Key hubs
Gurez airport and railway station
- Airport
- Srinagar International Airport (SXR), at Budgam about 12 km south of the city; Gurez is then a long mountain drive of about 6 to 8 hours to Dawar, depending on checkposts and stops
- Railway station
- No railway in Gurez. The nearest railhead is Srinagar (SINA) at Nowgam, from where the road journey begins
- Getting around
- Hire a driver from Srinagar or Bandipora for the whole trip; local taxis in Dawar cover the valley. Petrol is limited beyond Bandipora, so fill up before the climb.
How to reach Gurez by air
The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 12 km south of Srinagar. From there Dawar is about 6 to 8 hours by road. There is no regular passenger air service to Gurez.
How to reach Gurez by train
Gurez has no railway. The nearest station is Srinagar (SINA) at Nowgam, on the Kashmir Valley line, from where you continue by road via Bandipora.
How to reach Gurez by road
From Srinagar the road goes through Bandipora, Tragbal and Razdan Pass (about 3,556 m) to Dawar, about 123 km by the commonly quoted figure; other sources give longer. The pass is closed by snow for months each winter, and army checkposts operate along the route.
Getting around Gurez
Hire a driver in Srinagar or Bandipora for the whole trip. In Dawar, local taxis cover the valley and nearby villages. Walking is pleasant around Dawar, but distances between sights in the valley are too long for casual strolls.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Gurez
- Carry regular medicines for the whole trip plus a spare. Dawar has only basic health facilities, and serious cases normally go to Srinagar.
- Start the drive early, fill up with fuel in Bandipora and avoid crossing the pass in rain, fog or fading light.
- Carry cash and download offline maps. Mobile networks and ATMs are unreliable beyond the pass.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.