15 Things to Do in Kashmir

Kashmir is full of experiences you won't find anywhere else in India.

These are the 15 we recommend most often to our own guests, grouped by where you'll find them, with a few tips on how to enjoy each one.

What are the best things to do in Srinagar?

Get out on the water, then explore the gardens and old city.

• Take a Shikara ride on Dal Lake at sunset
• Spend a night on a traditional houseboat
• Visit the floating vegetable market at dawn
• Walk through the Mughal gardens: Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi
• Climb to the Shankaracharya Temple for city views
• Explore the old city's mosques and craft workshops

More in our Srinagar guide.

What are the best things to do in the mountains?

Ride, raft and walk.

• Ride the Gulmarg Gondola towards Mt. Apharwat
• Ski or sledge in Gulmarg in winter
• Take a pony ride to Thajiwas Glacier in Sonamarg
• Raft on the Lidder River in Pahalgam
• Visit Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari valleys
• Picnic by the streams of Doodhpathri

What food and culture should you try?

Wazwan, kahwa and local crafts.

• Sit down to a traditional wazwan feast
• Sip kahwa, the saffron green tea
• Shop for pashmina, carpets and papier-mâché

Read our guide to must-try foods in Kashmir.

The best experiences on Dal Lake

Dal Lake is the heart of any Kashmir trip, and it rewards slow time. A sunset Shikara ride is the classic, drifting past floating gardens, lotus beds and houseboats as the light softens on the Zabarwan hills. Spend a night on a carved-wood houseboat to wake with the lake, and set an alarm for the dawn floating vegetable market, when traders row between the channels before the city stirs.

Nigeen Lake, quieter than Dal, is lovely for a calmer stay. Around the shore, the Boulevard is made for an evening stroll, and the old city beyond it hides papier-mache and carpet workshops where you can watch craftspeople at work. Give the lake a full, unhurried day and it becomes the memory you keep.

The best adventure activities in Kashmir

Kashmir has grown into a genuine adventure destination. In winter, Gulmarg is one of Asia's best-known ski resorts, with slopes for beginners and experts and the high Gondola Phase 2 towards Apharwat. In summer, the same meadows open up for pony treks and gentle walks.

From May to August, river rafting on the Lidder in Pahalgam and the Sindh near Sonamarg is a group favourite. Serious trekkers come for the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, a week among high-altitude lakes, while gentler walkers enjoy the meadows of Yusmarg and Doodhpathri. Mountain biking, camping and birdwatching round out the options. For the ski season, see our skiing in Gulmarg guide.

Seasonal things to do through the year

What you do shifts with the season. In spring, the Srinagar Tulip Garden bursts into colour for a few weeks, and the orchards blossom. Summer is for the green high meadows, pony rides and trekking, when every valley is at its best.

Autumn brings the saffron harvest around Pampore and the golden chinars, superb for photography. Winter is for snow: sledging, skiing, the Gondola over white slopes and cosy houseboats under heavy quilts. Timing a trip around the thing you most want to do, whether tulips, trekking or snow, is the surest way to a trip you will love. Our best time to visit Kashmir guide explains when each is at its peak.

Offbeat things to do in Kashmir

If you have seen the headline sights or simply prefer quiet, Kashmir has gentler corners. The meadows of Doodhpathri and Yusmarg see a fraction of Gulmarg's crowds and are perfect for a picnic by a stream. South Kashmir hides Mughal spring gardens at Achabal and Verinag, the ancient Martand Sun Temple ruins and the Aharbal waterfall.

Further north, the remote Gurez Valley across the Razdan Pass offers log-house villages and the pyramid-shaped Habba Khatoon peak. These places reward travellers who like to wander off the standard circuit and meet everyday valley life. Our south Kashmir travel guide maps out the spring-garden route.

Food and shopping experiences

Kashmiri food is an experience in itself. Sit down to a traditional wazwan, a multi-course feast of slow-cooked meat dishes, and sip kahwa, the saffron-and-almond green tea, in the afternoon chill. Try rogan josh, a plate of rice with haak greens, and the local breads from a tandoor at dawn.

Shopping is part of the fun too. Kashmir is famous for pashmina shawls, hand-knotted carpets, papier-mache, crewel embroidery, walnut wood carving, saffron, walnuts and dried fruit. Buy saffron from registered or GI-tagged sellers in Pampore, and treat carpets and pashminas as considered purchases from reputable shops with certificates. Read our Kashmiri food guide for what to eat first.

How do you fit these things to do in Kashmir into one trip?

Base yourself in Srinagar and plan one area per day.

Our Kashmir itinerary guide shows how. The J&K Department of Tourism also lists festivals and events worth timing your trip around.

Things to do in Gulmarg

Gulmarg is the valley's adventure hub, and there is plenty to do in every season. The headline experience is the Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world, which climbs towards Apharwat peak in two phases for sweeping views and, higher up, snow even in summer.

In winter, Gulmarg becomes a ski resort with slopes for beginners and experts, plus sledging and snow play that delight families. In summer, the meadow turns green for gentle walks, pony rides, and a round at one of the world's highest golf courses. Visit St Mary's Church and the old Maharani Temple on the meadow, and simply sit with a cup of tea and the Apharwat view. For skiing, see our skiing in Gulmarg guide.

Things to do in Pahalgam

Pahalgam, on the Lidder River, is made for slow days and gentle adventure. Walk along the river, visit the riverside viewpoints, and take a local union taxi up to the three side valleys: Aru, a gentle meadow; Betaab, the film-famous valley by the river; and Chandanwari, the snow point and the start of the Amarnath trail.

From May to August, river rafting on the Lidder is a group favourite, and a pony ride up to the Baisaran meadow is a classic. Pahalgam is also the base for the Amarnath Yatra in season and for treks into the high country. Its quieter pace makes it a lovely place to spend a night rather than rush through.

Things to do in Sonamarg

Sonamarg, the meadow of gold, is the gateway to the high mountains and the old road to Ladakh. The main thing to do is to take a pony ride or walk towards the Thajiwas Glacier, which holds snow well into summer and makes a dramatic backdrop.

From May to August, river rafting on the Sindh is popular, and the valley is a starting point for high-altitude treks, including routes towards the Great Lakes. The drive itself, along the Sindh River, is one of the prettiest in Kashmir. Because the road can close in winter, Sonamarg is a summer and shoulder-season highlight rather than a year-round one.

Winter things to do in Kashmir

Winter opens a different set of experiences. Gulmarg is the star, with skiing, sledging and the Gondola over white slopes, while Srinagar offers misty Shikara rides across a quiet Dal Lake and cosy houseboats under heavy quilts. Pahalgam is beautiful and peaceful under snow.

Add long, slow afternoons with kahwa and Kashmiri food, and the simple joy of a first snowfall for those who have never seen one. Keep winter plans flexible, since heavy snow can delay flights and briefly close the road to Gulmarg. Our Kashmir in winter guide covers the season in full.

Things to do with family and children

Kashmir is wonderfully family-friendly, and many of its best experiences suit all ages. Children love the snow play and the Gondola in Gulmarg, the pony rides in Sonamarg and Pahalgam, and the Shikara boats on Dal Lake. The open meadows give them space to run, and the gentle sightseeing suits grandparents too.

Keep the pace easy, carry snacks and warm spare clothes, and choose the shorter Gondola Phase 1 for young children. A houseboat night is a memorable treat for older kids. Our family trip to Kashmir guide has the full plan for travelling with children and elders.

Frequently asked questions

What is the number one thing to do in Kashmir? A sunset Shikara ride and a houseboat night on Dal Lake top almost everyone's list. What adventure activities can you do? Skiing and the Gondola in Gulmarg, river rafting in Pahalgam and Sonamarg, and trekking in summer. What should I eat in Kashmir? A wazwan feast, rogan josh and kahwa are the essentials. What should I buy? Pashmina, carpets, papier-mache and saffron, from reputable sellers with certificates. For more ideas, the Kashmir tour packages guides on Travel Wiki pair well with this one.

What are the most romantic things to do in Kashmir?

A sunset Shikara, a houseboat night, the Gulmarg gondola together and a candlelight dinner in Pahalgam.

Couples love Kashmir for its gentle romance. A slow Shikara ride as the sun sets, a night on a carved houseboat, the gondola into the snow, a riverside walk in Pahalgam and a candlelight dinner make a perfect honeymoon. See our Kashmir honeymoon packages.

Which cultural experiences should you try?

Watch craftsmen at work, attend a wazwan meal, visit shrines and hear Sufi music.

Kashmir's culture is rich and welcoming. Visit a carpet or papier-mâché workshop in the old city, try a wazwan feast, visit the Hazratbal and Shah-e-Hamdan shrines, and look out for Sufi music performances. Wear a pheran for a photograph on a houseboat.

What are the best photography spots?

Dal Lake at dawn, Pari Mahal at sunset, Betaab Valley, the Gulmarg meadow and the Thajiwas glacier.

Photographers find endless subjects in Kashmir. The best light is early morning and late afternoon. Dal Lake at dawn, Pari Mahal with the lake below at sunset, Betaab Valley's river and pines, and the Gulmarg meadow with snow peaks are classic shots.

What can you do in the evenings?

Walk the Boulevard, enjoy kahwa by the lake, eat kebabs at Khayam Chowk, or relax on a houseboat deck.

Evenings in Kashmir are calm. Stroll along the Boulevard, shop at the Polo View market, try street food at Khayam Chowk, or sit on a houseboat deck with tea. In the hills, a bonfire at your hotel is a lovely end to the day.

More quick answers

What is the number one thing to do in Kashmir? A Shikara ride on Dal Lake. What can I do in winter? Skiing, snow play and harissa breakfasts. What are free things to do? Walks on the Boulevard and visits to shrines. For a full plan, see our Kashmir itinerary.

What are the best things to do on a rainy day?

Visit museums, shrines, craft workshops and cafés in Srinagar.

Rain does not have to spoil a day. The Sri Pratap Singh Museum, the shrines of the old city, carpet and papier-mâché workshops and cosy cafés on Residency Road make a good rainy-day plan.

What are the best things to do for free?

Walk the Boulevard, visit Hazratbal, explore the old city and watch sunrise over Dal Lake.

Some of Kashmir's most memorable moments cost nothing. A sunrise walk along Dal Lake, an evening on the Boulevard, a visit to the white marble Hazratbal shrine and a wander through the old city's lanes give a deep feel for Kashmiri life. In Pahalgam, walking beside the Lidder river is free and beautiful, and in Gulmarg, the meadow itself is a joy to walk across.

Have a question about planning your trip? Message us on WhatsApp or contact our Kashmir team for a free itinerary.