Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Keep the station logistics in mind first: Pune Junction is in Agarkar Nagar, and you should be there 60–90 minutes before your train leaves. Before heading over, if your departure time allows, eat at Vaishali Restaurant on Fergusson College Road in Deccan Gymkhana; a meal is roughly ₹250–500 per person. It’s a popular spot, so allow for a possible wait, and check its current hours before setting out.
If you have at least 1–1.5 hours to spare after your meal, visit Shaniwar Wada in Shaniwar Peth. Check the current visiting hours and entry fee before you go; traffic between Deccan Gymkhana, the fort, and the station can be unpredictable, so leave a generous buffer and take an auto-rickshaw or cab rather than cutting it close. Then return to Pune Junction to find your platform and board. The train to Jammu Tawi takes roughly 30–40 hours, depending on the service; confirm the timetable and availability before making plans beyond Jammu. This rail leg ends in Jammu, not Srinagar, so arrange onward transport separately and allow substantial time for the road journey to Srinagar rather than relying on the itinerary’s conflicting flight note.
Allow this day to stay loose: getting from Pune to Srinagar by train is not realistic in a single day, so build in at least one extra travel day before planning sightseeing. If you’re continuing by rail, confirm the current services and connection arrangements toward Srinagar well ahead of time; timings and onward transfers can add substantial time. Once you reach your accommodation, check in, rest, and only head out if you still have daylight and energy.
For an easy first outing, take a roughly 45-minute stroll along Dal Lake on Boulevard Road; sunset is lovely, but skip the walk if arrival runs late. Then go to Ahdoos Restaurant near Lal Chowk for Kashmiri dishes—budget around ₹500–1,000 per person, and check the kitchen’s hours before setting out. If you have time after dinner, browse Lal Chowk for 30–45 minutes; shops may be closed by late evening, so treat this as optional rather than a fixed stop. A local taxi or auto can connect the lakefront and Lal Chowk; agree on the fare or confirm it in an app before you ride.
No packing list attached yet.