Kashmir
Srinagar
Srinagar sits at about 1,585 metres on Dal Lake and is the arrival point for almost every Kashmir itinerary. A houseboat night, a shikara ride and the Mughal gardens fill two days, after which most trips move on to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg.
- Altitude
- About 1,585 m
- Best time
- April to October, December to February for snow
- Days needed
- 2
- Known for
- Dal Lake, houseboats, Mughal gardens
- Usually paired with
- Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg
Dal Lake and the houseboats
The houseboats are cedar, carved and moored, and range from basic to genuinely grand. One night is the right amount for most people — they are an experience rather than a comfortable hotel. The floating vegetable market at dawn needs an early shikara and is worth the alarm.
The Mughal gardens
Shalimar, Nishat and Chashme Shahi step up the hillside above the lake in terraces, built in the seventeenth century around channels of running water. Nishat has the best framing of the lake; Shalimar is the largest.
Where Srinagar leads
Gulmarg for the gondola and the meadow, about two hours west; Pahalgam for the Lidder valley, about two and a half hours south; Sonmarg on the road to Ladakh. Most Kashmir itineraries are Srinagar plus two of those three.
Questions people ask
Is it worth staying on a houseboat in Srinagar?
For one night, yes. They are characterful and the location on the water is the point. For a longer stay most people prefer a hotel, because houseboats vary a lot in comfort and heating.
How many days do you need in Kashmir?
Six to seven days covers Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg at a reasonable pace. Five is possible if you drop one of the valleys.
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Tours that go there
Every one of these is run by our own team, with the drivers and the permits arranged.
Read next
- Gulmarg travel guideGulmarg is a meadow at about 2,650 metres, two hours from Srinagar, best known for the gondola that climbs towards Apharwat at roughly 3,980 metres. It is India’s main ski destination in winter and a green alpine meadow in summer. One night is usually enough.
- Pahalgam travel guidePahalgam sits at about 2,130 metres where the Lidder river comes down from the Kolahoi glacier, roughly two and a half hours from Srinagar. Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari are the three valleys reached from it, and it is also the traditional starting point of the Amarnath yatra.
- Sonmarg travel guideSonmarg lies at about 2,730 metres on the Sindh river, the last Kashmir valley before the Zoji La pass to Ladakh. Thajiwas glacier is the main excursion, reached on foot or by pony. It is usually a day trip from Srinagar or a stop on the drive to Leh.
- Best time to visit KashmirApril to October covers Kashmir’s green season, with tulips in April, gardens through summer and clear valleys into autumn. December to February brings snow to Gulmarg and the ski season. Each is a genuinely different trip rather than a better or worse one.
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