Quick answer
The essentials in Kashmir are a shikara ride on Dal Lake, a night on a houseboat, the Mughal gardens of Srinagar, the Gulmarg Gondola and a day each in Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Add Srinagar's old city and a Wazwan meal for culture. Most sights are cheap; transport, union taxis and pony fees are where costs add up.
14 things worth your time in Kashmir
- 01
Shikara ride on Dal Lake
ExperienceThe defining Srinagar experience: late-afternoon light on the Zabarwan hills, Char Chinari island and the lotus beds near Nehru Park.
1–2 hoursAbout ₹600–1,000 per boat per hour at posted ratesAgree the route and duration before boarding. Hawker boats will paddle up; a firm no thanks works.
- 02
Floating vegetable market
ExperienceFarmers trade lotus stems, turnips and greens from boats at dawn on the inner Dal, a scene that has run for generations.
2 hours from about 5:30 amShikara about ₹1,000–1,500 per boatIt is over by about 7 am. Ask your houseboat to book the boatman the night before.
- 03
Mughal gardens: Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi
LandmarkTerraced 17th-century gardens with chinars, fountains and lake views. Nishat is the grandest, Chashme Shahi the smallest and closest to Pari Mahal.
Half daySmall entry fee, about ₹25–30 per gardenGo before 10 am. Afternoons and Sundays are packed with local families.
- 04
Pari Mahal
LandmarkA terraced Mughal-era ruin above Chashme Shahi with the widest view over Dal Lake and the city.
1 hourSmall entry feeBest around sunset; it closes at dusk and bags are checked at the gate.
- 05
Old city: Jamia Masjid and Khanqah-e-Moula
LandmarkJamia Masjid's 378 deodar pillars and the carved, painted wooden interior of Khanqah-e-Moula on the Jhelum show a Srinagar most package tours skip.
3 hoursFreeCover your head and dress modestly. Women view Khanqah-e-Moula's interior from the doorway.
- 06
Hazratbal Shrine
LandmarkWhite marble shrine on the north-western shore of Dal Lake, revered across Kashmir; the lakeside lawns are a calm stop.
1 hourFreeAvoid Friday midday prayers, when crowds and security are heaviest.
- 07
Shankaracharya Temple
LandmarkHilltop Shiva temple at about 1,850 m reached by around 240 steps, with a view across Srinagar and Dal Lake.
1.5 hoursFreePhones and cameras are usually not allowed past the security check; leave them in the car.
- 08
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
NatureAsia's largest tulip garden, with terraced beds below the Zabarwan hills, open for about four weeks each spring.
1–2 hoursAbout ₹75 for adults (2026)Only open from late March to mid-April. Weekday mornings avoid the worst crowds.
- 09
Gulmarg Gondola
Day tripOne of the world's higher cable cars, rising from 2,650 m to near 3,980 m below Apharwat, with snow most of the year at the top.
Full dayAbout ₹700–800 for Phase 1, ₹900–1,000 for Phase 2 (2026)Book online in advance. Better still, stay a night in Gulmarg and take the first slot.
- 10
Pahalgam: Betaab Valley, Aru and Chandanwari
Day tripThe Lidder valley at about 2,200 m, with pine forest, river meadows and the start of the Amarnath route at Chandanwari.
1–2 daysUnion taxi roughly ₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle for the three pointsSome meadows, including Baisaran, have been closed for long periods since April 2025. Ask your hotel what is open that day.
- 11
Sonamarg and Thajiwas Glacier
Day tripA meadow at about 2,800 m on the Leh road. Since the Z-Morh tunnel opened in January 2025, it is reachable year-round.
Full dayPony or sledge to the glacier about ₹1,000–2,500In July and August, Amarnath traffic via Baltal slows the road. Leave Srinagar by 7 am.
- 12
Doodhpathri
Day tripA wide meadow 42 km from Srinagar with a fast, milky stream and a fraction of Gulmarg's crowds.
Full daySmall parking and entry charges; ponies extraCarry food; options at the top are basic, and the road is narrow.
- 13
Pashmina, papier-mâché and walnut wood
ShoppingKashmir's crafts are the real souvenir, and buying in Srinagar beats any emporium elsewhere.
2–3 hoursGenuine pashmina stoles from about ₹6,000; shawls far moreBuy from government emporiums or established shops and ask for the GI tag or a lab certificate for pashmina.
- 14
A Wazwan meal
FoodKashmir's ceremonial multi-course feast of slow-cooked mutton, from rista to gushtaba, is a highlight even in its restaurant form.
2 hoursAbout ₹800–1,500 per person in a restaurantVegetarians can order dum aloo, nadru yakhni and chaman kaliya instead.
How should you plan your days in Kashmir?
Kashmir rewards slow travel. Srinagar is the hub, and Gulmarg (about 50 km), Pahalgam (about 95 km) and Sonamarg (about 80 km) each take 1.5 to 3 hours by road. First-timers who try to cover all three as day trips end up in a cab for eight hours a day. A better plan is three nights in Srinagar, one in Gulmarg and one in Pahalgam.
How do you get there from Delhi?
- Flight: about 1 hour 30 minutes to Srinagar (SXR), the simplest option. Return fares usually run ₹8,000–15,000 outside peak weeks.
- Train: trains run from Delhi to Jammu or Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Since June 2025 trains continue from Katra to Srinagar across the Chenab bridge in about 3 hours. Check IRCTC for current through services.
- Road: about 800 km via Jammu and the Banihal tunnel, best split over two days.
How do local taxis work?
In Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg, local unions control sightseeing. Your Srinagar cab drops you in town, and you hire a union taxi or pony for Aru, Betaab or Thajiwas. Ask for the posted rate card before agreeing to anything.
What is overrated?
Costume photo stops, pony rides offered the moment you step out at Pahalgam, and sledge pullers who quote low and add charges at the top. Agree on everything in advance and pay at the end.
Houseboat hawkers charge Srinagar's highest prices for pashmina and saffron. Buy in town instead.
Time your trip with the best time to visit Kashmir, set a budget with Kashmir trip cost, choose a base from where to stay in Kashmir and read what to eat in Kashmir. For snow and skiing, see things to do in Gulmarg.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous thing to do in Kashmir?
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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.
