Union Territory
Kashmir
Lakes, meadows and the valley that earns its reputation.
Shikara rides on Dal Lake, tulip gardens in April, the meadows of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, and saffron fields in autumn — the valley earns every word of its reputation.
Where to go in Kashmir
- Srinagar
- Dal Lake shikaras, houseboats, Mughal gardens and the old city’s craft workshops.
- Gulmarg
- High meadows in summer, India’s best-known ski resort in winter, and one of the world’s highest gondolas.
- Pahalgam
- The Lidder valley — riverside walks, pine forest and the base for the Amarnath pilgrimage.
- Sonamarg
- The “meadow of gold”, and the gateway towards Zojila and Ladakh.
- Tulip Garden
- Asia’s largest tulip garden, open for a short window in late March and April.
- Doodhpathri & Yusmarg
- Quieter meadows for travellers who want to avoid the main circuit.
How to reach Kashmir
By flight
Direct flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Mumbai.
By train
Rail to Jammu, then a scenic road journey into the valley.
By road
The Jammu–Srinagar highway, best done in daylight.
Travelling from Mumbai? We book the connecting flights or trains as part of your itinerary, so the arrival lines up with your first day on the ground.
Best time to visit Kashmir
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April – October | The main season. Tulips in April, green meadows through summer, and saffron and chinar colour in October. |
| December – February | Snow season, skiing at Gulmarg, and a very different valley — cold, quiet and striking. |
| March & November | Transitional months; fewer visitors, and weather that can turn quickly. |
What to eat in Kashmir
Kashmiri Wazwan is a formal multi-course meal and a serious culinary tradition — Rogan Josh, Yakhni and Gushtaba among its best-known dishes. Kahwa, a saffron and almond green tea, is served throughout the day.
- Rogan Josh
- Yakhni
- Wazwan
- Kahwa
Travel tips for Kashmir
Spend at least one night on a Dal Lake houseboat. Book the Gulmarg gondola in advance in peak season, and pack for weather that changes by the hour.
A few things worth settling before you fly: carry photo ID for every traveller (and passports if anyone is a foreign national), keep some cash on hand for smaller towns where card acceptance is patchy, and check that your phone plan covers data where you are going. If anyone in the group has mobility needs, dietary requirements or a medical condition, tell us at the planning stage rather than on arrival — it changes which stays and which routes we recommend.
Who a Kashmir trip suits
We plan Kashmir for families travelling together, couples, solo travellers and corporate groups, and the same destination looks quite different for each. A multi-generational family trip is built around shorter travel days, lifts and accessible rooms where they exist, and food everyone can eat. A couple's trip can afford to be more adventurous with routes and stays. A corporate group needs reliable connectivity and predictable timings above all else. When you tell us who is coming, that answer shapes almost every other decision in the itinerary.
How we plan your Kashmir trip
- You tell us the idea. One WhatsApp message with a rough sense of when, who and how long is enough to start.
- We draft the itinerary. A day-by-day plan built around your budget and pace, with a reason behind each choice of route and stay.
- We refine it together. Swap a town, slow a day down, add a splurge. We revise until the plan reads like your trip, then book everything.
- You travel, we stay reachable. While you are away we remain one message away for changes, hiccups or a dinner recommendation.
Sample itinerary
Every Kashmir itinerary we build starts from a blank page, so the shape of your trip depends on your dates, pace and who is travelling. Tell us roughly when you want to go and we will send a day-by-day plan for you to react to.
Kashmir travel FAQs
The main tourist circuit — Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg — is well supported; we track advisories and plan accordingly.
December–February, when Gulmarg becomes India's favourite ski resort.
The main tourist circuit is well supported and widely visited. Conditions can change, so we monitor official advisories and plan — and if necessary re-plan — around them. We will always tell you honestly what we are seeing.
At least one night is worth it for the experience. Standards vary considerably, so the specific houseboat matters more than the idea of one.
Winter nights in Srinagar fall below freezing, and Gulmarg is colder still. Even in summer, evenings in the meadows need a warm layer.
Planning a trip to Kashmir?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will design the days around you and stay reachable while you are away.
Plan my Kashmir trip