Srinagar

About Srinagar

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir’s summer capital, centres on Dal Lake — famous for its houseboats, shikara (gondola-style boat) rides, and the floating vegetable market that runs at dawn. Around the lake, the Mughal-era gardens (Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, and Chashme Shahi) offer terraced lawns, fountains, and chinar trees that turn brilliant colours in autumn. Shankaracharya Temple, perched on a hill above the city, gives a panoramic view over the lake and valley and is a popular short climb for visitors.

Many pilgrims extend their Vaishno Devi trip into a Kashmir circuit specifically to spend a night or two on a houseboat and take in Srinagar’s gardens before continuing on to Gulmarg or Pahalgam.

Getting There

Srinagar is roughly 260 km from Katra, a full day’s drive of about seven to eight hours along the Jammu–Srinagar highway through Banihal. Most itineraries treat it as the base for a multi-day Kashmir extension rather than a single day trip, given the distance.

Best Time to Visit

April through October covers the most comfortable travelling weather, with peak garden blooms typically in April–May and autumn colours in the gardens from late September into October. Winters bring snow and much colder temperatures, which some travellers seek out deliberately, though road conditions need more care then.

Good to Know

• A houseboat stay is a genuinely different experience from a hotel — worth requesting specifically if it interests you.
• Early-morning shikara rides tend to be quieter and cooler than midday ones.
• Srinagar is usually the anchor point for reaching Gulmarg and Pahalgam on the same extension.

Add This to Your Yatra

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