiencing the ancient architectural wonders that our country is the most renowned for. More like a tiny countryside chapel in appearance, this church is made of grey stone walls. The church looks the most scintillating during the winter season especially when it is surrounded by snow.

Maharani Temple: Situated in the middle of Gulmarg, the Maharani temple is an example of religions intertwined with a Muslim priest performing rituals in the temple. Maharani Temple was built by Mohini Bai Sisodhi, wife of Maharaja Hari Singh in 1915. This temple belongs to the Dogra Kings of Jammu & Kashmir.

Golf Course: Famed as the highest 18 hole golf course in the world, this golf course is also the longest in India. Situated at an altitude of 8700 feet above sea level, this place was used to play golf by Britishers since 1911 and the golf course was inaugurated formally in 2011. The golf course is very beautiful and consists of a meadow with various varieties of beautiful and rare species of flowers. The flowers are in full bloom during the months of June to September.

After breakfast you will start your drive towards Srinagar. Evening free for personal activities.

After breakfast you will leave for full day excursion to Sonamarg.

Sonamarg: Sonamarg (2740 mts) also known as 'The Meadow of Gold' or "The Gateway of Ladakh” Sonamarg is 84 Kms from Srinagar and is surrounded by colorful mountains and thick Pine forests. Thajwas Glacier is 3 Kms in the south of Sonamarg. Slopes and meadows are sparkled with the loveliest of alpine flowers, while the rich forests of fir, sycamore and birch at their lush green beauty to the scene. Along with the Pahalgam, Sonamarg is an excellent takeoff point for treks into the mountains and in itself is an ideal camping ground where glaciers pour down from the Himalayas. Sonamarg is also the entry point for the famous Amarnath Cave, a holy site for Hindus via Baltal Valley.

Thajiwas Glacier: Thajiwas glacier at an altitude of 9,186 feet is a striking silvery scene set against emerald meadows and a clear blue sky. It is 3 Kms in the south of Sonamarg. In summers, you can take a half-day hike to numerous waterfalls around this glacier. The road will be long and the journey hard but the captivating views make it worthwhile.

After breakfast you will leave for half day City tour with Craft & Heritage Walk.

Jamia Masjid: Jamia Masjid is a mosque in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. The Jamia Masjid of Srinagar is situated at Nowhatta in the middle of the Old City. It was built by sultan Sikandar Shah Kashmiri Shahmiri in 1394 AD under the order of Mir Mohmmad Hamadani, son of Said-ul-Auliya Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. Sultan Sikhandar's son Zain-ul-abidin extended the Jama Masjid by including turret. It has similarities to Buddhist pagodas and is constructed in Persian style. Jamia Masjid is located in a historical area (famous as downtown area) which also was central zone to the religio-political life in Srinagar. The mosque was designed to hold 33,333 persons besides the imam at a single prayer congregation.

Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani: Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani was a Persian Sufi of the Kubrawiya order, a poet and a prominent Shafi Muslim scholar. He was born in Hamadan, and was buried in Khatlan Tajikistan. He played a major role in spreading Islam in Kashmir and also influenced the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was known as Shāh-e-Hamadān ("King of Hamadān"), Amīr-i Kabīr ("the Great Commander").

Spice Market: One can visit the Old Spice market in the old city and witness the various household spices used by the local community.

After breakfast you will leave for Day Trekking activities to Naranag & Dumail

Naranag: Naranag is located at an altitude of 2128 m and mainly serves as the base camp for several treks like Kashmir Great Lakes trek, Gangabal Lake Trek and trek to Mount Harmukh. The small village is located on the banks of Wangath River. Naranag is the home to one of the most ancient temple complexes in Kashmir. The place is rich in history and archaeology. The road from Srinagar to Naranag is just beautiful with paddy fields, surrounding hills and peaks hidden by cloud and mist. The journey is beautiful, but nothing compares to the place itself.

Dumail: Dumail is a pristine and beautiful camping spot near Naranag. Dumail can be reached by 2 hours trek from the village. The trail leading to Dumail is absolutely gorgeous running along the river and through thick coniferous forest interspersed by a few Gujjar settlements. The hiking trail through the forest is quite easy and can be easily done by beginners. At Dumail, the Wangat and Marchoi streams meet and merge into one.

Today you will be transferred from Hotel | Houseboat to Airport to catch flight for onward journey with sweet holiday memories.