Bad Experience – Trip to Kashmir – June 18, 2015 to June 24, 2015 – DPauls
I have booked a 6 nights and 7 days package from DPaul for Kashmir from June 18,2015 to June 24,2015. I must say that the trip was not at all planned by DPaul. We have struggled a lot all the local sight-seeing in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahagaon. It was very difficult to manage everything with our one and a half year old son. The name and contact person from is Mr. Ashwak (Mobile No. 09873782099) from Experience Indian Tours and Travels Limited. Mr. Rakesh Rawat (Mobile No. 09212647117). The driver provided to us was rude and least interested in our tour. Our day wise experience is provided below:-
Day One: Arrival and overnight at Srinagar and Shikara ride at Dal Lake
Our Review:- We were informed by DPaul that the Shikara ride is for 90 minutes. However, our Shikara ride was completed within 40-45 minutes. Also, the ride was completed without visiting the floating market. The driver of Shikara told us that the Shikara ride closes at 7:30 pm. After talking to the locals, we came to know that the Shikara ride can be done till 10 pm in the night. Also, there is a big floating market which we have missed. We were completely unaware of all these things and feel cheated.
Day Two: Proceed to Sonmarg from Srinagar and back
Our Review:- Due to security reasons, we were asked to start at 7 am in the morning from Srinagar and come back after 5pm. God knows how much this fact is true. We noticed that this was done to enable the driver to come back home early for this personal requirements since there were many families who came late to Sonmarg. After reaching Sonmarg, we were asked by the driver to negotiate with the locals of Sonmarg for going for local sight visit to Sonmarg. The locals were misbehaved with us and demanded to pay Rs. 2,100/- for visiting ice Glacier. To authenticate the payment of Rs. 2100/-, they even took the oath of Ramzan and told these are government rates. After talking to locals taxi drivers and other tourist, we came to know that the actual rate is Rs. 800/-. After we enquired the actual rate from the taxi driver that we have hired for local sightseeing, he started talking to us in the bad language and misbehaved with us. Our driver (hired by DPaul) kept his mouth shut and kept listening to all the conversations. We also complaint about this to Mr. Rakesh (DPaul) and Mr. Ashwaq (Experience India Tours and Travels). They told us that they are helpless on this matter. We were completely unaware of all this matter and felt very bad and again cheated. Also, he refused to sit in the garden at 4pm in the evening on the way for long by saying that he is late and needs to reach home early.
Day Three: Proceed to Gulmarg and overnight stay at hotel at Gulmarg
Our Review:- After reaching Gulmarg and talking to the Driver, we were informed that the there are two phases of Gandola ride in Gulmarg. Phase – 1, wherein there is a Garden to play and some restaurants and Phase – II, wherein there is snow. On the request of the driver and discussions, we hired a guide for Rs. 600/- to take us for Gondola ride (Phase I and Phase II) and local sightseeing. However, the guide could only get us tickets for phase – I only due to non-availability of tickets , however many other people were going for phase II. We begged in front of the local cable operator to take us to the phase – II. But they refused and informed us that the tickets booked through online only were entertained for phase II. This is a complete disaster of Dpaul of not informing us that the ticket should be booked online also. We would have taken care of this fact in advance and completed all the booking. Mere mentioning in the Itinerary that the Gondola ride is not included in the package would not help us in anyway. We came to Srinagar to enjoy the snow only. We gave Rs. 54,000/- (27,000 per person) to DPaul to enable us to assist us in planning the trip and not making us life hell and miserable. We again felt cheated and helpless.
Day Four & Five: Gulmarg to Pahalgaon and stay for two nights at Pahalgaon
Our Review:- In Pahalgaon for local sightseeing, our driver has informed that we can hire a cab at fixed rate for roaming at three points i.e. Chandanwari, Betab Valley and Aaru valley. Also, for local sight-seeing (i.e. amusement park, deer park, Mahabaleswar temple and mini-Switzerland), we need to take horse for ride. After talking to the localites in Pahalgaon, we came to now that the local sightseeing can be done by your private taxi also. There is no compulsion to take the horse ride. We called the driver and asked him for the local sightseeing. He came from 10-15 kms away place and took us for the local sightseeing. After some time he told that he needs to go to his friends place and refused to wait for us and drop us to the hotel. We were forced to leave the car in between and hire another taxi for Rs. 500/- to reach hotel. We have paid Rs. 3,000/- per day for taxi on disposal basis. We do not understand why we were not guided us properly and left us in the middle of the road without even thinking that we had an infant with us. From the behavior of the Driver, we understood that the he has come to Pahalgaon to visit this friends and relatives rather than taking care of his guests. This day also is felt really cheated and angry.
Day Six: Pahalgaon to Srinagar and overnight stay at boat.
Our Review:- On our way back from Pahagaon to Srinagar, we kept on asking the driver to take us to places for local sightseeing on the way back from Pahalgaon to Srinagar. However, he did not speak a word even after knowing all the places to visit. We kept on telling him again and again and also talking to the locals on the way. He drove the car very slow so that we are not left any time to Srinagar for local sightseeing. After reaching Srinagar, he left us at the boat for night stay at 5:30 pm. We requested him to take us to the Mughal garden or any other place for sigth seeing. But he refused and said that all the places are closed. We requested him to take for local sight-seeing again on the next day morning. To this request he informed us that the all the places for sightseeing opens at 10 am in the morning. We enquired the timings from the locals.
We were informed that the all the gardens open at 9am in the morning and are closed at 9pm in the night. We complaint this matter with Mr. Ashwak. After a lot of discussions, we changed the driver for dropping us at the airport.
We visited Kashmir to relax and were in blind trust of DPaul, since we had a good experience in Singapore-Thailand trip and Switzerland trip. We are very upset that the even after spending Rs. 54,000/- for two adult, we were struggling to make ourselves comfortable and relaxed. This is due to the complete fault and misguidance of Dpaul. In summary, our mistake of giving money in advance to Dpaul for this trip has made people to take us for granted. We came to Srinagar to enjoy and not complain/co-ordinate every time to get a good and satisfactory services.
We are very frustrated and would never plan our trip from DPaul domestic packages till we are alive.
With all bad regards,
Rohit Jain
Mobile No. 09899972470
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