Kashmir today
 

Has anyone traveled to Kashmir recently? What is it like? Is it still considered a "dangerous" area to be in? What a shame, the natural beauty is just amazing in pictures…

Would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has been there recently, or has contemplated going. Thanks.

There has been recent fighting along the border and there have been casualties - including civilians - on both sides.

I've wanted to go to Kashmir for decades, but the time has not been right. The fact that a professional colleague of mine was murdered in Kashmir a number of years ago makes me take the issues there seriously.

Our exchange student grew up in Kashmir. They moved to Dehli about 15 years ago, then New Zealand. Despite missing their home, they have never gone back to Kashmir as they feel it is unsafe.

Read your government travel advice.
Speak to whoever you buy your travel insurance off.
Whatever advice you get off a stranger on a message board counts for nowt if it hits the fan.

Kathie. Please read what you've just said to me on the Hat Yai thread. Aren't you being a bit contradictory?

How is she being contradictory? She's not offering any advice -- just giving her take on various places she'd feel comfortable going.

As opposed to your stunningly bad advice of taking cues from a travel insurance company?? Yes, call up a toll-free number and speak to an agent who has probably never left their desk, nonetheless the country, and let them tell you how safe it is to go somewhere.

Daft, daft, daft.

Sad person.

Thank you all for the perspective.

An alternative we were considering was Shimla in Himachal Pradesh... Any comparisons or contrasts in terms of natural scenery, political strife, etc.?

Sad person. In case you didn't know, travel insurance companies take their cue from government travel advice. Anyone who thinks their travel is essential when their government has advised against travel will find themselves very much on their Tod if they're unfortunate enough to need assistance.

As you say, daft daft daft.

Shimla is lovely, I hear (I've only researched it, haven't been there). There are a lot of areas in/near the Himalayas that are lovely and where there is not active warfare going on.

LL, if your advice is anything like your trip reports, I'll pass.

itspat, stay away from Kashmir (and any active war zone)...but please don't let a trip insurance company be the barometer for where you travel in the world.

If I let government travel warnings deter my travel I would've avoided many a wonderful and enlightening vacation in Southeast Asia over the last 10 years. Travel warnings should be taken with a grain of salt -- and some serious research (as you're doing here and learning that, in this case, perhaps not such a good idea). But they are never as black and white as some here would have you believe.

No wonder people can't follow my logic if they follow your dribble.

Perhaps I just have posted this at the outset...

http://www.justtravelcover.com/trave...nsurance-cover

I've been to Shimla a few times. Beautiful mountain views and interesting mix of Indian & Raj culture. It was most fun in the late spring, when there are lots of activities going on. on one trip, we went to Shimla, then hired a car to take us to Dharmasala. I am not usually a fan of mountain driving in India, but we really enjoyed it.

Hi there,
We’ve travelled Kashmir a few years back and it seemed the same kind of ‘situation’ there like now. We enjoyed every minute of it, came in by train/bus from Delhi and had a lovely time in Badarwah valley ( http://konniandmatt.blogspot.com/201...bhadarwah.html - attending a local festival) on our way to Srinagar. We were staying on a houseboat on Dal Lake, which we liked a lot: http://konniandmatt.blogspot.com/201...-srinagar.html After that we carried on by bus to Leh/Ladakh and enjoyed these Buddhist places even more, less touristy than Kashmir.
Enjoy your trip!
Cheers, Konni.
www.konniandmatt.blogspot.com