India · India
Kashmir
Mughal gardens and Himalayan quiet
Overview
Overview
Kashmir at its best is not a checklist of viewpoints. It is a shikara at dawn when the lake is glass, saffron fields at Pampore in late October, a Wazwan lunch cooked by a family who have done it for generations, and Gulmarg's meadows without another vehicle in sight.
We use the small number of genuinely excellent properties — a restored heritage houseboat, a Dachigam-facing retreat, a Gulmarg lodge — and pair them with guides who are Kashmiri, not seasonal.
When to go
Best time to visit
April and May for tulips, blossom and snow-capped views; September and October for chinar colour and saffron. December to February for snow and Gulmarg skiing.
Spring
Apr – May
Tulip garden, almond blossom, snow still on the peaks.
PeakSummer
Jun – Aug
Warm and green; ideal for Pahalgam, Sonamarg and trekking.
GoodAutumn
Sep – Nov
Chinar trees turning, saffron harvest, our favourite light.
PeakWinter
Dec – Feb
Snow, Gulmarg gondola and skiing; some passes close.
GoodPractical
Visa, currency, weather and flights
Visa
Domestic travel for Indian nationals — no permits needed for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg. Foreign nationals travel freely too, though we advise on current advisories and route selection.
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR). Cards are accepted in hotels and larger stores. Carry cash for shikara rides, handicrafts and roadside kahwa.
Weather
Temperate with real seasons — genuine snow in winter, mild summers, crisp autumns. Nights are cold even in May.
Flights
Direct flights to Srinagar from Delhi (1h 25m), Mumbai and Bengaluru. Morning departures are strongly preferable — afternoon Srinagar arrivals are more prone to weather diversions.
| Period | Temperature | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar – May | 8–22°C | Blossom then tulips; carry a light jacket |
| Jun – Aug | 15–30°C | Warmest; the classic escape from the plains |
| Sep – Nov | 5–20°C | Chinar colour, saffron, clear mountain views |
| Dec – Feb | -4–8°C | Snow, frozen Dal margins, skiing at Gulmarg |
| Delhi → Srinagar | 1h 25m non-stop | IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara |
| Mumbai → Srinagar | 2h 45m non-stop | IndiGo, Air India |
| Bengaluru → Srinagar (1 stop) | 5h – 6h | IndiGo via Delhi |
Where to stay
Hotels we recommend
Srinagar · Heritage palace
The Lalit Grand Palace
The Maharaja's former residence in fifteen acres of chinar gardens.
Dal Lake · Luxury houseboat
Sukoon Houseboat
Restored walnut-wood interiors and the best breakfast on the lake.
Gulmarg · Mountain resort
Khyber Himalayan Resort
Log-and-stone luxury at 8,700 ft with a L'Occitane spa.
Srinagar · 5-star
Vivanta Dal View
Above the lake with the widest panorama in the city.
Pahalgam · Riverside
Welcomhotel Pine-n-Peak
On the Lidder river, walking distance from the pine forest trails.
Highlights
Things to do
Dawn shikara on Dal Lake
Out at 5.30am for the floating vegetable market before the tourist boats.
Wazwan lunch with a waza family
A private, properly explained tarami — rista, gushtaba, tabak maaz.
Saffron fields at Pampore
Late October only. Purple fields at first light, then a grading demonstration.
Gulmarg gondola to Apharwat
Phase two to 13,780 ft; skiing in winter, meadow walks in summer.
Papier-mâché and pashmina ateliers
Meeting GI-certified weavers in the old city, learning to spot the fakes.
Bookable now
Experiences here
Suggested route
Our suggested Kashmir journey
- 1
Arrive Srinagar
Houseboat check-in, sunset shikara, Wazwan dinner.
- 2
Mughal gardens
Nishat, Shalimar, Pari Mahal, then old-city ateliers.
- 3
Gulmarg
Drive up, gondola to Apharwat, night at Khyber.
- 4
Pahalgam
Betaab valley, Aru meadows, Lidder river walk.
- 5
Sonamarg or Doodhpathri
Thajiwas glacier or the quieter meadows west of Srinagar.
- 6
Srinagar
Dawn floating market, Dachigam park, saffron in season.
- 7
Depart
Morning transfer to Srinagar airport.
Gallery
Kashmir in pictures
Questions
Frequently asked
Guest stories
What our travellers say
The 5.30am shikara to the floating market was pure magic — completely empty. And the Wazwan at a waza's home beat every hotel version.
Shalini & Aakash Gupta
Delhi · Kashmir, 6 nights
Fourth visit to Kashmir and the first time I saw the saffron harvest properly. Azulo timed the whole trip around it.
Iqbal Ahmed
Lucknow · Kashmir autumn, 7 nights
You may also like
