Trekking in Srinagar: 12 Trekking Places, from City Day Hikes to the Great Lakes

Trekking in Srinagar

Trekking in Srinagar comes in two kinds. Behind Dal Lake rises the Zabarwan range, where you can climb Shankaracharya Hill before breakfast, follow the Dara trail to Mamneth Top for a sunset over the city, or spend two days going up Mahadev Peak (3,966 m). Srinagar is also where almost every big Kashmir trek begins. You drive 80 km to Sonamarg for the Kashmir Great Lakes, 53 km to Naranag for Gangabal, or about 107 km to Aru for Tarsar Marsar and Kolahoi, and you come back to Srinagar at the end.

This guide covers 12 trekking places in Srinagar and the treks that start from it. For each one you get the distance from Dal Gate, the number of days, the grade, the best months and, most importantly, whether the route is open. The high lake treks stayed closed through the 2026 season, so read the status table before you book anything.

Which Treks Near Srinagar Are Open Right Now?

Last checked 25 October 2026. After the April 2025 attack near Pahalgam, the J&K administration suspended trekking and camping on most high routes. Day hikes inside Srinagar city stayed open. The big lake circuits did not reopen in 2026. As Kashmir Observer reported on 3 September 2026, the Great Lakes circuit (Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangabal) and Tarsar Marsar stayed closed while about 40 other tourist sites reopened by June. Here is where each trek stands.

The 2027 permit list is usually published in late spring. We update this table the day it changes, and the route-by-route history is on our Jammu and Kashmir trekking routes update page.

Trekking Places in Srinagar at a Glance

Here are the 12 treks near Srinagar side by side. Six are day hikes you can start from your houseboat, and the other six begin with a road transfer from the city. Distances are by road from Dal Gate.

Day Hikes in Srinagar: The Zabarwan Range

The Zabarwan range is the green wall behind Dal Lake, running from Shankaracharya in the west to Mahadev in the north-east. Incredible India calls trekking here the most famous adventure in Srinagar, and it is easy to see why. You can be on a forest trail 20 minutes after leaving your hotel, and every summit looks straight down on the lake. Our Zabarwan Range guide covers the viewpoints and gardens along its foot.

1. Shankaracharya Hill

This is the city's classic short climb. Shankaracharya hill rises about 1,000 ft above Srinagar at the western end of the Zabarwan, roughly 6 km from Dal Gate. Most visitors drive to the upper car park and climb the last flight of stone steps to the temple in about 20 minutes. For a real hike, start from the foot of the hill near the Boulevard and walk up through the pines in one to two hours.

The view takes in Dal Lake, the Hari Parbat fort and the loops of the Jhelum. The hill and temple are open all year. Phones and cameras are deposited before the temple steps, so take your photos on the way up, and carry ID for the security check. Go in the morning or late afternoon, since vehicles are not allowed up the road in the evening. Darshan details are in our Shankaracharya Temple guide.

2. Hari Parbat

Hari Parbat is the fort hill in the Old City, about 5 km from Dal Gate. It is an easy, cultural walk of about an hour. The path climbs past the Makhdoom Sahib shrine and the Chakreshwari temple to the walls of the Durrani-era fort, with a 360-degree view of the city, Dal and the Zabarwan behind it. Combine it with a morning in the Old City. Visiting hours for the fort itself are in our Hari Parbat fort guide.

3. Pari Mahal and the Zabarwan Ridge

Pari Mahal is a terraced Mughal garden on the slope above Cheshma Shahi, about 9 km from Dal Gate. Above the top terrace a forest path climbs into the Zabarwan, giving you Dal from height without committing a full day. Allow two to three hours for the garden and a short ridge walk. The path above the garden runs into forest land, so ask at the gate how far walkers can go. Read more in our Pari Mahal guide.

4. Mamneth Top via Dara

For most visitors this is the best day hike near Srinagar. Drive about 20 km from Lal Chowk to Dara in Harwan, beyond Shalimar Bagh and the Harwan garden. From there a Gujjar trail climbs through pine to Dara Top and runs along the ridge to Mamneth Top at 7,710 ft, according to Indiahikes. Ahead lie Mahadev Peak and the Astanmarg meadows. At sunset the city lights of Srinagar come on below you.

Plan six to eight hours from the trailhead and back, and start between 6 and 10 am. There is no reliable water on the upper trail, so carry two litres. Shepherd dogs guard the Gujjar huts, and black bears live in these forests, so hike in a group of three or four with a local guide. Mameth (Mamneth) and Mahadev Hills via Faqir Gujri, and the Theed-Dara-Faqir Gujri axis, are on the Srinagar district closure list to 31 December 2026, so this is a 2027 hike. Once it reopens, confirm the trail with your guide the evening before.

5. Mahadev Peak

Mahadev, at 3,966 m, is the peak you see behind Srinagar on clear days and the highest point in the range. The route starts at Faqir Gujri near Dara, about 21 km from the city, and follows the Dhara stream past Nila Pantsal to the Lidwas meadow, where most people camp. Fit hikers do it as one very long day, but two days with a night at Lidwas is kinder.

Expect around five stream crossings, steep scree near the top, and snow on the upper section outside June to September. Hire a local guide; the ridge has fooled experienced hikers. Mahadev is in the Zabarwan range, not the Pir Panjal, which lies south-west towards Gulmarg. Mahadev via Faqir Gujri is on the Srinagar district closure list to 31 December 2026, and overnight trekking and camping were still suspended in late 2026, so treat Mahadev as a 2027 plan.

6. Dachigam National Park

Dachigam starts where the Harwan road ends, about 19 km from Dal Gate. Guided walks in lower Dachigam follow the Dagwan stream through forest where you can see hangul (the Kashmir stag), black bear, langur and plenty of birds. You need prior online permission from the J&K Wildlife Department; each applicant can make one booking per day, for up to 15 people.

The park closes every Tuesday, and it was shut to visitors until 31 October 2026 for the hangul rut. Dachigam also appears on the district closure list of 7 July 2026, which runs to 31 December, so confirm with the Wildlife Department before you plan a visit. More on the park, its wildlife and the best season in our Dachigam National Park guide.

Multi-Day Treks That Start from Srinagar

Almost every major Kashmir trek begins and ends in Srinagar. Operators collect you from your hotel, drive you to the trailhead, and bring you back on the last day, so you need a Srinagar night on either side. All of these routes depend on the 2027 permit list (see the status table).

7. Kashmir Great Lakes (Sonamarg to Naranag)

This is one of the most popular treks in Kashmir, and the one most people mean when they say Kashmir trek. It starts at Shitkadi near Sonamarg, 80 km from Srinagar. The first stop is at Nichnai, with views of the Thajiwas Glacier, and on the second day you cross Nichnai Pass to camp at Vishansar and Kishansar. On the third day you cross Gadsar Pass, the high point at about 13,750 ft, then continue past Gadsar Lake to the seven-tiered lakes of Satsar.

Next comes Zajibal Pass and the twin lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol, among the largest high-altitude lakes on the route, under the glaciers of Mount Harmukh. After a last night of camping, the trail drops steeply through pine to Naranag, where your vehicle waits for the two-hour drive back to Srinagar. Expect about 70 to 75 km over seven days. The day-by-day route is in our Kashmir Great Lakes trek guide, and the glacier walk at the start of the trek is in the Thajiwas Glacier guide.

8. Tarsar Marsar (Aru)

Tarsar Marsar starts at Aru, 12 km above Pahalgam and about three hours from Srinagar. Day one follows the Lidder river to the Lidderwat meadow. The loop then climbs to Shekwas and Tarsar, an almond-shaped lake under a wall of scree, crosses to Sundersar for the view down onto Marsar, and returns via Homwas. It covers about 47 km in six to seven days with only one real pass, which is why first-time high-altitude trekkers usually start here. Full route in our Tarsar Marsar trek guide.

9. Naranag to Gangabal

If you have four days, this is the most lake for your time. The trail leaves the 8th-century temple ruins at Naranag, 53 km from Srinagar in Ganderbal district, and climbs hard through pine to the Trunkhal meadow. It then eases across open slopes to Gangabal and Nundkol at the foot of Harmukh. You get the last two lakes of the Great Lakes trek without the three passes. The steep first day is the only real test. Our Naranag guide covers the temples and village.

10. Kolahoi Glacier Trek

Kolahoi is a five-day round trip of roughly 40 km from Aru, 12 km above Pahalgam. Day one follows the West Lidder for 10 km to the Lidderwat meadow. From there the trail climbs to the high camp at Dudhsar, about 12,600 ft, crosses to a viewpoint below the ice and drops to Satlanjan before the long walk back to Aru. The glacier hangs off Kolahoi Peak (5,425 m), the highest mountain in the Kashmir Division, and feeds the Lidder. Treks beyond Aru stayed closed in 2026, although Aru itself is open to day visitors. The day-wise plan is on our Kolahoi Glacier trek page, and the Aru Valley guide covers the base village.

11. Tulian Lake Trek

Tulian is the shortest overnight lake trek on this list, two to three days from Pahalgam with one or two nights out. You ride or walk up to Baisaran, then climb steadily to a lake at about 12,000 ft that holds ice well into June. Baisaran stayed off-limits in 2026, so Tulian waits for the 2027 list. See our Tulian Lake guide.

12. Alpather Lake (Gulmarg)

Alpather is the one high lake you can reach without a tent. Ride both phases of the Gulmarg Gondola to Apharwat, at about 13,000 ft, then scramble about 2 km over boulders and old snow to a lake at roughly the same height (3,970 m). It is open water only from July to September. Allow two to three hours on foot and a full day from Srinagar (56 km to Gulmarg). The thin air is the hard part, not the distance, so walk slowly. The step-by-step route is in our Alpather Lake trek guide, and more walks are in our Gulmarg trekking guide.

A Note on the Amarnath Yatra

Amarnath is not an overlooked trek. It is the most-walked route in Kashmir, a regulated pilgrimage that draws lakhs of yatris every July and August to the ice lingam in the cave at about 12,750 ft. The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board fixes the dates each year, and every yatri must register in advance with a compulsory health certificate. The traditional route starts at Chandanwari near Pahalgam and stops at Sheshnag and Panchtarni, crossing the Mahagunas Pass on the way. The shorter, steeper route starts at Baltal near Sonamarg. Route details are on our Amarnath Yatra page.

Best Time for Trekking in Srinagar

The city hikes run from April to October, and the high treks from early July to mid-September. Before July the passes on the Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar routes still hold snow. After mid-September nights at the lake camps drop below freezing. September is the clearest month for views of Dal from the Zabarwan, and late October brings the gold of the chinars.

For the city's weather month by month, read our guide to the best time to visit Srinagar.

How to Reach the Trailheads from Srinagar

Fly into Srinagar International Airport (SXR), which has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad, or take the Vande Bharat Express, which has run through to Srinagar from Katra since June 2025 and from Jammu Tawi since May 2026 (train options in our Delhi to Kashmir trains guide). From the city, every trailhead is a taxi ride.

Group treks include a shared transfer from Srinagar to the trailhead and back. For day hikes, book a taxi for the round trip, since return cabs are hard to find at Dara. General routes into the city are in our guide on how to reach Srinagar.

Permits, Guides and Cost of Trekking from Srinagar

Day hikes in the city need no permit. Shankaracharya and Hari Parbat have a security check and ask for photo ID. Dachigam needs online permission from the J&K Wildlife Department portal. Every multi-day trek needs a forest permit, issued season by season through a registered agency, and your group registers at the police and forest check-posts at the trailhead. On the Great Lakes route the army checks ID at Nichnai and Gadsar, so carry originals. Foreign nationals should check with J&K Tourism in Srinagar before booking, since border valleys near the Line of Control, such as Gurez, need a separate permit.

Group fares cover the trek lead, tents, trail meals, forest fees and the Srinagar transfer. Flights, hotel nights and 5% GST sit outside. To compare quotes and fixed departures, see our Kashmir trekking packages.

How to Pick the Right Trek

Families with children under 12 do better with a Sonamarg or Gulmarg hiking holiday that comes back to a hotel each night. Friends travelling together can book a private departure through our Kashmir group tour packages.

What to Carry: Day Hike vs Multi-Day Trek

Prepaid SIM cards from other states do not work in Jammu and Kashmir, so carry a postpaid connection. You can rent sleeping bags, jackets and poles in Srinagar, Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

Safety Tips for Trekking near Srinagar

• Walk with a registered local guide on every trail above the tree line, in Dachigam and on Mahadev. Your hotel or a J&K Tourism-registered agency can arrange one.

• Go in a group of three or four. Black bears live in the Zabarwan forests, and Gujjar sheepdogs guard the huts near Dara.

• Start early. Afternoon storms build quickly on the ridges in July and August, and you want to be off the top by 2 pm.

• Tell your hotel or houseboat which trail you are on and when you expect to return. There is no mobile signal above the tree line.

• On treks above 3,500 m, give yourself a rest day in Srinagar first, drink plenty of water and turn back if a headache gets worse.

• Stay on routes that hold a current permit. Areas near the Line of Control and closed meadows are off-limits, whatever an unregistered guide tells you.

Book a Kashmir Trek

Short on planning time? A trek quote from our verified Kashmir agents covers a certified trek lead, tents, meals, forest fees and the Srinagar transfer, and before you pay, ask the agent to confirm in writing that your route holds a current forest permit. Compare departures on our Kashmir trekking packages, add a trek to one of our Kashmir tour packages, or keep it to the city with a Srinagar tour package. For paragliding, kayaking and the rest, see adventure activities in Srinagar, and for everything else in the city, our Srinagar travel guide and things to do in Srinagar.

Edited by TravelTriangle