Things to Do in Kashmir: 30 Best Activities and Costs (2026)

Kashmir rewards timing more than most places in India. The floating market on Dal is finished by 7 am, the Tulip Garden is open for about a month, saffron at Pampore flowers for barely three weeks from late October, and Phase 2 of the Gondola often stops by early afternoon when the wind picks up. So this guide gives every activity its cost, its months and the time it takes, and it starts with what is actually running this month. It is organised by base (Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg), because that is how you will plan the days. Want the sights rather than the experiences? Our guide to places to visit in Kashmir covers them one by one.

What our Kashmir desk sees. TravelTriangle travellers rate their trips 4.4/5 across 3,988 reviews.

What's Open in Kashmir Right Now (Checked 25 October 2026)

Most of Kashmir is open as normal. In February 2026 the J&K government reopened 14 tourist destinations that had been shut after the April 2025 attack at Baisaran (Business Today). Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens, the Gondola, Betaab and Aru valleys, Sonamarg and the markets are all running. A few places that older guides still lead with are closed, and those are worth knowing before you plan a day around them.

We re-check this table on the 1st of every month. The motorboat order comes from the J&K High Court (LiveLaw report), and the Pahalgam closures come from the Anantnag district list. Orders can change at short notice, so ask your hotel or the taxi stand the evening before.

Things to Do in Kashmir at a Glance

Here are the 30 best things to do in Kashmir in one table, with where each one happens, what it costs and when it is worth doing. Costs are per person unless the row says per boat or per vehicle. Distances are by road from Dal Gate in Srinagar.

Things to Do in Srinagar

Srinagar is where nearly every Kashmir trip starts, and most of its best things to do sit within 20 km of Dal Gate. Plan two full days here before you head out to the hill stations. Our full guide to things to do in Srinagar goes deeper on all of them.

1. Take a Sunrise Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Lakes in Kashmir are made for floating along, with the Zabarwan hills on one side and calm water ahead. A Shikara is a long wooden boat that you will find floating along Dal and Nigeen at every hour, with a canopy, cushioned seats for up to six and a boatman rowing from the back with a heart-shaped paddle.

Under the Tourism Department's notified card (the latest published, June 2023) a boat costs Rs 700 for the first hour or about 3 km, Rs 400 for each extra hour and Rs 2,700 for six hours (Greater Kashmir). You pay per boat, not per person, so agree the route and the clock time before you sit down. Since April 2025 every passenger has to wear a life jacket. Go at 6 am for mist and empty water, or in the last hour of light. Ghat-by-ghat fares are on our shikara ride price list.

2. Catch the Floating Vegetable Market at Dawn

Farmers from Dal's floating gardens trade lotus stem (nadru), kohlrabi and tomatoes boat to boat in the Karapora area of the lake, and the whole thing is over before the city wakes. Trading runs from about 5 to 7 am in winter and 4 to 6 am in summer (PARI field report). Book the shikara the evening before and carry a shawl even in June, because the water is cold at that hour. You are back at the ghat for breakfast by 8.

3. Spend a Night on a Houseboat

A houseboat night is the one Kashmir experience you cannot have anywhere else in India. Most boats are panelled in carved cedar, with a dining room, two or three bedrooms and a front deck over the water. The Tourism Department grades them from Deluxe down to D. Boats on Dal put you minutes from the Boulevard and its restaurants. Nigeen, 6.5 km north, is quieter at night, and its J&K Tourism Water Sports Centre hires kayaks for about Rs 300 to Rs 500 an hour from May to September. Deluxe boats start from about Rs 4,000 a night outside peak season. Ask two things before you book. Can the boat be reached only by shikara (it matters with heavy bags)? And is heating included from November?

4. Walk the Mughal Gardens

Srinagar's Mughal gardens run in a line along the Zabarwan foothills on the east side of Dal, so a taxi can cover four of them in about four and a half hours. Entry is Rs 30 for an adult, Rs 15 for a child and Rs 100 for a foreign national under the Floriculture Department's March 2024 rates.

If you only have time for one, choose Shalimar for its fountain channel and 31 acres of lawns and chinars (District Srinagar). If you want the view, go to Nishat in the late afternoon, when the sun drops behind Hari Parbat.

5. See the Tulip Garden in Spring

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden covers about 30 hectares above Dal and is billed as Asia's largest. It opens only in spring. In 2026 it opened on 16 March, and tickets were Rs 75 for adults, Rs 30 for children and Rs 200 for foreign visitors (District Srinagar). Peak bloom usually lands in the first half of April. Go before 10 am on a weekday, and walk next door to the Botanical Garden when the queue is long. Opening dates and the festival schedule are on our Tulip Garden guide.

6. Climb to Shankaracharya Temple and Visit Hazratbal

The Shiva temple on Shankaracharya hill stands about 1,100 ft above the city, and from the top you see all of Dal, the houseboat lines and the Old City. A car takes you most of the way, then a steep stone staircase does the rest. Phones and cameras are not allowed past security (JKTDC), so leave them in the car. On the north shore of Dal, the white marble Hazratbal shrine holds a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad. Cover your head, dress modestly, and avoid Friday midday prayers. Women may enter only the front section.

7. Take the Old City Heritage Walk

While shopping in old Srinagar, take the self-guided heritage walk to see how the city looked a century ago. Brick-and-timber houses lean over the lanes with carved wooden balconies. Start at the papier-mâché walls of Khanqah-e-Moula on the Jhelum, walk to the deodar-pillared halls of Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, and finish at the spice and copper shops around Zaina Kadal. It takes two to three hours and costs nothing. A local guide is worth it if you want to step inside the artisans' workshops.

8. Eat a Wazwan and Drink Kahwa

Wazwan is Kashmir's multi-course feast, cooked by a vaste waza (head chef) and served on a shared copper trami for four. Rogan josh, rista, tabak maaz and the soft meatballs of goshtaba come out last. Most Old City and Residency Road restaurants serve a smaller Wazwan for two. Take a cup of salted tea (noon chai) in the morning, which locals drink to keep warm, and saffron kahwa with almonds after lunch. In winter, find harissa, a slow-cooked mutton breakfast sold from before dawn. Our Kashmir food guide lists 20 dishes and where to try them.

9. Shop for Pashmina, Papier-Mâché and Carpets

Pashmina shawls, antiques, salted tea bags, willow baskets and local spices are some of the best things to bring back from Kashmir. Local vendors sell woollens made from pashmina, Kashmiri carpets and handicrafts in the Old Bazaar and the street markets of Lal Chowk, Polo View and Residency Road. Bargain while shopping in Srinagar and you will find a fair price. For pashmina, ask for the GI tag label, which marks hand-spun, hand-woven cloth. Where to buy each craft is in our shopping in Kashmir guide.

10. See the Saffron Bloom at Pampore

Saffron grown in the fields of Pampore is one of the most expensive spices in the world, and for about three weeks a year you can watch it being picked. The purple crocus flowers from late October to mid-November on the karewa plateau, 13 km from Dal Gate on the Pahalgam highway. Go early in the morning, when families pick the flowers by hand, and buy from the government-run outlets along the road rather than from roadside stalls. If you are driving to Pahalgam in this window, it is a free 30-minute stop.

Things to Do in Gulmarg

Gulmarg, about 56 km and two hours from Srinagar, is Kashmir's snow resort and the place most travellers go for the Gondola. Gulmarg is a hub of adventure activities in Kashmir, especially in winter. From December through February, when the terrain is covered in snow, visitors take Gondola rides and skiing lessons here, and the views from Apharwat Peak win over honeymooners and children alike. The full list is on our guide to things to do in Gulmarg.

11. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola to Kongdori and Apharwat

The Gulmarg Gondola is a two-stage cable car that climbs from the town of Gulmarg to the shoulder of Apharwat Peak, and it is the single most popular thing to do in Gulmarg. Phase 1 runs from Gulmarg to Kongdori for Rs 800. Phase 2 carries you on to about 3,950 m, is sold only together with Phase 1, and costs Rs 1,800 for both. Tickets are sold online only on jammukashmircablecar.com, Tatkal tickets (Rs 1,110 and Rs 1,310) open at 5 pm the evening before, and the line shuts for maintenance on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.

At nearly 4,000 m the air is thin, so walk slowly and skip the top if anyone has a heart or breathing condition. Slots and the latest fares are on our Gulmarg Gondola ticket price page.

12. Ski or Snowboard on Mount Apharwat

Skiing in Gulmarg runs from late December to March on about 25 km of marked slopes, from the 2,650 m village bowl to the top station of Gondola Phase 2 on Mount Apharwat. That 1,300 m of vertical is why skiers rate it India's top ski resort, and the best powder usually lands between mid-January and late February. Beginners start on the nursery slopes near the base and at Kongdori, where a 726 m drag lift opened in December 2025. Expect about Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 a day for skis, boots and poles, and Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 a day for a private instructor. Most first-timers link turns by day three.

For a structured course, the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering runs 14-day batches for ages 10 to 40 at Rs 10,000 (25 and under) or Rs 20,000 (over 25), with board, lodging and gear included. Booking for 2026 to 27 opens on 12 November 2026 at 10 am. The same rental shops hire snowboards, and most ski instructors teach both.

13. Try Heli-Skiing (Experts Only)

Gulmarg is one of the few places in Asia where a helicopter can drop you on untracked Himalayan bowls far above the Gondola. Heli-skiing runs from January to March, when an operator is flying that season, and it is priced per day as a premium package. It is strictly for strong off-piste skiers with avalanche training. Ask for the operator's guide certification and the avalanche kit list before you pay a deposit.

14. Go Sledging or Take a Snowmobile Ride

You do not need to ski to enjoy Gulmarg's snow. Sledge pullers wait near the Gondola base and at Kongdori and charge about Rs 100 to Rs 300 a run, and kids love it. Snowmobile rides of 20 to 40 minutes cost about Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 and take you across the meadow towards the frozen Outer Circle. Rates are fixed with the local associations and posted on boards in Gulmarg. The posted board always beats a figure quoted to you on the spot. Sledging is not allowed on active ski slopes.

15. Play Golf at Gulmarg or Pahalgam

If you would rather take things slow, there is a golf club in Gulmarg which is open to the public in summer. The 18-hole, par-72 course at about 2,650 m dates back to the 1890s and is among the highest in the world, and green fees are about Rs 800 for 9 holes or Rs 1,200 for 18 holes for Indian players. Pahalgam has a second 18-hole course about 1 km from the bus stand, with clubs and caddies for hire. See our Gulmarg Golf Course guide for the clubhouse details.

16. Hike to Khilanmarg or Alpather Lake

Khilanmarg is a meadow about 6 km and a 600 m climb above Gulmarg, a ski slope in winter and a flower meadow from May to October. The walk takes three to four hours return and costs nothing. Alpather Lake, at about 3,970 m, is a much harder day. Take Gondola Phase 2 up, then walk about 2 km to the lake, which stays partly frozen until July. Go only from June to September with a local guide, and ask at the Gondola office that morning whether the route is open. More on the top station is in our Apharwat Peak guide.

Things to Do in Pahalgam

Pahalgam sits at about 2,200 m where the Aru and Sheshnag streams meet to form the Lidder, about 95 km from Srinagar. It is Kashmir's valley base for rivers, meadows and ponies. See all 20 options with their status on our guide to things to do in Pahalgam.

17. Raft on the Lidder River

A frothy, twisty glacial river that runs for about 73 km, the Lidder is the backbone of Pahalgam. It rises above Pahalgam, drops through the valley and joins the Jhelum near Khanabal. Its white water is easy to moderate, which makes it a good first rafting river. Operators run the Yanner stretch below town from about April to mid-August, and fares run from about Rs 350 for a 2 km run to Rs 700 for 5 km, with helmet, life jacket and guide included. May and June bring the biggest snowmelt. Once you have visited Betaab Valley, find time to take on the noisy waters of the Lidder. Our Lidder rafting guide compares the routes.

18. Picnic in Betaab Valley and Walk Through Aru

Betaab Valley lies 7 to 8 km from Pahalgam, a pine-ringed meadow with the Lidder running through it and footbridges you can cross. It was called Hagan Valley until the 1983 film Betaab was shot here. Entry is Rs 100 for adults, payable in cash, and the gate opens about 7 am to 7 pm. Aru, about 12 km up the other road, is a village of log houses and herders' meadows, and the walk beyond it is the best easy hike in Pahalgam while the high treks are shut. Hire the union taxi from the Pahalgam stand for both. Details are on our Betaab Valley and Aru Valley pages.

19. Take a Pony Ride Through the Meadows

Pony rides in Sonamarg and Pahalgam are among the most popular things to do in Kashmir. A few hours on winding trails take you through dense forest and open meadow, the ride is fairly priced for its length, and it suits every age. In Pahalgam the rides now run on the Aru routes, because Baisaran is closed until at least the end of 2026. In Sonamarg the classic ride goes up to Thajiwas, and in Gulmarg ponies take you around the meadows to Khilanmarg. Summer is the best time for it. Fares are fixed by the local pony unions, so ask to see the rate card, agree the waiting time, and pay at the end.

20. Go Trout Fishing

Trout are a popular game fish, and the J&K Fisheries Department stocks streams across the valley for anglers. You can fish for trout in Kashmir between April and September. The best beats are at Pahalgam, Kokernag, the Sindh near Sonamarg, Lam, Gurez, Hamal, Sukhnag and the Doodhganga near Yusmarg, and in Gulmarg the Ferozepur Nallah near Tangmarg is a listed stream. You need a one-day licence, booked online, and the rules are strict: one rod, artificial fly only and a bag limit of six fish. The 2026 season opened on 2 April. Our trout fishing in Kashmir guide lists the beats.

21. Camp Under the Stars at Aru

Camping near Aru and Sonamarg is popular with groups and trekkers, and in summer it is the cheapest way to wake up in a high meadow. Registered operators pitch tents with sleeping bags and meals from May to September. Book through your hotel or a licensed operator rather than pitching your own tent, because the closure order on the high routes also covers informal campsites. Nights drop close to freezing even in July, so ask for a mat and a winter-rated bag.

Things to Do in Sonamarg

Sonamarg, the "Meadow of Gold", sits at 2,730 m on the Srinagar to Leh highway, about 80 km and 2.5 to 3 hours from Srinagar. Outside cabs stop at Sonamarg, so you switch to a pony, your feet or a local union taxi for everything beyond it. Since January 2025 the 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel has kept the road open further into winter. Our Sonamarg guide and the blog on things to do in Sonmarg cover the full list.

22. Ride or Walk to Thajiwas Glacier

Thajiwas is why most people make the drive. The glacier sits at the head of a side valley about 3 km from the taxi stand, and fit walkers reach it in an hour to an hour and a half. Everyone else takes a pony, at about Rs 500 off-season to Rs 1,500 in peak for the return trip with waiting. In May and June you reach a snowfield where sledge pullers charge about Rs 250 a run. Two warnings matter. In May and June 2024 parts of the glacier collapsed twice, killing a tourist and a sledge puller, so keep away from the ice wall and off snow bridges over running water. Our Thajiwas Glacier guide has the route.

23. Drive to Zero Point over Zojila Pass

Zero Point is not in Sonamarg. It lies about 30 km beyond town, just past Zojila Pass (3,528 m) on the Ladakh side, where snow walls line the road well into June. The union taxi costs about Rs 5,000 per vehicle return and seats four to six, so split it. The road opens around May and closes with the first heavy snow, usually in November, and the round trip takes four to five hours including the convoy queue. Leave by 8 am to beat the afternoon cloud. If you want to carry on to Kargil and Leh, a Kashmir and Ladakh tour links both. The road's history is on our Zojila Pass guide.

24. Go Paragliding Above Sonamarg or Srinagar

Paragliding in Kashmir means a tandem flight of 12 to 15 minutes with a certified pilot, over the Sindh meadows at Sonamarg or from Astanmarg above Harwan on the edge of Srinagar. Operators charge about Rs 2,700 to Rs 3,800 a flight from May to October, weather permitting. Astanmarg (the Khambir-Astanmarg-Chatterhama axis) is on the J&K closure list that runs to 31 December 2026, so flights there are off for now. Sonamarg has not confirmed regular flights for 2026, so ask your hotel or the operator the day before and check for a tourism department registration. Our paragliding in Kashmir guide covers the sites and what the flight is like.

Offbeat Things to Do in Kashmir

These are the trips travellers add on a second visit, or on a first one once they see the queue at the Gondola in May. Doodhpathri and Yusmarg are easy day trips from Srinagar. Gurez needs two days and a driver who knows the Razdan Pass. Our list of offbeat places in Kashmir goes further.

25. Explore Gurez Valley

Exploring the Gurez valley in north Kashmir is one of the best things to do in Kashmir if you have the time. Gurez is 123 km and five to six hours from Srinagar over the Razdan Pass, in Bandipora district. Log houses line the Kishanganga river below the pyramid of Habba Khatoon peak, and the valley is home to Dard-Shin communities who keep their old language and a simple farming life. The road is open roughly June to September. Indian citizens need no permit but register ID at the army checkposts, and foreign nationals need permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora. Mobile signal is patchy, so carry cash. Read our Gurez Valley guide.

26. Spend a Day at Doodhpathri or Yusmarg

Both are meadows in Budgam district that get a fraction of Gulmarg's crowds. Doodhpathri, about 45 km from Dal Gate, takes its name ("Valley of Milk") from the Shaliganga stream, which froths white over the rocks. There are no big hotels, just huts and tea stalls, so pack lunch and leave before dark. Yusmarg, about 51 km away via Charar-e-Sharief, is ringed by pine and fir, and a 4 km walk or pony ride takes you to Nilnag lake. Both reopened to visitors in 2026. Our Yusmarg guide has the route.

27. Watch Birds at Wular and Manasbal Lakes

Wular, in Bandipora, is one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes, and in winter migratory ducks and geese arrive on it from Central Asia. Manasbal, about 34 km from Dal Gate, is smaller and deeper, with lotus blooming from July to August and a quiet lakeside park. Combine them in a half day on the road towards Sonamarg. South of Srinagar, the Mughal spring gardens at Kokernag, Verinag and Achabal and the high meadow of Sinthan Top above Daksum make a similar slow day on the way to or from Pahalgam.

28. Spot the Hangul in Dachigam National Park

Dachigam, 19 km from Dal Gate, is the last stronghold of the hangul, the Kashmir red stag, and also holds Himalayan black bear. Entry is Rs 25 for Indians and Rs 50 for foreign nationals, children under 10 go free, and the park is closed on Tuesdays. Entry is suspended each autumn for the hangul rut (in 2026 until 31 October), so check before you go. Book the permit in advance and go early, when animals come down to the streams. More on the park is in our Dachigam guide.

Treks and Pilgrimages

Trekking and pilgrimage are two of the biggest reasons people come to Kashmir, and both now run on official calendars. Check the status line in each before you plan around it.

29. Trek the Kashmir Great Lakes or Tarsar Marsar (When Routes Reopen)

Kashmir is not only about lakes and gardens. It also has some of India's finest alpine treks, and the most famous run between July and September.

The Director of Tourism Kashmir said in July 2026 that all trekking routes would stay closed until further orders, so no operator should be selling these for this season. When they reopen, book only with registered operators who carry permits. Until then, Khilanmarg in Gulmarg, the Aru village walk and the Thajiwas trail are the best day hikes that are open. For guided trips when the season returns, see our Kashmir trekking packages.

30. Join the Amarnath Yatra or Visit Vaishno Devi

The Amarnath Yatra to the ice lingam cave at about 3,880 m runs only in summer. The 2026 Yatra ran from 3 July to 28 August, with registration of Rs 150 through the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, a mandatory health certificate and an RFID card. Pilgrims walk from Chandanwari near Pahalgam (the longer route via Sheshnag) or from Baltal near Sonamarg (shorter and steeper). Our Amarnath Yatra guide has the route details.

On the Jammu side, the Vaishno Devi yatra starts at Katra, about 50 km from Jammu, and is open all year. Most travellers add two days for it at the start or end of a Kashmir trip, often with Patnitop for snow in winter. See our guide to things to do in Jammu and the Vaishno Devi guide.

Adventure Activities in Kashmir

Here is every adventure activity in Kashmir in one place, with the skill it needs and whether it is running. Our blog on adventure sports in Kashmir has more on each.

Things to Do in Kashmir by Season

What you can do in Kashmir changes completely by month. Use this matrix to match your dates to the activities, then read the season notes below. For month-by-month weather, see the best time to visit Kashmir.

Things to Do in Kashmir in Winter (December to February)

Winter is about snow. Ski or sledge in Gulmarg, ride the Gondola to Apharwat when the bowls are white, take a snowmobile across the meadow, and play in the snow at Betaab and Pahalgam town from December. In Srinagar, take a shikara on a misty morning, eat harissa for breakfast and stay on a heated houseboat. Pack thermals, waterproof boots and gloves, because days hover around freezing and nights go well below. Our blogs on winter in Kashmir and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir cover the snow dates.

Things to Do in Kashmir in Summer (May to August)

Summer is Kashmir at full stretch. Raft the Lidder in May and June, take a pony to Thajiwas while the snow lasts, drive to Zero Point between the snow walls, picnic in Betaab and Aru, and play golf in Gulmarg. July and August open Gurez and the Amarnath Yatra. It is also peak season, so book the Gondola and houseboats early. The things to do in Kashmir in June blog has a June-only plan.

Best Things to Do in Kashmir by Traveller

Taking a wooden boat ride on Dal Lake is one of the most wholesome family activities in Kashmir, and it works for every group on this list. Couples looking for romantic spots will find more in our guide to Kashmir honeymoon places, and our Kashmir family experiences page lists what suits young children.

How Many Days? 3, 5 and 7 Day Kashmir Activity Plans

Five days covers the big four bases without rushing. Three days is possible, with long drives. Seven days adds an offbeat valley and a slower pace.

• 3 days. Day 1: shikara, Mughal gardens and an Old City dinner in Srinagar. Day 2: Gulmarg day trip for the Gondola. Day 3: Sonamarg and Thajiwas, back to Srinagar.

• 5 days. Days 1 and 2: Srinagar, with the dawn floating market and a houseboat night. Day 3: Gulmarg, with a night there. Day 4: Pahalgam via Pampore, with Betaab and Aru. Day 5: Lidder rafting in season, then back to Srinagar.

• 7 days. The 5-day plan, plus a Sonamarg day for Thajiwas and Zero Point and a Doodhpathri or Yusmarg day trip. Add 2 days for Vaishno Devi from Jammu, or 2 more for Gurez in summer.

Ready-made versions of all three, with hotels and transfers, are in our Kashmir tour packages.

Getting Around, Rates and Safety

Hire a cab in Srinagar for day trips, but expect to switch to local union taxis at Pahalgam (for Betaab and Aru; Chandanwari is closed until at least 31 December 2026) and at Sonamarg (for Zero Point). Pony, sledge and taxi rates are set by local unions and posted on boards at the stands. Ask to see the board before you agree, and settle waiting time up front. Prepaid SIM cards bought outside Jammu and Kashmir do not work here, so travel on a postpaid connection or buy a local SIM in Srinagar with your ID. Carry original photo ID everywhere, because hotels, checkposts and the Gondola ask for it. Dress modestly at shrines, and ask before you photograph people. For flights, trains and road routes into the valley, see how to reach Kashmir.

How Our Kashmir Desk Checks This Page

Fares on this page were checked by our Kashmir desk against the Tourism Department's shikara card, the Floriculture Department's garden fee order, District Srinagar's Tulip Garden notice and the J&K Cable Car Corporation's Gondola booking site. Open and closed status is checked against Anantnag district orders and J&K Tourism notices on the 1st of every month.

Edited by TravelTriangle