Quick answer
Pack for nights down to -10°C and wet snow: two sets of thermals, a fleece, a waterproof padded jacket, a woollen cap, waterproof gloves and boots with deep grip. Carry a postpaid SIM, because prepaid connections from outside J&K do not work, plus cash and a power bank. Rent gumboots and long coats in Tangmarg instead of buying them in Delhi.
Documents & money
- Government photo ID with two photocopies — Checked at the airport, hotels and police posts.
- Printed hotel and flight bookings — Phone signal drops during snowfall and power cuts.
- Postpaid mobile connection — Prepaid SIMs issued outside J&K do not work here; switch one number to postpaid before you fly.
- Gulmarg Gondola booking confirmation — Phase 2 slots sell out in peak weeks; book online on the official site.
- Cash in small notes — ATMs in Gulmarg and Pahalgam go offline; sledge pullers, pony owners and guides want cash.
- Travel insurance details — Make sure it covers skiing and snow activities if you plan to try them.
Clothing
- Thermal innerwear, two sets — Wool-blend or synthetic, top and bottom; not cotton.
- Fleece jacket or heavy sweater — Your middle layer, easy to peel off in heated rooms.
- Waterproof padded or down jacket with hood — Gulmarg snow is wet, so water resistance matters more than thickness.
- Lined trek or ski trousers — Jeans soak through and stay wet all day.
- Woollen cap that covers the ears, or a balaclava
- Waterproof gloves plus thin liner gloves — Liners let you use your phone without freezing your fingers.
- Woollen socks, four to five pairs
- Muffler or neck gaiter
- Pheran (buy in Srinagar) — The Kashmiri woollen overcoat costs less in local markets than a jacket you would pack.
Footwear & snow gear
- Waterproof boots with deep-tread soles — Srinagar's lanes and hotel steps ice over at night.
- Gumboots and a long coat (rent at Tangmarg) — Shops on the Gulmarg road rent both for a few hundred rupees a day.
- Slip-on ice grips — Cheap rubber grips with studs make icy paths and stairs safer.
- Snow goggles or UV400 sunglasses — Glare after fresh snowfall causes eye strain and, in bad cases, snow blindness.
- Ski gear (rent in Gulmarg) — Skis, boots and poles come with instructors; don't carry your own unless you ski seriously.
- Small daypack with a rain cover
Health & medicines
- Regular prescription medicines, double the days — Snow can cancel Srinagar flights for a day or two.
- Paracetamol and a cold and flu remedy
- Throat lozenges
- Electrolyte or ORS sachets — You drink less in the cold, and dehydration shows up as headaches in Gulmarg.
- Antacids — Wazwan meals are rich and heavy.
- Hot water bottle — Most hotels have electric blankets, but power cuts are frequent.
- Disposable hand warmers
- Crepe bandage and plasters — Slips on ice are the most common injury.
Electronics
- Power bank, 20,000 mAh — Cold drains batteries fast; power banks go in cabin baggage only.
- Phone charger and a spare cable
- Short extension board — Houseboats and older hotels often have one socket by the bed.
- Headlamp or torch — Snowfall brings power cuts.
- Camera with spare batteries — Keep spares in an inner pocket so the cold doesn't drain them.
- Earphones
Toiletries & skin care
- Heavy moisturiser or cold cream
- Lip balm with SPF
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 — Snow reflects UV, so you can burn on a clear January day.
- Petroleum jelly — For cracked heels, knuckles and lips.
- Wet wipes — Hot water often runs on a schedule in winter.
- Travel-size toiletries — Liquids in cabin bags are capped at 100 ml each.
How cold is Kashmir in winter?
From late December to February, Srinagar's days hover around 4–8°C and nights fall to -2°C or lower. Gulmarg, at about 2,650 m, sits around 0°C by day and can drop to -10°C at night. Chillai Kalan, the 40 days from 21 December, is the harshest stretch, with fresh snow, frozen pipes and flight delays.
How should you layer for snow?
Think in three layers. A thermal base (wool-blend or synthetic, never cotton) holds warmth, a fleece or sweater traps it, and a waterproof outer jacket keeps wet Gulmarg snow out. Hotels and houseboats run bukharis (wood stoves) and electric blankets, so you'll peel off two layers indoors and pile them back on for every outing. Jeans soak through and stay wet; take lined trek or ski trousers instead.
How do you fit winter clothes into 15 kg?
IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa economy fares to Srinagar usually include 15 kg check-in and 7 kg cabin baggage; check your ticket. Wear your boots and heaviest jacket on the flight. Don't buy gumboots or a long overcoat in Delhi: shops in Tangmarg rent both for a few hundred rupees a day, and ski gear is rented with instructors in Gulmarg. A pheran costs less in Srinagar's markets than any jacket you'd pack.
Phones, cash and power
Prepaid SIMs issued outside Jammu & Kashmir don't work here, so switch one family number to postpaid before you fly. ATMs in Gulmarg and Pahalgam go offline, and sledge pullers and guides want cash. Snowfall brings power cuts, so a charged power bank in your cabin bag is essential.
Book Gulmarg Gondola Phase 2 tickets online before you arrive; peak-week slots sell out.
Pick your dates with our Kashmir weather guide, add travel insurance if you plan to ski, and see our other packing lists.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent snow boots and jackets in Gulmarg instead of buying them?
Will my prepaid mobile SIM work in Kashmir?
What should I wear on the Gulmarg Gondola in winter?
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.