Kashmir Tourist Places | Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Kashmir

Srinagar is the summer capital and the largest city of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated on the banks of River Jhelum. The city attracts tourists all year round.

Srinagar is famous for Shikaras, House Boats, Lakes, Gardens, Kashmiri indigenous crafts like hand-woven silks and embroidered shawls and Kashmiri Food.

One of the main attractions of Srinagar is the Dal Lake where you can enjoy a peaceful Shikara ride or stay in the traditional wooden houseboats. Dal Lake also has a floating market and a floating post office. You can also visit the Mughal Gardens, Shalimar Bagh, Tulip Garden, Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi in Srinagar. Apart from Dal Lake, Wular Lake in Srinagar is one of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes.

One of the most visited tourist attractions in Kashmir, Gulmarg is situated at about 2,650 metres above sea level. It is known for its lush greenery during the summer season and for its adventure activities in the winter months. Gulmarg is also popularly known as the Meadows of Flowers.

Things to do in Gulmarg

• While in Gulmarg, you can enjoy snowboarding and skiing in the snow during the winter months.
• Gulmarg has Asia’s largest and highest and the world’s second-largest and second-highest cable car project. The Gulmarg Gondola Ride offers fantastic views of the mountains.
• During summer, you can go trekking and hiking.
• The world’s highest Golf course is located here.
• You can enjoy the serenity of the place and do birdwatching.
• St Mary’s Church Gulmarg, built 100 years ago, offers a stunning view at night.

The best time to visit Gulmarg during the summer months is from June to August and during winters is from December to February.

Gulmarg Cable Car Ticket Price

Sonmarg is situated at an altitude of around 2,800 metres above sea level. Sonmarg, which means ‘Meadow of gold’, is located across a valley of flowers and lakes. It is full of sycamore and alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine trees. The Sindh River which flows through the green meadows of this region, offers great views of newby snow-covered mountains.

Sonmarg is the base of the trek to the Thajiwas Glacier and the famous pilgrimage Amarnath Yatra. You can also enjoy white water rafting, birdwatching, fishing and camping here.

The best time to visit Sonmarg is from March to June or in July and August (if you are doing the Amarnath Yatra trek). It remains inaccessible during the winter due to heavy snowfall and the risk of avalanches.

Pahalgam known as the “Village of Shepherds” is located at a height of 2740 metres above sea level in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra trek. Known for its natural beauty, lush greenery and various outdoor activities, Pahalgam attracts a lot of tourists every year. You can visit Aru Valley, a beautiful tourist spot situated near Pahalgam.

Things to do in Pahalgam

• You can visit Betaab Valley which offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
• You can enjoy rafting and fishing in the Lidder River.
• Pahalgam Wildlife Sanctuary contains various animal species like Himalayan brown bears and musk deer.
• Sheshnag Lake is a Glacier lake that will give you a breathtaking view of the valley.

The best time to visit Pahalgam is from March to November.

Patnitop, a hill station located in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, is situated along the Chenab River. Here you can explore the beautiful scenic views while going on nature walks and trekking. If you love adventure, activities like zip lining, rock climbing, and rappelling are present there. If you love trekking, you can visit the Shiva Garh temple which is an ancient temple of Patnitop. Some popular places you can visit here include Bilo ki Powri, Kud Park and Naag Mandir. The place offers delicious Rajma Chawal and Mutton Rogan Josh, which are popular among visitors.

Nathatop is one of the best places to visit near Patnitop. It offers pleasant weather in summer for travellers. From Nathatop, you can enjoy stunning views of snow-capped Himalayan mountains. Snow activities, paragliding and trekking are popular outdoor activities among adventure seekers.

The best time to visit Patnitop is during the months of April to June and September-October.

Kishtwar, located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, is famous for its blue sapphire and saffron. You can reach Kishtwar by enjoying the beautiful panoramic views en route. The natural beauty of the place lies in mountains, valleys and the Chenab River which flows through this region. The Sharika Devi Temple and Athara Bhuja Devi Temple are two famous temples located here. You can also visit Quila Kishtwar which was built by Raja Kahan Paul.
Kishtwar is known for its hydroelectric power generation due to the availability of rivers and hills.

The best time to visit Kishtwar is from May to October.

Gurez Valley is an untouched location situated in the northernmost region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is open for only 6 months of the year for visitors.

Gurez Valley is well known for its snow-covered peaks, and lush greenery. River Kishanganga flowing through this region is known for trout fishes. Habba Khatoon Peak, named after a Kashmiri queen, is one of the best locations here offering panoramic views of the Kashmir valley. The cultural diversity and traditions of Gurez are unique. Some activities you can do in Gurez Valley are trekking and mountain climbing. 

You can visit Gurez Valley via Razdan Pass. However, keep in mind that you need to register at the Army checkpoint near Razdan Pass. 

The best time to visit Gurez Valley is from May to October.

Kargil was the site of the Kargil War in 1999 between India and Pakistan. It is located in the proximity of the Line of Control or LOC. There is a memorial called Kargil War Memorial which is built in honour of the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1999 War. The memorial offers a panoramic view of Tiger Hill, which was one of the main battle sites. Kargil is also known for Mulbekh Monastery and Rangdum Monastery.

Sanasar is a beautiful and picturesque hill station in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is named after 2 small villages Sana and Sar. If you love off-beat tourist destinations, you should definitely include Sanasar in your itinerary.

Sanasar is the perfect place for paragliding, hot air ballooning, horse riding and camping.

Surrounded by the Karakoram and Pir Panjal ranges, Kashmir Valley has a mesmerising view in all directions. It is a popular destination for tourists who want to experience the natural beauty, history, and spirituality of this place.