A traditional ride in the Shikara boats, an uphill pony ride along with other such activities are all a part of your itinerary. Gulmarg, which is one of the prime skiing destinations in India, is there to give you ultimate thrills. If not visiting during Winters, a pony ride up-to the Thajiwas Glacier will bring out the snow lover out from you if you are not one already! If you are, be prepared to bring out your snow sculpture skills and put them to use to make your own snowman, with a winter cap and a muffler and get clicked with it. A visit to the Mughal Gardens at Srinagar may bring out the new benchmark of what peace, tranquillity and serenity sounds and feels like to a non-native.

Pack your bags and get moving to experience true joy in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in North India.

Places to Visit Kashmir

Pahalgam

Surrounded by Lidder Lake and Betaab Valley, Pahalgam is the place you visit to experience clear water rivers and exhilarating deep valleys. This place is famous for river rafting at Lidder Lake, golfing and shopping for traditional Kashmiri items.

Gulmarg​

Gulmarg is the snow paradise of Kashmir. This skier’s paradise is popular for having one of world's highest and largest ropeways with an aerial distance of approx. 5kms. The view from top of the mountains at 3979 metres above sea level is bewildering. Snow falls are regular even during summer, giving every tourist a fair chance to enjoy the fall!

Sonmarg

Sonmarg or ‘the meadow of gold’ has one of the most picturesque views in Kashmir. Snow-clad mountains, green grasslands and ponies to ride on, this place is what they call, 'Jannat’ or heaven. Sonmarg is also one of the base points for starting the Amarnath Yatra. River rafting, zorbing, trekking are the various events conducted around the popular tourist spots. Sonmarg is inaccessible in winters due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.

Kashmir Valley

Kashmir Valley, the largest Himalayan valley, is an elliptical saucer shaped landmark of Kashmir. Surrounded by the Karakoram and Pir Panjal ranges, Kashmir Valley has a mesmerising view in all the directions possible. This 140km long valley is the perfect spot for all trekkers and mountaineers alike!

Best Time to Visit Kashmir

Aug or Oct?

Best time to visit Kashmir is during the months of March to August.During this period two seasons are covered in Kashmir. Spring (March-early May) and Summer (early May-late August). The blossoms of spring and the cool weather of summer creates the perfect season to visit Kashmir during this time.Do make prior arrangements for everything if you are touring in August as the Amarnath yatra will be on its last stages and tourists will be pouring in!!Snowfall is always on luck, whatever anyone says. Though the highest chance for finding it will be in Gulmarg.Temperature starts decreasing in October, though August - September are good and you can see apple orchards blossom!!Best is to stay in Srinagar the whole time and make day trips to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg etc. One can stay overnight at Gulmarg too!!

How to Reach Kashmir

Known for its unparalleled alpine beauty and breathtaking valleys, Kashmir is visited by honeymooners, holidaymakers and adventure seekers from all across the globe and country. Travellers planning a trip to Kashmir often wonder how to reach Kashmir; however, the beautiful valley is well linked with the rest of the country via air, road and train. Those who prefer to travel by airplanes can reserve their tickets up to Srinagar Airport, which is about 15 km away from the city centre. Travellers who wish to travel by train can book their tickets till Jammu Tawi railway station which is the nearest railhead. Moreover, J&K State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) and several private buses operate on a regular basis from neighbouring cities for Srinagar and other major cities of Kashmir.

By air:

To fly into Kashmir, take the Srinagar Airport (15 km away), which is well connected to prime Indian cities. Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Jet Airways operate regular flights for Delhi, Goa, Jammu, Leh Mumbai and Bangalore. After reaching the airport, visitors can hire taxis to reach various cities and towns of Kashmir.

By road:

The state of Kashmir is well connected by a network of state and private buses with several nearby cities and towns. National Highway 1-A connects Srinagar with Jammu. Also, the popular Jawahar Tunnel connecting Jammu with the valley of Kashmir also falls on the way. A number of J&K State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC), luxury and private deluxe buses ply frequently to and from state. These buses are extremely comfy and cost-effective.

By train:

Jammu Tawi Railway Station, situated at a distance of about 330 km, is the nearest railhead serving the beautiful valley of Kashmir. New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express, Jammu Mail and Jammu Tawi Express are some of the prominent trains operating from Delhi. From outside the railway station, one can hire private taxis or take state or private buses to reach various places in Kashmir.

Things to do in Kashmir

Shikara Ride

Lay back and admire the beauty of the distant mountains as your boatman takes you through a ride across the lake. Away from the hustle bustle of the polluted city life, a shikara ride ranks on the top of the list of the best things to do in Kashmir. No smoke or sound of the vehicles, no high-pitched angry crowd, nothing. Just the soft sound of the boatman’s oar breaking the surface of the water and the touch of the cold water as you trail your hand on the surface of the lake.

Houseboat Stay

And it is not just the shikara rides in Dal Lake, this is one of the best offbeat things to do in Srinagar. Spending a night at the houseboat docked at the Dal Lake jetty is also among the top things to do in Kashmir. Be it honeymooners, families, or solo travelers; a night stay at one of the houseboats in Srinagar is something that you simply can not miss. The houseboats have Wifi and airport transfer facilities available. You can also avail the meals facilities provided by them. Houseboat stay facility in Jammu and Kashmir is best experiences if you are here with your family, a group of friends or with your partner.

‘Gondola’ Cable Car Ride

Riding the Gondola cable car is one of the exciting and fun things to do in Kashmir for people of all ages. Tourists prefer to travel via cable car to enjoy the best views of the snowcapped mountains. Taking a Gondola ride is one of the best things to do in Kashmir in May because during this month, the summers are coming to an end and the view is really great.

Gulmarg Golf Club

This is one of the offbeat things to do in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gulmarg Golf Club is coveted as one of the largest and highest 18-hole golf courses in the world. Playing golf in this ‘Meadow of Flowers’ is, indeed, one of the most fun-filled activities to do in Jammu and Kashmir. This destination has a natural golf course so enjoy this game in the lap of nature.

Kashmiri Cuisine

Like in any other destination across the world, trying the local cuisine is one of the most important things to do in Kashmir. We all have heard about the Kashmiri Kahwa (tea) and Lamb Mutton Rogan Josh. But the cuisine has many more sumptuous dishes. These include Nadroo Yakhni (yogurt based Kashmiri curry with lotus stems), Paneer Chaman (fried paneer simmered in tomato sauce and flavored with spices and fennel seeds powder), Dum Aloo, Matschgand (minced meatballs cooked in spicy red gravy), and Gushtaba (minced mutton cooked in flavorful yogurt gravy and spices).

Weather Kashmir

Kashmir weather is quite erratic. However, the climate of Kashmir can be divided into four seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter. Read on to further explore the weather and climate of Kashmir, India:

Spring

The spring season starts in March and lasts up to early May. The average temperature during spring season ranges from 23°C to 6°C. Brief showers, light winds and blossoming flowers characterize this season. Along with that, the whole of Kashmir stands blanketed in the hues of green.

Summer

Starting from May, the summer season extends up to the end of August. The climatic conditions of Kashmir in summers are not quite hot. In Srinagar, you may even require to put on light woolens in summers. The average temperature in the daytime falls in the range of 25°C to 35°C. Kashmir is the most sought after hill station during summers.

Autumn

With the onset of September, comes the time for the autumn season. The whole region gets covered in the hues of first gold, then russet and then red. The average temperature during autumn hovers around 23°C (max) to 10°C (min). The season lasts till late November, by which time the need for heavy woolens starts mounting.

Winter

Stretching from December to early March is the winter season in Kashmir. Covered with snow throughout, Kashmir looks like a picture straight out of a fairytale.

Best Shopping in Kashmir

Kashmir’s Pashmina shawls and stoles have captured the hearts of thousands of shoppers but you could come back with so much more. There are walnut wood carvings, papiér–maché knick knacks and the alluring red Kashmiri chillies –the staple shopping cart of every tourist. Read on to find out some not so staple items that you should hunt for in the city:

• Buy vintage maps of Kashmir
• Be a Chai Shoda – Kashmiri for ‘tea addict’; bring back special green tea leaves that result in the special Kashmiri salted pink tea or Noon Chai. You can get them easily at most grocery stores
• Of course you’re going to buy a Kashmiri hand woven carpet or a Namda, but also let your roving eye rest on Kashmiri crewel-work wall hangings and rugs
• Buy antique copper ware like samovars and trays (you need to find a sturdy guide who can take you to the Old City; don’t venture to this area by yourself)
• Take back some willow baskets; definitely not your everyday shopping bag
• You’ve seen them at every handicraft expo you’ve been to, but this time, get the real thing – Kashmiri Lac ornaments. Go wild with necklaces, bracelets and hairpins
• A great take-back would be old photographs and some Kashmiri art
• Heat it up with spices – Other than the Kashmiri red chillies, you must take back saffron. Kashmir is one of the few places in the world that grows saffron and you will have to travel to a saffron farm near Pampore Fields,
a few miles out of Srinagar to get it (with the help of a certified guide only!)
• If you’re travelling back home by air, make a stop at a local bakery or Kandur Wan for some delicious Lavaasa, Girdas and Kulchas. You’re going to be very popular back home!
• The local tweed is cut and tailored into the beautiful long garment called a Ferin – you’d be spoiled rotten for choice but don’t come back without at least one piece to keep you warm in the cold winters.
• If you are in the mood to splurge, bank upon a piece of jewellery encrusted with the ‘Doda Sapphire’ – found only in Kashmir
• Do visit the floating markets on the dal lake and watch as locals haggle for everyday objects while their boats remain afloat on water.
• You could visit the Tibetan market in Leh and buy a famous Thangka Painting.
• Go to Lal Chowk or Badshah chowk to procure articles amde of Walnut wood, carved to perfection.
• Dont forget to buy a Shatoosh shawl when in Kashmir!