Day 1:
Mode of Transport: For a hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for the day’s sightseeing.
Garden Hopping
09:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Your Kashmir itinerary begins at the Shalimar Bagh.
The garden was built by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This is the largest of all the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar and more than 400 years old. The scenic beauty of the garden and its location overlooking Dal Lake has earned it the tag ‘Crown of Srinagar’. The garden opens at 09:00 AM in the summer and at 10:00 AM in the winter.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
3 km south of Shalimar Bagh is Nishat Garden.
This garden is the 2nd largest Mughal Garden. With the Dal Lake to its west and the Zabarwan Range to its east, the location of the garden is what makes it an ideal place for photographers. It was built in the year 1633. This garden too has a tag – ‘The Garden of Bliss’.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
3 km south of Nishat Garden is Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden.
The Tulip garden is the most important garden in Srinagar. The garden was built in 2007 to promote tourism on a grand scale. The garden houses more than 60 varieties of Tulips and a count of 15 lakh flowers. Every year, Tulip Festival is held in the month of April that attracts large group of tourists across the world.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
2 km from the Tulip Garden, you reach Chashme Shahi Garden.
Relatively small in size, Chashme Shahi was developed in the 17th century. The garden is famous for its natural spring from where it got its name. The spring is also called the Royal Spring.
Time duration: 25 – 30 min
The last garden to explore is the Pari Mahal, 1 km from Chashme Shahi.
Pari Mahal is the fourth garden built during the Mughal Era. The garden is on the terrace of a palace. The palace is almost 400 years old. Being at a higher elevation than the other gardens, you get some astonishing views of the Dal Lake against the backdrop of the Zabarwan range.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
For lunch, head towards Residency Road. This a busy area with local markets and restaurants around. Mughal Darbar and Adhoos Restaurant are two prominent places to enjoy your Kashmiri cuisine.
Sunset and Shikhara Ride
03:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Post lunch, you head towards Hari Parbat.
The fort on top of the Hari Parbat is the main attraction. The fort was built in the late 18th century. This acts as a vantage point from where you get a view of the entire city. The area is now under the Indian Army and to get access you need to carry your identity proof.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Finally, you end your day with a Shikhara Ride at the Dal Lake.
Dal Lake is an ideal place to spend your evening and wind up the day. Take a boat ride or a shikhara ride here and explore the famous Meena Bazaar, a floating market. The charges for a boat ride depending on the duration of the ride.
Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Kashmir
Day 2:
Mode of Transport: Gulmarg is 50 km from Srinagar and takes around 1 hour to get there. For a hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for the day’s sightseeing.
Things to carry:
1. Enough Cash – Gulmarg doesn’t have ATMs and cards are not accepted by local vendors.
2. Snow boots – if visiting during the winter season.
Gulmarg Sightseeing
10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
If you are visiting in winter season, you must pay a visit to the Drung Waterfall.
The waterfall becomes frozen in the months of December and January. That’s something you don’t get to see too often. Rest of the year it remains an ordinary waterfall. In the winters it turns into a magical piece of frozen art.
Time duration: 25 – 30 min
The primary attraction in Gulmarg is the Gondola.
Gulmarg Gondola is a ropeway ride that carries passengers to Kongdoori and Apharwat Peak (if the weather permits). The cable car is the second-highest cable car in the world and the main activity in Gulmarg. Ticket prices depend on where you intend to go. Phase 1 journey ends at Kongdoori and Phase 2 journey ends at Apharwat peak. If the weather conditions are not favourable, Phase 2 journey remains suspended. Skiing is a popular activity in Kongdoori and if you are a skier then grab a pair of skis.
Travel Advice:
1. Try to reach early in order to avoid the long ques at the ticket counter.
2. Phase 2 should be avoided if travelling with infants, elderlies and people with ailments or breathing problem. Phase 1 is safe and must-visit for everyone.
Time duration: 3 – 5 hours
Kongdoori has a plethora of food joints and stalls. You can look to have your brunch here.
After the Gondola ride, you take a stroll along the Gulmarg Golf Course.
The golf course is the highest in the world at 8690 ft. above sea level. During the winter season, the entire region is covered in thick white snow. This is a place where you find all sorts of activities – ski practice, sledge ride, cycling, and many more. Stay here for as much time you want.
Time duration: 2 – 3 hours
Also read: Pahalgam Itineraries
Day 3:
Mode of Transport: Sonamarg is 80 km from Srinagar and takes around 2.5 hour to get there. For a hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for the day’s sightseeing.
Things to carry:
1. Enough Cash – Sonamarg doesn’t have ATMs and cards are not accepted by local vendors.
2. Snow boots – if visiting during the winter season.
The heaven on Earth
08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Have a heavy breakfast and head towards Sonamarg.
Sonamarg must be included in your itinerary for Srinagar. The name translates to ‘meadow of gold’, which is an apt translation. The temperature in the winter season can go as low as – 12oC. A paradise untouched by any human settlement, the valley of Sonamarg makes you realize the essence of Amir Khusro’s famous quote, “If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this and it is this.“
If you love adventure, then make a deal with a snow-bike vendor and visit Thajiwas Glacier, a shining frozen lake at a height of 3000 meters from sea level.
The access to Sonamarg depends on the weather conditions. Severe snowfall, at times, blocks the only road passing through the valley. Sledge ride, snow-biking, skiing are pretty common. Usually, tourists end up spending 5 – 6 hours.
Advice:
1. Check with your hotel if the road to Sonamarg is clear or blocked.
2. If you plan to visit Thajiwas Lake, hire a snow-bike and not a sledge.
3. Thajiwas Glacier is not suitable for infants, elderly and people with breathing complexities.
4. Put your bargaining skills to test with the vendors.
Day 4:
Pahalgam Visit
08:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Book a cab for Pahalgam drop from your hotel. Check out from your hotel in Srinagar early, preferably by 08:00 AM, or earlier if possible. Pahalgam is 90 km away from Srinagar and takes about 2 hours. Check-in at a hotel in Pahalgam by 10:00 AM and head out for days sightseeing. The best area to book a hotel in Pahalgam is the Pahalgam Main Market near Lidder River.
Café Log Inn is a nice, cosy place to have your brunch before beginning your sightseeing.
Pahalgam has two circuits which can be explored in 2 separate days.
1. Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari (Need to hire a taxi)
2. Kanimarg, Baisaran, and Dabiyan (Need to hire a Horse)
The one with a Taxi
11:00 AM – 05:00 PM
You need to book a Pahalgam-operated taxi from any taxi booth in the main market. Taxis from other cities are not allowed to carry passengers for sightseeing.
Aru Valley: This location was used in filming Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Thus became a prominent tourist destination of Jammu and Kashmir. Like most of the valleys in Kashmir, Aru Vallley is an exquisite place to relish the pristine condition of nature.
Time duration: 1 – 2 hours
25 km from Aru Valley is Chandanwari.
Chandanwari: Another valley on the lap of nature, Chandanwadi is the starting point of Shri Amarnath Yatra trek. Vehicles are not allowed beyond this point. Snow-biking and sledge ride are common activities in the valley.
Time duration: 1 – 2 hours
10 km downhill of Chandanwadi is the Betaab Valley.
Betaab Valley: Previously known as Hagan Valley, it got its name from the Bollywood movie Betaab which was shot at this location. A must-visit place for movie buffs.
Time duration: 30 – 45 mins
Dana Pani is a pure vegetarian restaurant where you can dine in for some Kashmiri cuisines.
Day 5:
The one with a Horse
11:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Horses or ponies can be booked from the Main Market. They cover 3 – 4 points – Baisaran Valley, Kashmir Valley, Kanimarg and Dabiyan.
Few things to keep in mind before take a pony ride:
1. You have to bargain a lot to get the best deal. Owners charge a very high amount at the beginning.
2. It becomes difficult for the animal to climb up and down the valley with extra luggage and chances of slipping, falling, and getting injured are very high.
3. If you are a budget traveller or afraid of animals you can skip this sightseeing tour.
4. Not recommended for elderly people and children. This is ideal for people traveling in groups and young couples.
If not interested in the horse ride, then you can check-out and leave for the airport which takes 2.5 hours from Pahalgam.
