Best Time to Visit Kashmir: A Month-by-Month Guide

Kashmir has four very different seasons, and each one suits a different kind of traveller. Here is how we advise families, couples and first-timers who ask us when to go.

March to May: tulips and fresh green

Spring is when the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar opens, usually for three to four weeks from late March. Days are mild, around 15–25°C, and the meadows at Pahalgam turn green again. Upper Gulmarg often keeps snow into April, so you can see both in one trip.

Good for: families, photographers, first visits.

June to August: the busiest months

School holidays make this peak season. Hotels and houseboats fill early, and prices are at their highest. The weather is pleasant — rarely above 30°C in Srinagar — and every road and meadow is open, including the drive towards Sonamarg.

Good for: families bound by school holidays. Book at least two months ahead.

September to November: chinar gold

Our favourite season. Crowds thin, skies are clear and the chinar trees turn copper and gold in late October and November. Evenings are cool, so pack a warm layer.

Good for: couples, photographers, travellers who prefer quiet.

December to February: snow country

Gulmarg becomes a ski resort and Srinagar sees snowfall. Some higher roads close, and flights can be delayed by weather, so we keep a buffer day in winter itineraries.

Good for: snow lovers and honeymooners who want a winter-wonderland trip.

Our advice

• For a first family trip, choose April–May or September–October.
• For snow, choose late December to February and add a spare day.
• Book houseboats early for June and the Diwali holidays.

Planning a trip? Our Kashmir Tour Package covers Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg in 5 nights from ₹14,999 per person, and runs all year.