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Srinagar has a great number of hotels apart from its
well-known floating hostelries. If one wants something at the very bottom
of the price scale or, conversely, at the top end of the luxury scale, one
may find it easier on dry land. Prices are very variable with the season
and the number of tourists.
Banks & Money Exchange:
There are a number of banks in Srinagar and money-changing facilities are
also available at the airport and in several of the larger hotels. The
GPO, with efficient poste restante facilities, is on the bund, quite near
the tourist reception centre. The telegraph office and the telephone
office are on Maulana Azad Road.
Visa Renewals:
Non-commonwealth citizens wanting to renew their visas beyond three
months should go to the foreigners Registration centre in the park between
the post office and the Tourist Reception Centre.
The J&K road transport corporation is also located at the TRC. There
are some good bookshops around Srinagar, one of the best is under the
Indian coffee house, another is the Kashmir bookshop on the bund.
Tourist Office:
The Srinagar office of the J&K Department of Tourism is at the
Tourist Reception Centre - a large complex which houses the various
tourist departments, airline offices, a restaurant/cafeteria, an
accommodation block, hotel and houseboat booking counters and is the
departure and arrival point for J&K road transport corporation tour
buses and buses to Jammu and Leh.
The Taxi Drivers Union Office and one of the major taxi stands for up
country routes is directly across the road from the Tourist Reception
Centre, as is the Houseboat Owners Association Office.
PLACES
TO EAT/RESTAURANTS
· Mughal Darbar, Residency Road
· Alka Salka, Residency Road
· Ahdoo's, Residency Road
· The Capri Bar & Restaurant, Residency Road
· The Premier, Residency Road
· The Tibetan Lhasa Restaurant, Just Off The Boulevard
· The Shamyana, On The Boulevard Near Dal Lake
· The Punjab Hotel & Restaurant, On Lal Chowk Opposite The
Palladium Cinema
· The Badshah (JKTDC)
· The South Indian Restaurant, Behind The Reception Centre
PLACES TO SHOP
There is a whole string of Government Handicraft Emporiums scattered
around Srinagar but the main one is housed in the fine Old British
Residency buildings by the Bund. Here one will find a representative
selection of reasonably good quality items at reasonable prices. Even if
one doesn't buy anything, and take advantage of the government's quality
guarantee, it's a good idea to familiarise oneself with what's available
here.
Go Shopping!
Other good shopping areas include along the Boulevard by Dal Lake where
some of the flashiest shops can be found. The Bund also has an interesting
selection of shops including suffering moses, where one will find some
particularly high quality items. The Government Central Market, across
Badshah Bridge, has a variety of stalls and again some government quality
and price control is exercised, Hari Singh Stand, near the Amira Kadal
Bridge, is a popular older shopping area, as are Polo View Road and
Lambert Lane in the centre.
There are literally hundred of other shops scattered all over Srinagar
and countless Shikaras patrol Dal lake like shoals of sharks, loaded down
with the same items one will find in the shops.