Sweet Escapes · Destinations · Srinagar
Srinagar districtSrinagar
Srinagar is the city on the water. It sits on the Jhelum and on the shore of Dal Lake, between the Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya hills. The Mughal emperors made it their summer resort to escape the heat of the plains, and it is still the summer capital. The houseboats, the shikaras and the gardens they left behind are still the reason people come.
- From Srinagarthe trip starts here — airport pickup is included
- Best timeMarch to November. April for the tulip garden, June and July for the gardens in full bloom, October for the chinar turning gold.
About Srinagar
The lake is the centre of it. A night on a houseboat, a shikara ride at dusk, and the floating vegetable market at dawn are on every itinerary for good reason. Nigeen Lake next door is quieter, and Wular and Manasbal lie to the north.
The Mughal gardens — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashma Shahi and Pari Mahal above them — were laid out in the 1600s on the slopes facing the lake, and are at their best from spring to early autumn. The old city has the Jama Masjid, the Khanqah-e-Moula on the river and the Hazratbal shrine on the lake shore.
Srinagar is also the craft city: pashmina shawls, papier-mâché, walnut wood carving and carpets are all made here, and the market is where most guests spend their last afternoon.
Srinagar in your trip
Days 1, 4 and 5 of the 4 nights / 5 days route: arrival and the houseboat night, the gardens and shikara ride on the way back from Pahalgam, and the last morning before the airport. Every trip we run starts and ends here.
See the day-by-day itinerary and packages and prices, or tell us your dates and we plan the trip around them.
Ask about Srinagar Call 7006488952
Questions about Srinagar
Is a houseboat night included in the package?
Yes — the 4 nights / 5 days package includes one night on a Dal Lake houseboat, a shikara ride, and airport pickup and drop.
How many days does Srinagar need?
Two full days covers the lake, the gardens and the old city without hurrying. On the standard route it is spread across the first day, the return from Pahalgam and the last morning.
When is the tulip garden open?
For a few weeks in spring, usually from late March into April, depending on the year. Tell us your dates and we will tell you whether it will be in bloom.
Can I stay on a houseboat for the whole trip instead of a hotel?
Yes. Tell us when you write and we plan the nights that way.
The other destinations
Somewhere quieter? See our offbeat places in Kashmir.
Want Srinagar in your trip? Tell us your dates.
We'll send back a plan with Srinagar in it, and a price, the same day.