Snowfall In Jammu & Kashmir: 15 Best Places To See Snow And The Best Time To Visit For Snowfall (2026-27)

If you only have time for one snow stop, make it Gulmarg. At about 2,650 metres it holds the most dependable, deepest snow in the region and doubles as one of Asia’s serious ski destinations. The Gulmarg Gondola climbs in two stages: phase one to Kongdoori, and phase two up to Apharwat Peak at close to 4,000 metres, where the powder and the views are at their best. Skiers and snowboarders work the Apharwat slopes from January, first-timers hire gear and an instructor lower down, and even non-skiers ride the cable car just for the scenery. For more on the resort and its season, see the Gulmarg pages on our hub. Plan ahead in peak January, when the Gulmarg tourism crowds and the Gondola queues both swell, and keep a buffer day because the cable car pauses in high wind or heavy snow.

Srinagar is the valley’s gateway and the easiest place to wake up to snow without leaving the city. When a cold spell hits, the Dal Lake mirrors white peaks, the shikara boats drift through a low mist, and the Mughal Gardens, Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh, sit under a thin, photogenic layer of snow that most visitors never think to see in winter. Stay on a houseboat, take an early shikara before the light gets flat, and use the city as your base for day trips out to Gulmarg or Pahalgam. Srinagar itself does not get the deep cover of the resorts, but a good snowy morning here is one of the prettiest in the country.

At about 2,200 metres, Pahalgam is the family-friendly snow town. The Lidder river runs through it, the surrounding pine slopes take a soft, even coat of snow, and the pace is gentler than Gulmarg. Kids can sledge and take pony rides, couples can walk the riverbank, and the nearby Betaab and Aru valleys are short, scenic outings. Outside taxis usually have to stop at Pahalgam, so these trips are made in local taxi-union cabs hired in town. It works well as a two-night base if you want snow scenery and easy walks rather than serious skiing.

Sonmarg, the meadow of gold, sits at around 2,730 metres below the Thajiwas Glacier, and it gets some of the earliest and heaviest snow in the valley. The Zoji La pass beyond it still closes for deep winter, but since the 6.5-kilometre Z-Morh (Sonamarg) tunnel opened in January 2025, Sonmarg itself can be reached from Srinagar through the winter, with short closures after heavy snow or avalanche warnings. On a clear day the Thajiwas approach is a superb short snow trek. Check road conditions a day ahead and keep a buffer day, especially in January.

A short drive up the Chandanwari road from Pahalgam, Betaab Valley trades on wide meadows ringed by snow peaks, with the river threading down the middle. In winter it becomes a natural playground for sledging, snowball fights and pony rides, and it is compact enough to enjoy in half a day. Named after the film shot here decades ago, it is one of the valley’s most photographed spots, and a snowy morning thins the usual crowds.

Twelve kilometres on from Pahalgam, Aru Valley is quieter, higher and more of a walker’s place. In snow it becomes a starting point for short treks and the longer summer routes to Tarsar Lake and the Kolhoi Glacier, and the hamlet itself, with its wooden houses under white roofs, feels a long way from anywhere. Go for the calm and the clean snow rather than facilities, and hire a local guide if you plan to walk out.

If you want empty snow, Yusmarg is the answer. This meadow about 47 kilometres from Srinagar stays well off the standard circuit, so the snow lies undisturbed and the only sounds are your own footsteps. Walk out to the frozen fringes of Nilnag lake, eat a proper Kashmiri Wazwan meal, and enjoy having a whole white valley almost to yourself. It suits travellers who would rather trade activities and nightlife for silence.

Anantnag, in south Kashmir, is better known for its freshwater springs than its snow, but it makes a calm winter base with the snow country close by. The springs at Kokernag and Verinag, and the terraced Achabal garden, all take on a still, cold beauty in winter, and the town sits within easy reach of Pahalgam and the southern resorts. Use it if you want a lower-key stay away from the main tourist hubs.

Called the rice bowl of Kashmir, Pulwama is best in the shoulder of the season, when its saffron fields, paddy and apple orchards sit under a light snow against the peaks. About 31 kilometres from Srinagar, it is more rural landscape than resort, and the Aharbal waterfall, a drive south in neighbouring Kulgam district, part-freezes into a striking sight in the coldest weeks. Daytime temperatures often hover around 3 to 7 C. Come for the quiet snowy countryside, and pick up Pampore saffron (harvested in autumn) to take home, rather than for snow sports.

Up in the far north, about 80 kilometres from Srinagar, Kupwara opens onto the offbeat Lolab valley, one of the least-visited snow landscapes in Kashmir: orchards, streams and forest under white, with a few simple homestays and tourist huts for anyone who wants to hole up in the quiet. The higher Bangus valley, near the Line of Control, is snowbound and effectively closed to visitors from roughly November to April, so save it for summer. It rewards travellers happy to go beyond the familiar names, and it pairs well with a slower, self-driven itinerary.

Patnitop is the snow hub of the Jammu side, sitting at around 2,020 metres on the road up from Jammu. It is the most reliable place to find snow without going deep into the Kashmir Valley, and its high point at Nathatop, along with nearby Sanasar, offers beginner skiing, snow walks and paragliding when conditions allow. Because it is off the main valley circuit, it stays far less crowded, which makes it a good pick for a first snow trip or a short winter break from the plains.

Poonch, on the western edge of the Jammu division, is quiet snow country with a long history. The eighteenth-century Poonch Fort anchors the town, and the hills around the town take a quiet coat of snow in deep winter. The famous seven high lakes of Girgan Dhok, above 12,000 feet, are a summer trek (roughly June to October) and stay snowbound and out of reach in winter, as does the Mughal Road. Access is slower than the valley resorts and facilities are basic, so it suits travellers who value getting somewhere few others reach over comfort and convenience.

Kishtwar, in the eastern Jammu hills, is rugged and remote, built around a national park that spreads over about 2,190 square kilometres and shelters snow leopards, Himalayan black bears and the Kashmir stag. The high Sinthan Top on the road towards the valley holds snow well into spring. This is a place for confident travellers after wild country and pine forest rather than tourist infrastructure, and winter access can be limited by snow.

On the road to Ladakh, Kargil sits in the Suru Valley amid glacial rivers and bare, dramatic mountains, and its winters are genuinely arctic. Once known mainly for the 1999 conflict, it has grown into a base for travellers drawn to high, empty landscapes and history. Snow lies here from November to March, but the cold is severe and services are limited. In deep winter the Zoji La road from Sonmarg is usually shut, so Kargil is reached from Leh instead (fly into Leh, then roughly 220 kilometres by road), which makes it a stop for the well-prepared rather than a casual snow break.

Hemis, about 40 kilometres from Leh, is the outlier on this list and the reward for the truly adventurous. Its national park is prime snow-leopard country, and winter, from January to March, is the season when tracking expeditions have the best odds of a sighting. The historic Hemis Monastery adds a cultural draw. This is deep-Ladakh cold and a specialist trip, best arranged with an experienced operator, but for wildlife lovers there is nothing else in the region like it.