Mobile Network in Kashmir and Data Connectivity

When it comes to the mobile network in Kashmir, the important thing that you should know is that only postpaid connections work in the valley. Irrespective of which network you were on, your phone will be dead as soon as you enter Kashmir if it was a prepaid connection.

But if it was a postpaid phone, you would have good reception and data connectivity in tourist destinations like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. If you went a little offbeat, your phone may or may not work. Read on to find out more.

In this post below, I will talk in detail about the best mobile network in Kashmir. For any other details like how to reach, where to stay, places to visit, and things to do, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – Complete Travel Guide.

For organizing your trip to Kashmir, booking a taxi, or getting the best hotel rates, you can contact Kunal @ 9910 402 252. Give him my reference and he will be able to get you the best and the lowest rates possible.

Best Mobile Network in Kashmir

BSNL has the widest coverage in the Kashmir Valley but its services may not be that great always. Airtel and Jio are next in the line but they may not work in all places. Let us take a look at these network operators one by one.

BSNL

In terms of coverage, BSNL has the widest network and works in the majority of areas. In places like Srinagar, you will get good voice clarity, a strong network, and decent enough data speed.

If you went a bit remote, you will still get the network but the quality starts to get compromised. Data speed will drop drastically and the network will keep coming and going.

On an overall basis, BSNL works well in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam as long as you do not mind slower data speed.

Airtel

Airtel possibly has the strongest network in Kashmir. You get a good quality network in most of the tourist spots with 4G data speed. Surprisingly, it also works in offbeat destinations like Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, and Aharbal.

Jio

Jio will be the third-best network in Kashmir. You will get a strong network and 4G data speed in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg. Jio also works very well in Gurez Valley but it doesn’t in other places like Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Mughal Road, or Aharbal.

Vodafone

The services of Vodafone are not that good in Kashmir. It works very well in Srinagar city but disappoints in other areas. Even in places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, the network was intermittent and data speed was also just average.

Idea

Much like Vodafone, the Idea network can work well in Srinagar city but not so well in other areas. You will get the network in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg but the quality will be compromised. It does not work at all in any other place.

Let me also break this information down by region.

Mobile Network in Gulmarg

No matter which network you are on, your phone will be working fine in Gulmarg as long as it is a postpaid connection. Data connectivity too will be good. Most of the hotels here have free Wi-Fi available with good data speed.

Gulmarg is the most visited destination in all of Kashmir. The facilities here are good and you will have no problem remaining connected. For more details on traveling to Gulmarg, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Gulmarg.

Mobile Network at Drung Waterfall

The same remains to be the case with Drung Waterfall which is located near Gulmarg. BSNL, Airtel, Jio, Idea, and Vodafone all work well at Drung waterfall with 4G data speed.

Drung Waterfall is mostly a winter destination because this is when this waterfall looks the best. However, because it is located on the way to Gulmarg, you can visit it any other season as well.

From Tangmarg, you will need to turn on the road towards Drung Village and the waterfall is located about 3 kilometers from there. Overall, it will not take you more than an hour to see the waterfall and be back on your way to Gulmarg. For more details, you can take a look at the video below.

Mobile Network in Sonamarg

All cellular companies have coverage in Sonamarg. No matter which network you are on, your phone will be working fine here. The reception will be strong and voice clarity satisfactory.

Data connectivity also will be good and you will have 4G. Most of the hotels here have wifi facilities with an average data speed of around 10 MBPS.

For other details on visiting Sonamarg, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Sonamarg.

Mobile Network in Pahalgam

All cellular companies have good coverage in Pahalgam and you will get 4G data as well. No matter which network you were on, your phone will work fine in Pahalgam.

The reception will hold strong in Betaab Valley and Aru Valley as well but you may lose network in Chandanwari sometimes. There is no reception in Baisaran Valley or Tulian Valley though.

All the hotels here have free wifi available. BSNL currently provides internet services in Pahalgam. The last time I was there, I heard that Airtel and Jio were planning to bring Fiber internet to Pahalgam after which it will only get even better.

For other details on visiting Pahalgam, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Pahalgam.

Mobile Network in Gurez Valley

MTNL / BSNL has the widest coverage in this area. Jio has the strongest network in and around Dawar and provides 4G data speed.

All postpaid phones will work till Bandipore. But once you cross over Razdan Pass, only a postpaid BSNL or Jio phone will continue to work. Apart from BSNL and Jio, no other network works in Gurez Valley.

If you were planning to go to Chakwali, then Jio will also stop working shortly after Dawar. For other details on visiting Gurez, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Gurez Valley.

Mobile Network in Doodhpathri

BSNL and Airtel postpaid phones work well in Doodhpathri but only near the meadow. As you reach the JKTDC resort and the Shaliganga river, you will lose reception.

Vodafone and Idea work only as far as Khan Sahib but not after that. Jio connection I believe also works only till Khan Sahib only. For other details on visiting Doodhpathri, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Doodhpathri.

Mobile Network in Yusmarg

Airtel and BSNL postpaid phones work in Yusmarg but the reception will be very bad. You will have to walk around a bit with your phone in your hand looking for a place where you can get the network bars. Data speed will be very poor.

Vodafone and Idea have no service in Yusmarg. You will lose network a little before Charar-e-Shariff. Jio phones also do not work in Yusmarg. For other details on visiting Yusmarg, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Yusmarg.

Mobile Network in Aharbal

If you have a BSNL, Airtel, or Jio postpaid phone, you will have full connectivity in Aharbal as well. Vodafone wasn’t working the last time I was there but I heard that it would be soon.

I cannot comment about the Idea phones since none of us was carrying one. But as far as I know, Idea doesn’t work in Aharbal. For other details on visiting Aharbal, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Aharbal Waterfall.

Mobile Network in Srinagar

If you had a postpaid connection, then you will have full connectivity in Srinagar city, irrespective of the network you are on.

Mobile Network on Mughal Road

If you had a postpaid phone, it would work on the majority of the Mughal Road. The only part where you may lose network is on and around Peer ki Gali Pass. At the rest of the places, there will be a stable network. You will get 4G data at all the places except for Peer ki Gali.

This stands true for Airtel and Jio. Vodafone and Idea may not work so well on the entire stretch. With BSNL, you will have a good network but the data speed will be a little slow.

Mobile Network in Jammu

As long as you are on a postpaid connection, your phone will work well in Jammu irrespective of the service provider. The data speed with BSNL can be a little slow (as it is pretty much everywhere in the country).

Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, and Idea have good and strong coverage in Jammu. The only thing to worry about is the prepaid phone, nothing else.

Mobile Network at Vaishno Devi

Only Airtel and Jio have service at Katra and Vaishno Devi. BSNL will work as well but the data connectivity is not that good. Vodafone and Ideal do not work either on the trek or at Vaishno Devi.

If you are carrying an Airtel or Jio postpaid phone, you will have a strong reception and good data speed. The only thing you need to ensure is that it is a postpaid phone and not a prepaid one.

Mobile Network in Keran Village

Electricity is available in the village but the phone network is still a problem. None of the networks works in Keran so far. Airtel and Jio have strong connectivity until about 10 kilometers before the village with 4G data speed. But as soon as you get close to Keran, you will go off the network.

This is likely to improve in the coming years but for now, there is no reception inside the village. There is no landline phone either that I know of. In case of an emergency, you will have to seek help from the Indian Army. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Keran Village.

Mobile Network in Bangus Valley

Irrespective of which network you are on, your phone will work fine as far as the parking spot in Lower Bangus. We were carrying Airtel and Jio connections and received strong connectivity with 4G data speed. In fact, I had Google Maps on the entire time we were on our way to Bangus.

But once you get out of your car and start walking through the meadow, you will lose network immediately. Even near the parking spot, it was an intermittent connection and we only received a stable network when we started to get close to Tee Pee again.

We did not have Vodafone or Idea connections with us but I doubt they will work near Bangus Valley. With these providers, you can hope to receive a network until Kupwara or Chowkibal at most but not beyond that.

BSNL / MTNL of course works pretty much everywhere in the country but their service is not as good as Jio or Airtel. Voice clarity will be missing and the date speed will be way too slow. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Bangus Valley.

Mobile Network in Lolab Valley

Irrespective of which network you are on, your phone will work fine in Lolab Valley. We were carrying Airtel and Jio connections and received strong connectivity with 4G data speed. In fact, I used Google Maps the entire time we were exploring the valley and faced no problems at all.

We did not have Vodafone or Idea connections with us but I am sure they will also have connectivity in Lolab Valley. BSNL / MTNL of course works pretty much everywhere in the country. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Lolab Valley.

Mobile Network at Sinthan Top

Your phone will remain connected at Sinthan Top and on the route as well, irrespective of which network you were on. You will get 4G/5G data speed depending on your handset.

Mobile Network in Daksum

Daksum Valley has good mobile connectivity. All networks work here with 4G/5G data speed.

Mobile Network in Chatpal Valley

Chatpal Valley has good mobile connectivity. All networks work here with 4G/5G data speed.

Which Mobile Network Works Best in Kashmir?

BSNL has the widest network in Kashmir but Airtel is better in terms of the quality of the network. Jio works decently well but the services of Vodafone and Idea are not that great.

Conclusion

I hope the information above on the mobile network in Kashmir was of help. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.