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.
Also read: Kashmir Itineraries
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
