How to Reach Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar: Distance, Time and Routes

Srinagar to Shalimar Bagh distance and time at a glance

The garden has several common starting points. Here is the distance, the realistic drive time, and the mode most travellers use for each.

Figures are approximate and depend on the exact pick-up point and Srinagar traffic. Distances are measured by road, not straight-line.

By taxi or auto-rickshaw

A private taxi is how most visitors reach Shalimar Bagh. Srinagar has no app-based cabs, so you hire a car through your hotel, houseboat, or the local taxi stand. The smart move is a full-day sightseeing taxi that covers the three Mughal gardens and Dal Lake in one loop, since Shalimar, Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi sit within a few kilometres of each other. The route runs along Boulevard Road and Foreshore Road, hugging the eastern bank of Dal Lake, so the drive itself is part of the sightseeing. Auto-rickshaws work for short hops from nearby neighbourhoods, but they are limited for the longer airport run. Agree the fare before you start, and for the airport use the prepaid taxi counter.

By bus

The cheapest option is a local bus or shared cab from Srinagar's main stand towards the Shalimar Chowk stop, which is about 600 metres from the garden gate. That is a 10-minute walk. Buses are infrequent and slower than a taxi, so this suits budget travellers with time to spare rather than anyone on a tight sightseeing schedule.

By shikara from Dal Lake

For the most memorable arrival, take a shikara through the canal that links Dal Lake to the garden. It is slow and quiet, and you drift in past the poplars rather than pulling up at a car park. Expect to pay around Rs 300 per person for roughly an hour, though the rate is negotiable at the ghat and depends on the season. Most travellers pair a morning shikara ride with an afternoon garden visit.

Combine Shalimar Bagh with Nishat Bagh

Shalimar and Nishat Bagh are only about 3 km apart, roughly 10 minutes by road, so almost everyone does both in a single trip. A common plan is Nishat first for its terraced view over the lake, then Shalimar, and if you have time add Chashme Shahi and Pari Mahal on the same hillside. For the full set of gardens and how they connect, see the Shalimar Bagh guide and the Srinagar travel guide.

When you get there

Built in 1619 by Emperor Jahangir for Nur Jahan, Shalimar Bagh is the largest of Srinagar's Mughal gardens, spread across about 31 acres. It is open through the day, roughly 9 AM to 7 PM from April to October and 10 AM to 5 PM in winter, with entry around Rs 24 for Indian visitors. For the exact current hours see the Shalimar Bagh timings page, and for ticket details the entry fees page. The gardens look their best in spring, from late March to May when the flowerbeds bloom, and again from mid-October to mid-November when the chinar trees turn red. Go in the morning to beat the tour-bus crowds.

Plan your Srinagar sightseeing

Shalimar Bagh is easiest to enjoy as part of a wider Srinagar day, with a full-day taxi covering all three Mughal gardens and a shikara on Dal Lake. If you would rather have it built into a wider trip, browse our Kashmir tour packages, which can be customised around the gardens and the rest of the valley.