city in India
Anantnag is a city in India, and the second largest city in Kashmir Valley. It is the only city with its District Headquarter having the largest number of tourist spots in Kashmir valley.
Anantnag is situated just after the Jawahar Tunnel (the main tunnel that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by road) on NH 1A. It is 53 km from Srinagar, the state's summer capital. Many people take the train to Jammu followed by a taxi or bus ride to reach here. The journey from Jammu to Anantnag is costlier in summer because the capital shifts from Jammu, the winter capital, to Srinagar on both the state buses and taxis. State buses are safer but take more time and are a bit uncomfortable.
Usually it takes around a half a day to reach here from Jammu. J&K State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates fairly comfortable buses from Jammu costing around ₹350.
Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV (fits up to 9 people, or 5 comfortably plus luggage), Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Tavera or Mahindra Scorpio (Choice depends on you for more comfort) from Jammu costs approximately ₹1,900-₹2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day. To reduce costs many people choose not to take an exclusive taxi, and share the Sumo taxi with other travelers. This costs about ₹300-₹400 per person. For a comfortable trip, try for a seat in the middle row - the front bucket seat is (sometimes uncomfortably) shared by 2 people, and the far back could be quite bumpy as the highway is full of mountainous roads. The journey takes around 8 hr.
Auto-rickshaws can be found everywhere. Taxis and buses area also available. Motorcycles can also be rented for enthusiasts.
Negotiate a price with a rickshaw driver before getting in, or just act like you know and pay the driver upon arrival. Drivers usually don't speak English but there will always be a passer-by to help translate for you.