January is Kashmir at its most wintry: the heart of Chillai Kalan, the 40 coldest days of the year, with the heaviest snow, the best skiing in Gulmarg, and Srinagar under frost and mist. It is also, once New Year has passed, one of the quietest and best-value months to visit. If you want snow and can handle real cold, it is the month to choose.

We are based in Srinagar and run trips through the winter. This is what January is actually like, and how to plan around it.

Kashmir in January at a glance

  • Srinagar: about -2°C at night to 7°C by day. Hard frosts; occasional colder spells well below that.
  • Gulmarg: much colder, often well below -5°C at night, with deep snow in a normal year.
  • Snow: the most reliable month along with February. Heavy falls can come in any week.
  • Chillai Kalan runs from 21 December to the end of January.
  • Prices: peak until about 5 January, then among the lowest of the year.
  • Open: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, with short closures after heavy snow. Closed: Gurez, Zero Point, Sinthan Top, Bangus and the Mughal Road.

Chillai Kalan: what the cold actually means

Kashmiris divide winter into three periods: Chillai Kalan (the "big cold", 21 December to the end of January), Chillai Khurd (the "small cold", 20 days) and Chillai Bachha (the "baby cold", 10 days). January is the core of the hardest one. In practice that means:

  • Water pipes freeze overnight in older buildings, and the edges of Dal Lake can freeze in the coldest spells.
  • Mornings are often misty and grey in Srinagar; the mountains are usually clear.
  • Snow can fall in a burst of a day or two, then give way to bright, very cold weather.
  • Power cuts are more frequent in winter. Choose a hotel with heating and a backup supply.

Snow is likely, not certain. The winter of 2023–24 was nearly snowless until the end of January, the exception that proves the rule, and a reminder to keep plans flexible.

Things to do in Kashmir in January

Ski or learn to ski in Gulmarg

January and February are Gulmarg’s best ski months. Beginners have nursery slopes near the base with ski schools and equipment hire, at a few thousand rupees a day for lessons and gear. Experienced skiers come for the long off-piste runs from Apharwat, reached by Gondola Phase 2. Book an instructor in advance in peak weeks.

Ride the Gondola into deep snow

Kongdori and Apharwat are under deep snow, and the views are at their clearest after a fall. Phase 2 closes more often in January because of wind and snow, so book Phase 1 and treat Phase 2 as a bonus. See the Gulmarg Gondola guide.

Sledging and snow play

Gulmarg, Sonamarg and, when it is open, Betaab Valley near Pahalgam all have sledges and snow slopes. Hire boots and a coat at Tangmarg or Gulmarg for about ₹250 a piece. Agree sledge prices before you start.

Sonamarg in the snow

Reachable through the Z-Morh tunnel since January 2025, with short closures after heavy snow or avalanche warnings. The meadow is a snowfield, and the peaks around it are at their most dramatic. See Srinagar to Sonamarg.

Srinagar in winter

Take a misty early-morning shikara, walk the Old City when it is quiet, and eat what Kashmiris eat in the cold: harissa for breakfast from the Old City shops that make it only in winter, noon chai, and kahwa through the day. Buy a pheran, and you will understand why everyone wears one.

Red Gulmarg Gondola cabin above snow-covered slopes and pine forest, with skiing and pony-ride scenes below
Gulmarg in January: the most reliable month for snow and skiing, along with February.

What is open, and how reliably

  • [Gulmarg](@destination-fcf68225f2c2): open; the Tangmarg–Gulmarg road can close for hours after heavy snow, and authorities may then allow only vehicles with chains or four-wheel drive.
  • [Sonamarg](@destination-3fbaac531f39): open through the tunnel, with occasional closures. Zero Point closed.
  • [Pahalgam](@destination-005d8322185f): the town and usually Betaab are reachable; Aru and Chandanwari are often snowbound.
  • Doodhpathri and Yusmarg: reachable on clear days; roads close after heavy snow.
  • Gurez, Bangus, Sinthan Top, the Mughal Road: closed until spring.
  • Flights: Srinagar airport stays open, but snow and low visibility cause delays and occasional cancellations. Book a morning flight and leave a buffer before onward connections.
  • The Jammu–Srinagar highway can close for a day or more after heavy snow at Banihal; the Vande Bharat train is the more reliable land route.

What to pack

  • Thermal base layers, a warm mid-layer and a proper down jacket.
  • Waterproof, insulated boots with grip (or hire snow boots locally).
  • Woollen cap, gloves, a scarf and thick socks, with spares.
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen for the snow.
  • Lip balm and moisturiser for the dry cold.
  • A power bank and a small torch for power cuts.

January dates and prices

  • 1–5 January: still New Year peak, with high prices and full Gulmarg hotels.
  • From about 5 January: prices fall to among the lowest of the year, and Gulmarg empties of holiday crowds.
  • Republic Day, Tuesday 26 January 2027: expect the long weekend before it to be busy at Gulmarg.

For costs line by line, see the Kashmir trip cost guide. Our Luxury Gulmarg Retreat (two nights at a 5★ Gulmarg resort, both Gondola phases, from ₹78,500 for two) is built for exactly this month.

A six-day January itinerary

  1. Day 1: Srinagar. Arrive on a morning flight, settle in, an afternoon shikara if the weather is clear.
  2. Day 2: To Gulmarg. Drive up, Gondola Phase 1, snow play. Night in Gulmarg.
  3. Day 3: Gulmarg. A ski lesson, or Phase 2 if the wind allows. Night in Gulmarg.
  4. Day 4: Back to Srinagar via Tangmarg. Afternoon in the Old City.
  5. Day 5: Sonamarg or Pahalgam, whichever road is clear, as a day trip.
  6. Day 6: Harissa breakfast and depart.

Two nights in Gulmarg are the key difference from a summer plan: they protect you against a road closure and give you a second chance at clear weather on the Gondola. See also the winter versions in our 5-day and 7-day itineraries.

Pony riders crossing snowfields in the mountains above Pahalgam, Kashmir
Above Pahalgam the snow lingers well into spring; in January most of the side valleys are closed by it.

January travel tips

  • Keep a spare day. Snow can close a road or delay a flight.
  • Ask about heating and power backup before booking a hotel. Houseboats are very cold in January.
  • Travel with an operator or driver who knows winter roads, and fit chains when asked.
  • Carry cash for snow gear, sledges and ski hire.
  • Watch children and older travellers for the cold, especially at the Gondola top.

Plan January with us

MIRHA Tour & Travels is based in Srinagar and runs trips through Chillai Kalan. We watch the forecast with you as the dates approach and move the Gulmarg nights to the clearest days. Planning a winter honeymoon? See the honeymoon packages and the December guide for the run-up to the snow season.

See the Kashmir tour packages, or tell us your January dates and we will build the trip around the snow.