The very thought of this place will leave you with scenic views of snow-capped mountains and frozen lakes. We are discussing about the very own nations paradise as Kashmir. As long as the Kashmiri gets to row his shikara, herd his sheep, temper his willow bats, grow his apples and light his kangri in peace, what’s an India, what is a Pakistan.
We started via train from Varanasi and had to reach New Delhi. Shiv Ganga express was the best choice made for traversing through this overnight journey. We had checked in for available food options and stations falling en-route and order our food at the boarding station. Food ordered at Varanasi (BSB) via e-catering IRCTC portal was served to us and it was much better that what we had expected. Our next stoppage was Kanpur Central. Being a night owl, I preferred surfing to find out the available options when we would reach Delhi for our connecting train to Jammu.
When we reached the capital city, we had a train to catch in the evening and we had booked a waiting room. We checked some lunch options nearby and ordered food at New Delhi station from e-catering service providers. The food was awesome and prepared us for the journey ahead. We had planned to cover multiple locations in this trip. Starting with Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to all nearby location was in our list.
Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine:
The new railway line between Udhampur to Katra will take devotees directly to Katra.The 25 kilometer long train service to Katra from Udhampur is an important section of the long-awaited line connecting Vaishno Devi and the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country. Katra town is famous base camp among pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi temple, where an estimated 10 million pilgrims pay reverence with their families every year. The Katra Railway Station is equipped with a range of modern facilities which include tourist guide counter, waiting hall, cloak room, VIP lounge, escalators, lifts and parking spaces. The 4 platforms can accommodate 26 coach-trains. The escalator connects station building and platform number one. Lifts have been provided for going from platform number one to exit from station.
Patnitop:
This was the second destination in our list and we had heard a lot about it from our fellow friends. The snow capped mountains and houses could easily make you feel cold breeze gushing . Patnitop is a popular hill station that is located in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. The name ‘Patnitop’ is a distortion from the original name ‘Patan da Talab’ meaning ‘Pond of the Princess’. It is dominated by shrubs and pine trees which heightens its scenic charm. During summers, the wonderful scenery makes it a soul stirring place. In winters, a thick mantle of snow makes it a favored destination for skiing lovers.
Srinagar:
The capital of J&K, Srinagar is one of the most beautiful places in Kashmir. Take a shikara ride on the peaceful Dal Lake, view the city from the top of Shankaracharya Temple and stay in the iconic house boats on your next trip. You’ll definitely fall in love with Kashmir! Srinagar is home to the Shalimar Gardens that are on the back of the Rs. 10 Indian Currency Note. We boarded a taxi ride from Jammu to Srinagar. The major attractions of this place includes hous-boat stay and Shalimar gardens.
Pahalgam:
Surrounded by Lidder Lake and Betaab Valley, Pahalgam is the place you visit to experience clear water rivers and exhilarating deep valleys. This place is famous for river rafting at Lidder Lake, golfing and shopping for traditional Kashmiri items.One can take a train to Jammu which is about 255 kilometers from Pahalgam. You can then rent a taxi to Pahelgam. One can reach there by air by boarding a flight to Srinagar which is at a distance of 95 kilometers from Pahalgam.
Leh-Ladakh:
Leh is popular with romantics and adventurers alike. This destination is akin to a pilgrimage site for bikers, college goers and adventure drivers, who dream of a Ladakh trip at least once in their lifetime. The clear freezing water of Pangong Tso Lake, the vision of the Magnetic Hills and the beautiful blue sky that goes beyond your eyesight makes you lose yourself in the beauty of Leh & Ladakh.
Now was the time to head back and leave other destinations for our return journey. We reached Jammu and boarded the train again toward Delhi. We ordered breakfast in train at Ludhiana on our way back. The return journey was via New Delhi- Puri, Purushottam Express. Our Train was supposed to reach Aligarh station in night, so we pre-planned our food arrangements for the the same. The next morning we were at Allahabad Jn. where we ordered food in train at Allahabad Jn again. Trust us, food and travel was not a bigger concern during this journey.
Even if you are traveling in train, e-catering partners have made special arrangements for train journey. You may order food at Nagda junction from our e-catering partner. In case if you are traveling around negligible network coverage, the Railrestro app can be a lot handy for ordering food in trains. We also have special offer for bulk food orders in train. Just call us at 8102888111 and our representatives would be more than happy to assist you on the same.