HeritageThe LaLiT Grand Palace Srinagar
Srinagar
Ideal for: Heritage stay
Former Maharaja's palace on 15 acres of gardens with mountain-view rooms and old-world service.
- Palace suites
- Gardens
- Spa
- Fine dining
Srinagar • Gulmarg • Pahalgam • Sonamarg
Kashmir holidays — houseboats, meadows & snow-capped valleys
Srinagar Dal-Lake houseboats, Gulmarg's world-class gondola, Pahalgam's Lidder Valley and Sonamarg's alpine drives — planned end-to-end with trusted local partners.
- Vetted partners
- Handpicked resorts
- WhatsApp support
- Kashmir specialists
Send Your Travel Enquiry
Share a few details so we can recommend the right destination and resort.
Destination Overview
Jammu & Kashmir Holidays
Kashmir sits at 1,600–2,700 m in the western Himalaya — a valley of lakes, chinar trees, saffron fields, apple orchards and snow-capped ranges within a 2-hour flight from Delhi.
A first Kashmir trip almost always includes Srinagar (Dal Lake houseboats, Mughal gardens), Gulmarg (gondola and meadows) and Pahalgam (Lidder Valley walks). Sonamarg and Yusmarg are common day-trip or overnight extensions.
The valley is a genuinely 4-season destination: tulip gardens in April, alpine green in May–September, autumn chinar in October–November and skiable snow in Gulmarg from December to March.
We plan Kashmir with vetted local ground partners for transport, houseboats and guides — safety, timing and route decisions are handled the way locals would plan them.
Why Visit
Why plan Jammu & Kashmir Holidays with us
Four reasons this destination keeps drawing our travellers back.
One valley, four seasons
Kashmir is one of the very few Indian destinations that rewards every season equally — from tulips to snow.
Iconic experiences
A Dal Lake shikara sunset, a Gulmarg gondola ride to Apharwat and a Lidder Valley pony trail are on every well-planned first trip.
Skiing at Gulmarg
December–February turns Gulmarg into Asia's highest ski gondola resort — perfect for beginners on the meadows and freeride skiers up top.
Houseboat heritage
Cedar-wood houseboats on Dal and Nigeen lakes — a genuinely one-of-a-kind luxury stay from the British-Raj era, still lovingly maintained.
Best Time to Visit
When to visit Kashmir
Spring (recommended)
March – May
Tulip Garden peak (April), 12–22 °C, blooming orchards. Our favourite window for first-timers.
Summer
June – September
Cool escape from mainland heat, 15–30 °C, all alpine meadows open. Peak family season.
Autumn
October – November
Chinar-tree gold, crisp cold nights, quieter — beautiful for photographers and couples.
Winter
December – February
Snow across the valley, Gulmarg ski season, houseboats with wood-fire heating. Book 4–6 weeks ahead.
Top Attractions
Must-see places in Kashmir
The landmarks and experiences we build every itinerary around.
1
Dal Lake & shikara sunset (Srinagar)
The signature Kashmir experience — a slow shikara ride at golden hour with tea, past floating gardens and houseboats.
2
Mughal Gardens (Nishat & Shalimar)
17th-century terraced gardens above Dal Lake, best in April tulip season and September chrysanthemums.
3
Gulmarg gondola & Apharwat
World's second-highest cable car, running in two stages to Apharwat peak (4,000 m) — snow year-round at the top.
4
Pahalgam & Lidder Valley
Alpine pine forests, pony trails to Baisaran ('Mini Switzerland'), Aru & Chandanwari valleys.
5
Sonamarg & Thajiwas glacier
'Meadow of gold' — a full-day drive up the Sind Valley to Thajiwas glacier viewpoints.
6
Tulip Garden (April only)
Asia's largest tulip garden with 1.5 million bulbs blooming for 3–4 weeks in April — genuinely unmissable in season.
Suggested Itinerary
A perfect 6-day Kashmir plan
Our most-recommended pace. We tailor days, meal plans and add-ons to your travel style.
- Day 1
Arrive Srinagar
Airport pickup, houseboat check-in on Dal or Nigeen Lake, evening shikara sunset ride, dinner on board.
- Day 2
Srinagar sightseeing
Mughal Gardens (Nishat + Shalimar), Shankaracharya Temple, old-town walk, Chashme Shahi.
- Day 3
Srinagar → Gulmarg
Drive to Gulmarg (2 hrs), gondola Phase 1 (Kongdoori), meadow walk, hotel check-in, sunset at St Mary's church.
- Day 4
Gulmarg → Pahalgam
Drive to Pahalgam via saffron fields at Pampore (4 hrs), afternoon walk along the Lidder river.
- Day 5
Pahalgam full day
Aru Valley or Betaab Valley half-day, pony trail to Baisaran, evening at leisure.
- Day 6
Pahalgam → Srinagar → Fly out
Morning drive to Srinagar (2.5 hrs), lunch, transfer to airport.
Ideal For
Kashmir is a great fit for
Family holidaysHoneymoonersFirst-time snow travellersPhotographersSkiers (Gulmarg)Elders & multi-gen groups
Recommended Stays
Handpicked Kashmir resorts
A curated shortlist across styles and price points — share your dates and we'll narrow it to the right 2–3 for you.
HeritageSki luxuryThe Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa
Gulmarg
Ideal for: Snow & ski
Gulmarg's flagship 5-star at 2,650 m with pinewood suites, L'Occitane spa and gondola access.
- Ski access
- L'Occitane spa
- Indoor pool
- Cigar bar
Sukoon Houseboat
Nigeen Lake, Srinagar
Ideal for: Luxury houseboat
Boutique 4-suite houseboat on the quieter Nigeen Lake — private shikara, on-board chef, real Kashmiri hospitality.
- 4 suites
- Private shikara
- On-board chef
The Pahalgam Hotel
Pahalgam
Ideal for: Lidder Valley base
Long-standing 4-star property on the Lidder river with cottage rooms and easy access to pony-trail starts.
- Riverside
- Cottages
- Restaurant
Things To Do
Experiences we book in Kashmir
Beyond the resort — the on-ground experiences that make your trip memorable.
- Dal Lake shikara sunset with tea
- Overnight cedar-wood houseboat stay
- Gulmarg gondola to Apharwat
- Pony trail to Baisaran valley (Pahalgam)
- Thajiwas glacier day trip (Sonamarg)
- Tulip Garden visit (April only)
- Saffron-field walk at Pampore (Oct–Nov)
- Old-town Srinagar heritage walk
- Kashmiri wazwan multi-course meal
- Skiing lessons on Kongdoori meadow (Dec–Feb)
Travel Tips
Insider tips for Kashmir
Practical, locally-informed advice we give every traveller before departure.
Fly into Srinagar (SXR); road entry via Jammu adds 8–10 hours and rarely makes sense for a leisure trip.
Houseboats vary massively — insist on a Deluxe or Premium category on Nigeen (quieter) or Dal Lake gate 1.
In winter, carry proper snow boots and layered thermals — Gulmarg drops well below zero at gondola Phase 2.
Cash is essential in Pahalgam and Gulmarg — ATMs are unreliable; carry ₹20,000–₹30,000.
For pony rides, use official union stands and pre-agree the exact route and price with your driver-guide's help.
Destination Gallery
Kashmir in pictures
Nearby Destinations
Pair your trip with these destinations
Most of our travellers combine 2–3 destinations. Here's what we recommend alongside your stay.
Leh Holidays
High-altitude monasteries, lakes and Ladakh road-trip circuits.
Explore
Rajasthan Holidays
Palaces, deserts, wildlife and heritage — our flagship cluster.
Explore
Maharashtra Holidays
Ghats, vineyards, Konkan beaches and weekend getaways from Mumbai.
ExploreAnswers
Kashmir holiday FAQs
Questions our travellers ask most — for anything else, message us on WhatsApp.
Related Reading
Guides & articles from our blog
Deeper reading before you plan your Kashmir trip.
KashmirRecently updated· 6 min read
The Perfect 6-Night Kashmir Itinerary
The Srinagar–Gulmarg–Pahalgam sequence we recommend most — with hotels, pace and shoulder-season tips.
Read guideKashmirRecently updated· 6 min read
Houseboat or Hotel in Srinagar?
How to split your Srinagar nights for the best experience — with our vetted houseboat shortlist.
Read guideKashmirRecently updated· 6 min read
Gulmarg in Winter: Skiing & Snow Guide
What to expect, what to pack, and how to plan your gondola days.
Read guide