North India · Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir
Valleys, lakes and a slower pace.
The Kashmir Valley, centred on Srinagar, is a wide Himalayan bowl of lakes, Mughal gardens, wooden shrines, orchards and high meadows. Most first trips use Srinagar as a base, with day trips or short stays in Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam; the quieter side valleys reward slower travellers.
Still water,
snow above,
and nowhere to hurry ♡
Kashmir highlights
Landscapes
Lakes, meadows and high valleys
Culture
Wooden shrines, Mughal gardens, crafts
Food
Wazwan, noon chai and kahwa
Seasons
Tulips, chinars, saffron and snow
Hospitality
Houseboat families and homestays
Slow travel
Shikara mornings and long lunches
Places to explore
From iconic lakes to quiet valleys ♡
Srinagar
Lakes, houseboats, Mughal gardens and the old city. The base for most trips.
Gulmarg
A high meadow resort: flowers in summer, skiing roughly January to March.
Pahalgam
A riverside town in the Lidder valley, with Aru and Betaab nearby.
Sonamarg
The “meadow of gold” in the Sindh valley, below Thajiwas Glacier.
Gurez Valley
Wooden villages on the Kishanganga. Check access and permits first.
Quieter valleys
Doodhpathri, Yusmarg and high lakes below Harmukh, for slower days.
Featured guide
Kashmir Travel Guide
Our 20-page PDF guide covers the whole Valley: a map room, chapters on every region, where to stay, food and cafés, itineraries from short breaks to 30+ days, and a trip planner you can fill in.
20-page PDF · delivered by email · ₹299
Travel essentials
For a smoother journey ♡
Best time
Spring tulips, summer meadows, autumn chinars, winter snow
Getting around
Fly or take the train to Srinagar; taxis for day trips
Suggested duration
Five to seven days for Srinagar plus two or three valleys
Permits & safety
Some areas closed until 31 Dec 2026; Gurez needs a permit for foreign nationals
What to pack
Layers year-round; thermals and boots in winter
Respect
Modest dress at shrines; ask before photographing people
Latest Stories from Kashmir
From the Valley ♡
Tulip Season in Srinagar
When the tulip garden opens, almond blossom and the Mughal gardens in spring.
Walking in Pahalgam
Aru, Betaab and the Lidder Valley, with what is open and what is closed in 2026.
Exploring Old Srinagar
Khanqah-e-Moula, Pathar Masjid, the Jamia Masjid and the bridges of the Jhelum.
Photography (stock, not the author’s own): Fahad Puthawala (shikara), Amjed Wani (Dal Lake; tulips), Shahid Sultan (Gulmarg meadow), Iqbal Farooz (Gulmarg in winter), Shah Faizan (Sonamarg), Aadil Mehraj (Gurez), Maliksajidphotography (Gangbal Lake), Sheikh Muzamil (Pahalgam), Abdullah K (Pahalgam forest), Haziq Farooqi (wazwan), Farhaan Mushtaq Parimoo (Khanqah-e-Moula), via Pexels; KennyOMG (Lidder Valley), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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