Hotel Shefaf is a mid-priced hotel in Srinagar, and it is a useful option for travellers who prefer a conventional hotel room to a houseboat or a mountain lodge. A standard hotel can be easier for those who value a reception desk open at all hours, a private bathroom with reliable hot water, a room that can be heated properly in winter and the freedom to come and go without arranging a boat. Facilities differ from one hotel to the next, so check the room types, heating, breakfast and parking when you book. As a general guide, a hotel in this class suits couples, families and small groups who plan to spend most of their time out sightseeing and want a comfortable, uncomplicated place to rest at the end of the day.
Srinagar is a city of water, gardens and old wooden architecture, and a hotel base gives you flexibility to see all of it. The Mughal gardens, the lakeside boulevard, the old city with its wooden shrines and the busy markets are all reached by a short drive, and a hotel desk can usually arrange taxis and drivers for the day.
Check the map position when you book, and compare it with the places on your list, because traffic and security checks can lengthen journeys. Ask the staff about the best times to visit the gardens and the lake, since mornings and late afternoons tend to be the most pleasant.
Many visitors combine a hotel in Srinagar with a night or two on a houseboat, and with trips to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. A hotel is a handy anchor for this kind of plan: you can leave extra luggage at the front desk, return between trips and have laundry done. Ask whether the hotel can arrange a driver for the full trip, what vehicle will be used and how early you will need to leave. Mountain roads are slower than they look on the map, and weather can change quickly, so plan flexible days.
Kashmiri food is a pleasure. Look for wazwan dishes, rogan josh, yakhni, noon chai, sheermal bread and kahwa tea flavoured with saffron and almonds. Ask the hotel staff where locals eat, and let them know if you prefer milder food. Fresh walnuts, almonds, dried fruit and saffron make good souvenirs, but compare prices and check quality before buying.
Practical tips
Bring warm layers outside summer, since evenings are cool even when days are sunny, and in winter check that the room has adequate heating. Carry cash for small purchases, as card acceptance can vary and mobile networks can be restricted in some areas. Keep a copy of your ID with you, expect security checks on the roads and check your government's current travel advice and local guidance before you book and travel.
Who it suits
Couples, families and independent travellers who want a dependable room. Who might look elsewhere: guests seeking a lake setting or a mountain-resort atmosphere. Check current rates, breakfast arrangements and cancellation terms before you confirm.
Why stay here
- ✓Conventional hotel rooms
- ✓Reception and front desk
- ✓Private bathrooms (check room type)
- ✓Heating (check when you book)
- ✓Breakfast arrangements
- ✓Taxi and driver help
- ✓Luggage storage
- ✓Base for Gulmarg and Pahalgam trips
Good questions
Is it a hotel or a houseboat?+
It is a conventional hotel. Houseboats are listed separately on this page.
Can the hotel arrange day trips?+
Hotels in this class usually can arrange or recommend drivers. Ask the front desk when you book.
Is heating available?+
Check the room type and heating when you book, especially in winter.
