BEST TIME TO VISIT
JAN - DEC
IDEAL DURATION
5 Days
Lying on the banks of River Jhelum with deep and mesmerizing valleys cascaded in sky scraping mountains and evergreen beauty, Srinagar blends together the tints of nature, beauty, harmony and romance. With its serene blue lakes and magnificent gardens ringed by an Arc of Majestic Himalayas; it is a picture perfect town that looks straight out of a painting. There is just so much to see here and so much to do. It is a year round magnet that draws tourists’ right from the month of January till December. With deep and mesmerising valleys cascaded in sky-scraping mountains and evergreen beauty, this heaven on Earth leaves you absolutely mesmerised. Right from Chashm-E-Shahi to the exotic Shalimar garden, Srinagar offers bountiful of places to visit. Surrounded by mountains for the adventurous lot to lakes for photoholics to shopping markets for the spendthrifts, Srinagar does not disappoint anyone. Out here, you will find a wide range of travelers; right from adventure enthusiasts to families out for vacations to honeymooning couples. Valleys covered in snow in winter and a mild climate in summer is what makes Srinagar a top tourist draws. Srinagar is one of the most popular holiday destinations in India that impresses vacationers primarily with its unique experiences of a shikara ride and houseboat stay on Dal and Nigeen lakes. Another experience to relish is witnessing one of its kind Floating Vegetable Market on Dal Lake. Srinagar’s top tourist attractions for sightseeing tours include the beautiful Mughal Gardens which include Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Garden and Chashm-e Shahi Garden, each spectacular in its own way. If you are on a family tour, you can enjoy a day picnic at these beautiful gardens. Srinagar is also home to Asia's largest Tulip gardens. If you visit during the months of March and April, you can enjoy witnessing over 40 species of Tulips. For history lovers, important places of interest in Srinagar are the 6th century Hari Parbat Fort (Kooh i Maran) or the exquisite Pari Mahal, and the 18th-century mosque, the Khanqah Shah -i-Hamadan, which is considered to be the most beautiful mosque in Srinagar. The culture lovers can roam around the city, dine in the many restaurants and cafes in Srinagar, try the famous Kashmiri delicacy, "Wazwan", and enjoy shopping for embroidered clothes, leather goods, woodcraft, and carpets. A visit to Srinagar is incomplete without seeing the famous religious site of Hazratbal Shrine, where the hair strand of Prophet Mohammad is preserved carefully. The Shankaracharya Temple, situated at a height of 300 m atop a hill is one of the most popular Hindu religious destinations in Srinagar.
Jammu and Kashmir is gifted with some of the best golf courses in the country. Since this region was ruled by Maharajas who loved golfing, they established some of the best golf courses you will ever come across. Golfing in Jammu and Kashmir can be an incredible experience, not just for the enjoyment and relaxation it provides, but largely because of the lovely temperature, gorgeous landscape and amazing views that surround these golf courses. Whether you play a game of golf at Gulmarg or Pahalgam, you are treated to a newer experience every time.
Kashmir is often dubbed the angler's paradise. The glacial and snow-fed streams offer great options for fishing in Kashmir. Water bodies of all sizes and types in the region are well-stocked with Rainbow trout and German brown trout fishes, thus, anglers from around the world throng Kashmir. Around 61 beats are open for fishing & angling in Kashmir during the season. Each beat is about 3 to 4 kms long and is connected with a motorable road, except Vishansar and Gangabal lakes, as one has to trek to reach these destinations.
A Shikhara is a traditional Gondola type light rowing boat which is mostly seen on the pristine Dal Lake, apart from other lakes. It is one of the most incredible and relaxing aspects of a holiday in Kashmir, and should be included in your itinerary if you want to experience the surreal beauty of this region to the fullest. Along with the houseboats, it is also considered to be a cultural symbol. But even apart from leisure and tourism purposes, the shikhara is also used by the locals for seaweed harvesting, fishing and transportation. To watch these beautifully decorated boats glide serenely on the lake is a treat to the eyes, and you should definitely not miss out on this experience during your holidays in Jammu and Kashmir.
The topography of Jammu and Kashmir is perfectly suited for mountain biking. Pedalling your way through the mountains of Kashmir Valley dotted with rich pine and deodar trees, is absolutely exhilarating and delivers the ultimate thrill. What also makes mountain biking in Jammu and Kashmir so exciting is the gorgeous landscape of this region, as it is dotted with water streams, paddy fields, meadows, village markets and woods.
What can be more soothing to the eyes than watching a bird flapping its wings, bobbing its head or swooping down on its bird of prey? A bird watching holiday in Jammu and Kashmir lets you have these incredible experiences by watching a variety of birds belonging to various shapes, sizes and colours. This region is a haven for bird lovers, as almost 554 species of birds reside here, apart from 262 species from the alpine regions of the Kashmir Valley.
Skiing in Kashmir is one of the most exciting winter sports adventure activities that you can try during your holidays in Kashmir, as it gives you the ultimate adrenaline rush and thrill that adventure enthusiasts are after.
Surrounded by the Great Himalaya and Pir Panjal mountain range, the serene valley of Kashmir is a home to the people who are trailing in the mountains like a nomad. Being vested with colourful meadows, crisscrossed by streams and dotted with placid lakes, Kashmir enriches the concept of Indian tourism. Further, with its undulated and rocky terrain on the fringes of the lush green meadows, Kashmir is a feast for the eyes. Trekking in Kashmir is as exciting as it turns out to be challenging. Cutting through edges and passing through the rich verdure, en route the narrow rocky tracks, makes trekking tours in Kashmir tricky and dicey. But the journeys wind up framing some of the best lifetime moments scooping the trekkers' gossip.
One has always heard that heavens have pristine lakes, enchanting garden… so does Kashmir. Be it Nishant Garden or the Tulip Garden, Shalimar Bagh or Charari Shareef, the exemplary landscape and built over fine taste and choice, all of these gardens are the ideal places for nature lovers.
Pashminas, papièr mâchè bangles, carved wooden boxes, embroidered scarves, wicker baskets, silver jewelry, spices, and Kashmiri carpets are some of the famous things to buy in Srinagar that make shopping here a must-experience for every traveler.
A city is witnessed best from a height, and what can be better than Paragliding up in the air in Srinagar and having the most blissful Kashmir trip experience ever! The surreal aerial view of the city will let you take a glance at its gorgeous lakes and beautiful gardens all at once, leaving you asking for more. So, irrespective of whether you’re an adventure lover or not, make sure you do not skip this from your list. Pari Mahal has several local companies offering this service for a reasonable fee.
