Has anyone done Srinagar-Amarnath by heli? What's the cost?

Hey Friends, even i have planned a Ride to LEH, but as all of you go solo on bike, i would be going with a pillion on my ZMA....

Just a Rough Sketch of My Schedule:-

SATURDAY 3RD JULY - 2010
MUMBAI TO DELHI - RAJDHANI
TRANSPORT BIKE IN THE SAME TRAIN

SUNDAY 4TH JULY - 2010
REACH DELHI
REST IN DELHI
CHECK BIKE AND PLAN THE ROUTE
ASSEMBLE EVEYRTHING REQUIRED.

MONDAY 5TH JULY - 2010
EARLY MORNING
MOVE FOR MANALI FROM DELHI
NIGHT REST IN MANALI

TUESDAY 6TH JULY - 2010
MANALI TO KEYLONG
NIGHT REST IN KEYLONG

WEDNESDAY 7TH JULY 2010
KEYLONG TO SARCHU
NIGHT REST IN SARCHU TENTS

THURSDAY 8TH JULY 2010
SARCHU TO LEH
REST IN LEH

FRIDAY 9TH JULY 2010
APPLY FOR PERMIT IN LEH
ENJOY FEW PLACES IN LEH
REST IN LEH

SATURDAY 10 JULY 2010
LEH TO PANGONG TSO
REST ON PANGONG TSO

SUNDAY 11 JULY 2010
PANGONG TSO TO LEH
REST IN LEH

MONDAY 12TH JULY 2010
LEH - KHARDUNGLA - NUBRA VALLEY
REST IN NUMBRA VALLY

TUESDAY 13TH JULY 2010
NUBRA VALLY - KHARDUNGLA - LEH
REST IN LEH

WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY 2010
LEH TO KARGIL
REST IN KARGIL

THURSDAY 15TH JULY 2010
KARGIL TO SRINAGAR
REST IN SRINAGAR

FRIDAY 16TH JULY 2010
DAY OFF IN SRINAGAR

SATURDAY 17TH JULY 2010
SRINAGAR TO JAMMU
REST IN JAMMU

SUNDAY 18TH JULY 2010
JAMMU TO DHARMASALA
DHARAMSALA TO McLEOD GANJ
REST IN McLEOD GANJ

MONDAY 19TH JULY 2010
McLEOD GANJ TO AMRITSAR
REST IN AMRITSAR

TUESDAY 20TH JULY 2010
AMRITSAR TO CHANDIGARH
REST IN CHANDIGARH

WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY 2010
CHANDIGARH TO NEW DELHI
REST IN DELHI

THURSADY 22ND JULY 2010
DAY OFF IN NEW DELHI

FRIDAY 23RD JULY 2010
NEW DELHI TO MUMBAI
TRAIN FROM NEW DELHI RAJDHANI EXPRESS

SATURDAY 24TH JULY 2010
BACK IN MUMBAI


This is what we have planned, if any one has suggestions please let me know.

Its a green signal from mhy side....keep us updated abt thentrip...and according to me,,its better to get the bikes on the train in kalka....its just 30 mins from chandigarh...paschim express starts from kalka goes via chandigarh to bandra!!!

Yep, even I think getting on the train at Kalka is safer option for the bike. So this is the itinerary for now:

28 Aug Day 1: reach Srinagar, collect the bikes and go for a shikara ride in Dal Lake.
29 Aug Day 2: Srinagar - Kargil
30 Aug Day 3: Kargil - Leh
31 Aug Day 4: rest in Leh and get the permits made (at the same time you can visit Thiksey, Leh Palace etc.)
1 Sep Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Diskit/Hunder (Nubra Valley)
2 Sep Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing and by afternoon, start heading back to Leh
3 Sep Day 7: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso
4 Sep sun Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh
5 Sep Day 9: rest in Leh
6 Sep Day 10: Leh - Upshi - Chumathang - Tso Moriri (Korzok)
7 Sep Day 11: spend the day at Tso Moriri and if you want, move to Tso Kar in the afternoon
8 Sep Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Pang - Sarchu
9 Sep Day 13: Sarchu - Manali
10 Sep Day 14: Rest in Manali
11 Sep Day 15: Ride to Kalka
12 Sep Day 16: Get on the train with bike for Mumbai

I may not go to J&K soon after this trip, therefore I am planning to add a day or two for srinagar sight seeing. Any inputs for this? How many days are required for Srinagar and what to see?

^ How do u intend to transport your bikes till Srinagar??

Gati Cargo or similar. Gati quoted 3000rs from Pune to Srinagar, and 4-6 days for delivery. Guaranteed delivery if bike given about 10 days in advance.

Not bad - but be careful of the delivery time. It is common for these guys to delay the delivery and that can end up ruining ur trip. Another confirmed way is to send the bike by train : Jhelum express, from Pune to Jammu. Cheaper and efficient. The only prob is u will have to ride from Jammu to Srinagar - a days ride.

A small bump for visibility to new members and some addition. I am riding to Delhi and catch Delhi Pune duronto express on monday. This is the itinerary till now:

28 Aug Day 1: reach Srinagar, collect the bikes and go for a shikara ride in Dal Lake.
29 Aug Day 2: Srinagar - Kargil
30 Aug Day 3: Kargil - Leh
31 Aug Day 4: rest in Leh and get the permits made (at the same time you can visit Thiksey, Leh Palace etc.)
1 Sep Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Diskit/Hunder (Nubra Valley)
2 Sep Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing and by afternoon, start heading back to Leh
3 Sep Day 7: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso
4 Sep sun Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh
5 Sep Day 9: rest in Leh
6 Sep Day 10: Leh - Upshi - Chumathang - Tso Moriri (Korzok)
7 Sep Day 11: spend the day at Tso Moriri and if you want, move to Tso Kar in the afternoon
8 Sep Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Pang - Sarchu
9 Sep Day 13: Sarchu - Manali
10 Sep Day 14: Rest in Manali
11 Sep Day 15: Ride to Chandigadh
12 Sep Day 16: Ride to Delhi
13 Sep Day 17: Get on the Delhi Pune Duronto train with bike for Mumbai
14 Sep Day 18: Reach Pune at 7am.

If I can cover Manali Delhi distance in one day, then I can have a spare day at Delhi for shopping/sight seeing. I think this plan covers all good spots and gives enough time to enjoy everything.

Just some info. If you take your bike with you on the train you are travelling on, it will go as extra luggage and the charges will be approx. 1200-1400.

Yep, I know that Vishwas, as I have taken bike with me to and fro Rajasthan . I prefer to pay a bit more for the added convenience of taking out the bike with me from the station, and not having to come back to the station in office time and haggle with babus and agents. I think in the end the cost will come same.

If we parcel the bike from Delhi to Pune and not take it as luggage with us, we can't get it out at Pune at 7am when the train reaches. I'll have to come back to the station, grease the hands of babus to get it out. So effectively it will come out as same.

Sorry to barge in. But be careful while sending the bike through Gati and other packers.
Two years back when we sent the bike from Bangalore to Delhi and return, we didn't have a pleasant experience.

We shipped the bike from Ambala Gati (since their main office is there only), they shipped the bikes on time but it was damaged pretty badly.
My bike's tail plastic had rubbed against something and took out the paint totally.
Sunil sir's bike had a dent of the size of a fist. Apparently they shipped small lpg cylinders along with the bikes which fell down on the tank on the way.

While sending from Bangalore it was even worse. Front fender broken, handle bar bent, fairing broken. This was by the packers called "Aakash Packers". It seems the truck carrying the bikes had met an accident which caused so much of damage to the bikes. Luckily the damages weren't severe enough to hamper our trip but it wasn't a good feeling to see the bikes in such condition even after paying so much to these packers movers.

Trains should be much safer to transport the bike I feel. Both have their share of troubles but you have to choose.

Actually a unaccompanied parcel costs more than extra luggage.So in fact,we both are talking about taking the bike as extra luggage.

Some correction here, Vishwas. Parcel actually costs much less than luggage, only thing is we have to put it a few days ago, and have to collect it from the parcel office in office hours. But the submission process is so corrupt, that unless you are actually sending the bike to some relative or something, its better to take it accompanied by you.

See this BCMT thread for details. I have found the posted file is accurate.

Rules and Charges of Bike transportation - India Travel Forum, BCMTouring.com

Rent to book a bike (other than bullet/zma - they are expensive) is Rs 850 in Jhelum and Rs 1200 in Duronto (Pune to Delhi). But if that was the only money (plus packing cost) train would have made a lot more financial sense to send the bike.

I had gone there to book my bike in Duronto, to carry with myself to Delhi. The round figure I was quoted was Rs 2,100 (rent + packing + fee's of the booking agent), how much low you can come will depend on your negotiation skills and how much the agent is willing to come down.
They are ok, if you don't want to pay them but then they will tell you to do all the work your self, also push the bike to the platform and load yourself.

Now, a new document is needed by cop's sitting there. NOC, yes even if my bike is Pune registered they want NOC or some other equal worth paper document printed by govt. And, I have not yet experienced things at the station where I'll pick my bike.

With ~4hrs to be spend at station to book the bike and few hours to be spend to get the bike at the destination, no fixed amount of bribe to be paid there known. I decided to opt for a slower, slightly expensive mode of transport, GATI. They charged me 2076 + 250(packing), no bribing etc. Bike was nicely packed and has already reached their Delhi godown.

Regarding bike getting damaged, it all depends on your luck and how well the bike is packed. I'm not sure how many people can see their bike's getting loaded into train (yes, I have send my bike once by tain too).
If you want your bike to reach the destination in perfect condition, ride down. Train/Courier, won't guarantee that bike can always be delivered without a single scratch.

I have send bike by tain 1.5times (0.5 times for this time, when I went through all the negotiation talks and then pulled out) and gati 5times.

Edit: Oh and lets not forget the pain of searching for petrol at the destination (unless someone is waiting with petrol for you). Courier, bike will be standing at destination (your friend/relative's house).

Thanks for the encouraging experience, Nav! I too am praying my bike would reach good by Gati. While coming back, I will mostly bring it through train only, as I need it in Pune with me. Otherwise at 7a.m. Pune's rickshawalla's will have a Diwali (read THOROUGHLY loot us) taking a tired me, wife and a lot of luggage!

Some additional info Nav, for other readers. You can skip the agent completely, no matter how hard they try. I found their take out of the full amount is 500rs. You can easily save atleast 300-400 by getting the work done yourself, and bribing the authorities! I did the same on my Rajasthan ride