There is a saying, about Kashmir, “if there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here”. Enough to understand that this is no ordinary place but the mother of all hill stations in its beauty and great diversity!

Located in the extreme northwest of India, more than 90 percent of the state is mountainous. The state of Kashmir borders Pakistan and China on two sides. Interestingly, the state has two capitals, while Srinagar is the summer capital, Jammu is the winter capital. The state is well connected by air, road, and rail. Entering Kashmir is like breathing fresh air. You will be greeted by beautiful flowers, heavenly landscapes, blue skies, and tranquil lakes. Most of the tourists visit Srinagar where they will witness green paddy fields, snow covered mountains, blooming gardens, lakes with swaying houseboats. Dal Lake is of course the jewel in the crown, with several ‘Shikaras’ (houseboats) and small boats that you can choose to stay in or just take a ride. You can also try various activities while at Dal Lake, such as water surfing, skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and angling.

Apart from witnessing the floating gardens on the lakes or the ‘Mughal gardens’ for the beautiful flowers, you can also visit the apple orchards or take part in activities such as skiing, mountain climbing, jeep safari, cave exploration, trekking, white water rafting. , angling, canoeing, etc. You can spend your time in Srinagar by visiting the local landmarks like Hazratbal Mosque, Wular Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, Jama Masjid Mosque, Pari Mahal etc. Interestingly, while in Kashmir, you can also take short trips to other hill stations that are quite close by, such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg Leh, and Pahalgam.

The state of Kashmir also has many possibilities for religious tourists. The Mata Vaishnov Devi temple, located about 40 km from Jammu, is very popular. Another popular pilgrimage destination is the Amarnath Caves, which are open during the months of July and August. Apart from this, the Khankahi – Moualla Shrines in Srinagar and Noor – Uddin – Noorani are considered must-sees for pilgrims.

The best part about being in Kashmir is that it is both a shopper’s paradise and beautiful! Kashmiri arts and crafts are famous all over the world and tourists here can make a good deal with paper mache handicrafts, woolen shawls embroidered with traditional motifs, tapestries, wood carvings, exquisite rugs with oriental designs. You may also want to buy dried fruit like almonds and walnuts that are locally grown and processed from here.

o Srinagar has an airport about 14 km from the city. Major national carriers have their presence here.
o Jammu Tawi, is the nearest head of line, it is about 305 km from Srinagar.
o Srinagar is connected to Jammu by National Highway 1-A. You can take one of the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses or the super luxury private buses they operate.