honeymoon4N/5D Paradise in Kashmir
₹18,000/ person
Overview
About Kashmir
The Kashmir Valley sits at around 1,600 metres, ringed by the Pir Panjal and the greater Himalaya, and it looks unlike anywhere else in India. Chinar trees, wooden houses, apple orchards and saffron fields give it a character closer to Central Asia than to the plains a day's drive south.
Srinagar is the base for most trips. Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake carry a floating world of houseboats, vegetable gardens grown on rafts of weed, and shikaras that function as taxis. Staying a night on a houseboat is the thing most people remember, and it costs less than the equivalent hotel.
Beyond the city, three valleys carry the day trips: Gulmarg for the gondola and the meadows, Pahalgam for the Lidder river and the pony trails, and Sonmarg for the Thajiwas glacier. Each is two to three hours out, and each is worth a full day rather than a rushed morning.
Trip Highlights at a Glance
Shikara ride and houseboat stay on Dal Lake
Gondola cable car ride in Gulmarg
Exploring the Valley of Shepherds in Pahalgam
Visiting the Mughal Gardens
Photo Reference
Kashmir in Pictures
Photography from Kashmir. Tap any photo to open it full size.
Quick Facts
Union Territory
Jammu & Kashmir
Airport
Sheikh ul-Alam International (SXR), Srinagar
Valley altitude
About 1,600 m
Gulmarg gondola
Rises to roughly 3,980 m
Ideal duration
5 to 7 nights
Languages
Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English
Day trips from Srinagar
Gulmarg · Pahalgam · Sonmarg
Currency
Indian Rupee (₹)
Photo Reference
Kashmir in Pictures
Photography from Kashmir. Tap any photo to open it full size.
Best Time to Visit
Climate & Seasons Guide
SpringMarch – May
Almond and cherry blossom, then the tulips in April. Cool, changeable and green, with snow still on the higher passes.
SummerJune – August
The warmest and busiest months, and the reason the valley has been a hot-weather escape for centuries. Book houseboats well ahead.
AutumnSeptember – November
Chinar leaves turn deep red, the saffron harvest comes in around Pampore, and the crowds fall away. Many people's favourite time.
WinterDecember – February
Snow across the valley and skiing at Gulmarg. Cold, beautiful, and occasionally disruptive — roads and flights can close for a day.
Travel Logistics
How You Reach Kashmir
01
By air
Direct flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. About 40 minutes from the airport to the Dal Lake boulevard.
02
By road
NH44 from Jammu is roughly 270 km through the Banihal tunnel — a full day, and spectacular. Subject to weather closures in winter.
03
By train
Jammu Tawi is the railhead for the valley, with onward road transfer. A separate line runs within the valley itself.
Know Before You Go
Essential Travel Guidelines
- Carry layers whatever the month. Gulmarg can be near freezing at the top of the gondola in July.
- Prepaid SIMs issued outside J&K generally do not work. Postpaid connections do.
- Agree shikara, pony and sledge rates in advance and in writing where you can — this is where most disputes happen.
- Book the gondola online in season; the second stage sells out early and does not always run in high wind.
- Carry photo ID. There are checkpoints on the highways and around the airport.
- Buy saffron and pashmina from established shops with a bill, not from someone who approaches you at a viewpoint.
Curated Itineraries
Featured Tour Packages in Kashmir
Fixed-price itineraries with hotels we have stayed in, private transfers throughout, and driving times stated the way they actually run.