Kashmir is smaller than most people expect. The four places that fill nearly every itinerary (Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg) are all within three hours of Srinagar airport, so you can see the headline sights in five or six days without changing hotel. Beyond them is a second Kashmir of quiet valleys, Mughal springs and border meadows that most visitors never reach.
Below are the 50 places we think are worth your time, grouped the way you would actually travel them, nearest first. We are a tour operator based in Srinagar; this is the list we use ourselves.
The short version
If you have five days, these are the trip:
- Srinagar: Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens and the Old City. Your base for everything else.
- Gulmarg: the meadow, the Gondola and, in winter, India’s main ski slope. 50 km, about 2 hours.
- Pahalgam: Betaab, Aru and Chandanwari along the Lidder. 90–95 km, 2.5–3 hours.
- Sonamarg: Thajiwas Glacier and the Sindh valley. 80 km, about 3 hours.
With one more day, add Doodhpathri or Yusmarg rather than a fifth long drive. With three more, Gurez becomes possible in summer. The 5-day and 7-day itineraries put these in a workable order.
Srinagar (places 1–15)
Srinagar deserves two days on a first visit and usually gets one. It is the reason a Kashmir trip is more than a series of meadows.
1. Dal Lake
The centre of Srinagar and of most Kashmir trips. Take the shikara hour at 6 am rather than 5 pm if you can: the water is still, the light is on the Zabarwan range, and the lake is yours. Fares are fixed by the Tourism Department at roughly ₹700–800 per boat per hour. A night on a houseboat is worth doing once. See the Dal Lake guide.
2. Nigeen Lake
Dal’s quieter northern neighbour, with fewer boats and better-value houseboats if you want to sleep on the water rather than photograph it.
3. The floating vegetable market
Near Gagribal on the Dal, at dawn: farmers trading vegetables from boats. A working market, not a show, and over by about 7 am.
4. Nishat Bagh
The largest Mughal garden on the Dal shore, built in 1633: twelve terraces running down to the lake, with the finest chinars of all the gardens.
5. Shalimar Bagh
Built in 1619 by Jahangir for Nur Jahan, with terraces, water channels and fountains, and a pavilion of black stone.
6. Chashme Shahi
The smallest of the gardens, built in 1632 around a spring that still runs and that locals swear by for its water.
7. Pari Mahal
Seven terraces on the hillside above Chashme Shahi, and the best view over the whole lake at sunset. Routinely dropped for time; it should not be.
8. Shankaracharya Temple
A small stone temple on a hill above the city, reached by a road and about 240 steps. The view hands you the geography of the whole valley in one look. Phones and cameras may have to be left at the gate.
9. Hazratbal Shrine
White marble on the western shore of the Dal, holding a relic of the Prophet. Respectful dress; women cover their heads; Friday midday is prayer time.
10. Jama Masjid
The great wooden mosque at Nowhatta in the Old City, dating from 1394 and rebuilt several times, standing on 378 deodar pillars around a garden courtyard.
11. Khanqah-e-Moula
A Sufi shrine on the bank of the Jhelum, carved timber and painted papier-mâché inside, with barely any stone in it. The finest interior in the valley.
12. Hari Parbat
The hill above the Old City, carrying a Durrani-era fort, the Sharika Devi temple and the Makhdoom Sahib shrine. A walk around its foot is one of the best mornings in Srinagar.
13. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
Asia’s largest tulip garden, with around 1.7 million bulbs below the Zabarwan hills. Open for only about four weeks from the second half of March. Outside that window it is a lawn. See Kashmir in April.
14. Badamwari
The almond orchard at the foot of Hari Parbat, in blossom in early March, a fortnight ahead of the tulips.
15. Dachigam National Park
A forested national park about 22 km from Srinagar, home to the hangul, the rare Kashmir stag, and to black and brown bears. Entry is by permit from the wildlife department, so arrange it before you go.
Gulmarg (places 16–23)
About 50 km from Srinagar, at 2,650 m: a great bowl of meadow ringed by pine, with the Apharwat ridge above. See Srinagar to Gulmarg for the drive and taxi fares.
16. The Gulmarg Gondola to Kongdori
Phase 1 of the cable car climbs to Kongdori at about 3,050 m, with snow for much of the year. Tickets cost about ₹800 in 2026 and sell out in season. Everything is in our Gondola guide.
17. Apharwat
Phase 2 continues to almost 4,000 m on Apharwat, with snow most of the year and, in winter, the off-piste ski runs that made Gulmarg famous. Often closed by wind; treat it as a bonus.
18. Khilanmarg
A meadow about 6 km above Gulmarg, on foot or by pony, with views to Nanga Parbat on a clear day and the best sledging slope in winter.
19. Alpather Lake
A glacial lake below Apharwat, frozen until about June. A long walk or pony ride from the top of the Gondola; July to September only.
20. Gulmarg Golf Course
Eighteen holes at 2,650 m, among the highest courses in the world, open roughly May to October.
21. St Mary’s Church and the Maharani Temple
A small stone church built in 1902 and a hilltop Shiva temple, five minutes apart on the meadow.
22. Drung Waterfall
A short detour near Tangmarg on the Gulmarg road. In mid-winter it freezes into a wall of ice.
23. Ferozpur Nallah and Strawberry Valley
Two short walks from Gulmarg that get you clear of the pony stands and the crowds.
Pahalgam and the Lidder valley (places 24–28)
About 90–95 km south-east of Srinagar, at 2,130 m. The town is not really the point; its side valleys are, reached only by the local union taxi. The Srinagar to Pahalgam guide has the full union rate card.
24. Betaab Valley
About 7 km above town: a river meadow ringed by pine and snow peaks, named after the 1983 film shot here. See Betaab Valley.
25. Aru Valley
About 12 km up a side valley: wider, quieter and more open, with a village, meadows, and the trailheads for Kolahoi Glacier and Tarsar–Marsar. Given one choice, many people prefer Aru.
26. Chandanwari
About 16 km up, the first stage of the Amarnath Yatra, with a snow bridge that lasts well into summer. Access can be restricted during the Yatra in July and August.
27. The Lidder river
The river runs through Pahalgam town itself. Walk its banks in the evening, after the day visitors have gone.
28. Mamleshwar Temple
A small, very old stone Shiva temple a short walk across the river from the town centre.
A note on Baisaran. The meadow above Pahalgam, once the classic pony ride from the town, was closed to visitors after the attack there in April 2025 and was not among the sites reopened in February 2026. As of October 2026 it had not been confirmed open, so it is not on this list. Ask locally before planning around it.
Sonamarg and the Sindh valley (places 29–33)
About 80 km north-east of Srinagar, at 2,730 m, and since the Z-Morh tunnel opened in January 2025, reachable in winter too. See Srinagar to Sonamarg.
29. Thajiwas Glacier
About 3 km from the road head by pony (around ₹1,500 return) or on foot. Closed after April 2025 and reopened to visitors in February 2026.
30. Zero Point
A snowfield beyond the Zojila pass on the road to Ladakh, reached by Sonamarg union taxi. Roughly June to October only.
31. Nilagrad
A red-tinged mountain stream near Baltal that locals hold to be medicinal.
32. Baltal
The northern base camp for the Amarnath Yatra. Busy and controlled in July and August.
33. Vishansar and Kishansar lakes
Twin alpine lakes on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, which starts near Sonamarg. A multi-day trek, July to mid-September only.
Day trips from Srinagar (places 34–41)
The places that make a second Kashmir trip better than the first, all within about 1.5 hours of the city.
34. Doodhpathri
High meadow and shallow, milk-white streams in Budgam, 42 km from Srinagar. Reopened to visitors in February 2026. See Doodhpathri.
35. Yusmarg and Nilnag Lake
Pine, meadow and the Doodh Ganga river, 47 km away, with Nilnag Lake a walk further on. Quieter than Doodhpathri. See Yusmarg.
36. Pampore saffron fields
About 15 km out on the Pahalgam road. In purple flower for about two weeks from late October; saffron and kahwa stalls all year.
37. Avantipora ruins
Two 9th-century temples built by King Avantivarman, beside the highway on the way to Pahalgam.
38. Manasbal Lake
About 30 km north: lotus in July and August, and the quietest water in the valley.
39. Naranag and Gangbal
An 8th-century stone temple complex in the Sindh valley, and the trailhead for the Gangbal lake trek.
40. Wular Lake
About 60 km north, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, with almost no tourism built on it.
41. Kheer Bhawani
A spring temple at Tulmulla near Ganderbal, sacred to Kashmiri Pandits, with a large festival in early summer.
South Kashmir (places 42–47)
On or near the Pahalgam road, and almost entirely skipped by packages.
42. Verinag
The octagonal Mughal spring at the source of the Jhelum, built by Jahangir. About 80 km from Srinagar.
43. Kokernag
Freshwater springs, terraced gardens and a trout farm, about 70 km away.
44. Achabal
A Mughal garden linked to Nur Jahan, built around a powerful spring. Most people drive straight past it.
45. Martand Sun Temple
Eighth-century ruins on a plateau near Mattan, above Anantnag, and the most significant pre-Mughal site in the valley.
46. Aharbal
The Veshaw river dropping through a gorge in Kulgam, about 75 km from Srinagar.
47. Daksum and Sinthan Top
Pine forest giving way to a pass at about 3,750 m on the Kishtwar road. Open roughly May to October.
The far north (places 48–50)
Two or three extra days, summer only, and best done with a local operator and current information.
48. Gurez Valley
About 125 km north via Bandipora and the Razdan Pass (about 3,300 m): the Kishanganga river, wooden villages at Dawar and Habba Khatoon peak. Open roughly May or June to October; photo ID mandatory, and foreign nationals face additional restrictions. Tulail, beyond Gurez, is as far as an itinerary can reasonably go. See Gurez Valley.
49. Bangus Valley
A saucer-shaped high meadow in Kupwara, effectively uncrowded. Summer only.
50. Lolab Valley
Walnut forests, rice terraces and almost no visitors, about 110 km north. Our Kashmir Valley Explorer includes a day here.
Which places are open when
- All year: Srinagar and the Dal, Gulmarg, Pahalgam town and Betaab (usually), and Sonamarg through the tunnel. See Kashmir in December and January.
- Spring (March–April): the Tulip Garden and blossom; snow still at Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Chandanwari. See Kashmir in April.
- May to October: everything, including Zero Point, Gurez, Bangus, Sinthan Top and the treks (July to mid-September).
- Winter closures: Gurez, Zero Point, Sinthan Top, Bangus and the Mughal Road; Aru and Chandanwari are often snowbound.
Month by month, see the best time to visit Kashmir.
What to cut if you only have four days
Four days will not hold all four main destinations plus a real look at Srinagar. The usual mistake is keeping all four and seeing none of them properly. In the order we would drop them:
- Sonamarg first. Six hours of driving for one glacier is the weakest value on a short trip.
- Then the second Srinagar day, but lose a garden, not the Old City morning.
- Never Gulmarg or Pahalgam. They make the trip.
What it costs to see them
Our Kashmir 4N/5D covers the headline places in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg from a Srinagar base, priced as a group total: ₹27,200 for two, ₹38,200 for four, ₹70,500 for eight. The Family Delight 6N/7D adds the Old City and a Pahalgam night; Kashmir Valley Explorer covers the offbeat valleys. Couples should start from the honeymoon range, from ₹28,400 per couple.
Check the inclusions as well as the price. The Gondola and the Pahalgam union taxi are extras in most packages, ours included. The exceptions are six of our honeymoon packages, which include Gondola Phase 1 and the Pahalgam union cab, and the Luxury Gulmarg Retreat, which includes both Gondola phases. The Kashmir trip cost guide puts every extra in rupees.
Building a trip around this list
Tell us which of these places matter most and how many days you have, and we will tell you which fit and which to drop, including when your dates do not suit the trip you want. Browse the full package range, or send us your dates and we will build the sequence around them.
