Beautiful Journey From Jammu to Srinagar – A Travel Blog Full of Wildlife, Mountains & Magic

🚌 A Long, Beautiful Journey From Jammu to Srinagar – A Travel Blog Full of Wildlife, Mountains & Magic

Traveling from Jammu to Srinagar is not just a route—it is a story. A long, soulful story of mountains, rivers, forests, tunnels, wildlife, and people. On this trip, I traveled in a brand-new bus, and that made the experience even more memorable. Clean white seats, a fresh fragrance inside, cold AC, soft music, and large windows that opened like a giant screen to nature’s movie.

Below is the complete experience, from the first sunrise in Jammu to the cool breeze of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

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🌅 Early Morning Start – Jammu City Wakes Up

My journey began before sunrise. Jammu city was slowly waking up—tea stalls opening, vendors arranging their carts, and birds greeting the morning with sweet chirping. The new bus was waiting at the stand, shining in the yellow streetlight. I boarded with excitement.

As soon as the engine started, the bus moved smoothly. The large glass windows made the outside view feel like a moving painting.

Birds & animals seen in early Jammu:

Sparrows hopping on shop roofs

Green parakeets flying in small groups

Pigeons swirling above the temples

Street dogs stretching lazily

A cow walking peacefully on the side

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🌄 Jammu to Udhampur – Entering the Lower Himalayas

Once the bus left the city, the scenery changed quickly. The road started climbing, curves appeared, and the green mountains began to rise around us.

The new bus handled the curves beautifully, without any jerks. The seats were comfortable, so I could sit relaxed and observe everything around.

The hills were covered with:

Tall pine trees

Dense bushes

Monkeys sitting in groups

Langurs jumping from branch to branch

One big langur sat like a king on a rock, staring at our bus as if welcoming us to the mountains.

On the electric poles, I saw:

Himalayan bulbuls

Mynas

Hoopoes with their small crests

Small finches

Some birds even raced alongside the bus for a few seconds.

The cool hill breeze entered through the window, carrying the refreshing smell of pine needles.

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🌲 Udhampur to Chenani – Wild Forest Zone

As we moved deeper into the mountains, the forest became thicker. This stretch is full of wildlife. The bus slowed down at certain points because animals often cross the road here.

Animals seen in this section:

Groups of monkeys holding their babies

Langurs with long silver tails

A herd of goats moving uphill with a shepherd

A few cows eating grass on the roadside

A mountain dog running behind vehicles playfully

On one turn, the conductor said a leopard had been seen the previous night. Although I didn’t see one, the idea that a leopard might be watching us from inside the forest made the journey more thrilling.

Birds fluttered everywhere—woodpeckers tapping trees, black drongos sitting upright, and even an eagle flying above the valley.

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🛣️ The Grand Entrance – Chenani–Nashri Tunnel

Then came one of the most iconic parts of the journey—the Chenani–Nashri Tunnel (9.2 km long). As we entered the tunnel, the world outside disappeared. The lights inside formed a long golden path. The bus moved smoothly, and the sound echoed inside the tunnel walls.

Inside, everything felt calm, futuristic, and peaceful.

But the real magic happened when we came out.

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❄️ After the Tunnel – A New World Begins

The moment the bus exited the tunnel, it felt like entering another universe. The air suddenly became cooler and clearer. The mountains grew taller and greener. Deodar and chir trees dominated the hills.

Here I saw:

Large Himalayan crows

Kites circling in the sky

Cattle grazing near small huts

Crystal-clear rivers flowing beside the highway

The Chenab River appeared like a flowing silver snake, cutting through the rocks.

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🏞️ Ramban Region – River, Rocks & Winged Beauty

The route from Chenani to Ramban is full of amazing birdlife. Every time the bus passed a stream or river bend, I saw:

Birds near water:

White wagtails dancing on stones

Small egrets standing in the shallows

Kingfishers diving like blue arrows

Wild ducks swimming peacefully

The new bus stopped near a dhaba for tea. As I stepped out, the sound of dozens of birds greeted me. The mountains echoed their calls. I saw a brown eagle sitting quietly on a pole, observing everything.

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🐾 Ramban to Banihal – Deep Himalayas

This part of the journey enters the deeper Himalayan ranges. The mountains become huge, covered with forests and mist.

Animals are more common here.

I saw:

Sheep grazing in groups

Horses walking freely on grassy patches

Yaks tied near small mountain homes

A fox running across a field in the distance

The roads were winding, but the new bus handled them smoothly. The view outside was breathtaking—valleys dropping deep, waterfalls coming down from cliffs, sunlight touching the hills like golden dust.

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🚇 The Legendary Jawahar Tunnel

Crossing the Jawahar Tunnel is one of the most exciting moments of the trip. The tunnel is old, historic, and famous for connecting Jammu with Kashmir.

Inside the tunnel, the cold air and echoing sounds made it feel mysterious.

And then…

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🌿 Welcome to Kashmir – The First Sight of the Valley

The moment we came out of Jawahar Tunnel, it felt like paradise opened in front of the bus.

Soft green meadows

Chinar trees

Distant snow peaks

Clear blue sky

Shepherds with their flocks

Everything changed instantly.

Animals and birds in Kashmir Valley:

Beautiful Kashmiri horses

Sheep and goats everywhere

Magpies with long blue tails

Red-billed choughs flying in groups

White doves gliding gently

Blackbirds singing from trees

This part of the journey was so beautiful that even the bus became silent—everyone was glued to the windows.

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🍎 Qazigund to Anantnag – Orchards & Water Streams

Now we entered the wide Kashmir Valley. Green fields stretched to the horizon. Apple orchards lined the road. Farmers worked peacefully on their land.

Water streams flowed beside the highway, and in many of them I saw:

Ducks swimming

Herons standing like statues

Kingfishers waiting for fish

Small fishes jumping out of water

The wind here was cold and fresh, and the new bus windows gave a perfect clear view of everything.

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🌲 Anantnag to Pampore – Saffron & Birds

Near Pampore, the land becomes purple during the saffron season. Even off-season, the fields are beautiful and flat.

Flying above them were:

Pigeons in huge groups

Eagles scanning the land

Cranes walking in open fields

The bus moved quietly, the AC humming softly, while outside, nature displayed its richness.

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🌅 Final Journey – Entering Srinagar

As we approached Srinagar, the scenery became even more calm and elegant.

Water canals appeared

Willow trees leaned over the banks

Houseboats floated in the distance

Flocks of birds circled over Dal Lake

I spotted:

Snow pigeons

Ducks swimming under lotus leaves

Egrets looking for fish

Seagull-like birds flying above the lake

The cool Srinagar breeze entered the bus as the conductor opened the door.

Slowly, our bus crossed bridges, curved roads, market streets, and finally entered the heart of the city.

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✨ Journey Ends – But the Memories Stay Forever

My Jammu to Srinagar trip in a new bus was not just a travel experience—it felt like reading a long, beautiful story written by nature itself.

From the hot plains to cool valleys,

From monkeys to eagles,

From tunnels to snow peaks,

From pine forests to willow trees—

This journey gave me everything: adventure, peace, nature, wildlife, and unforgettable views.

If you ever get a chance, travel by bus from Jammu to Srinagar at least once in your life. It is a gift to your eyes and your heart.