Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir at 1,585 m, lies on the Dal and Nigeen lakes and the Jhelum river. A night on a houseboat, a shikara ride at sunset and the Mughal gardens are the heart of every Kashmir trip.
Srinagar – Quick Facts
Altitude
1,585 m
Airport
Srinagar – 15 km from Dal lake
Railway
Srinagar (Vande Bharat) / Jammu Tawi
Best time
April – October; tulips late March – April
Ideal stay
2 nights
Places to Visit in Srinagar
Dal Lake & Shikara Floating markets, Char Chinar and sunset rides.
Houseboats Carved cedar houseboats on Dal and Nigeen lakes.
Nishat & Shalimar Bagh Terraced Mughal gardens on the Dal.
Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden Asia’s largest tulip garden – open about four weeks in spring.
Shankaracharya Temple Hilltop Shiva temple with a view over the city.
Hazratbal Shrine White marble shrine on the Dal.
Pari Mahal & Chashme Shahi Mughal garden and the spring above the city.
Best Time to Visit Srinagar
March – April: tulip festival
May – August: pleasant and busy
October – November: golden chinars
December – February: cold, snow on the hills
How to Reach Srinagar
By air: Srinagar airport has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
By train: Vande Bharat to Srinagar.
By road: Jammu 260 km.
Srinagar Distance Chart
Route
Distance
Drive time
Gulmarg
50 km
1.5 hrs
Pahalgam
95 km
2.5 hrs
Sonamarg
85 km
2.5 hrs
Jammu
260 km
7 hrs
Leh
420 km
2 days
Approximate road distances and times – mountain roads can take longer in snow or rain.
Srinagar Map
Srinagar city map – Dal Lake, Boulevard, Mughal Gardens & Hazratbal (tap to enlarge)Jammu – Srinagar route map (tap to enlarge)
Srinagar Travel Tips
Shikara rides have fixed union rates – ask for the rate card.
Book tulip-season stays early.
Entrance & Permit Fees in Srinagar 2026
Permits
No permit is needed in Srinagar.
🎟️ Entrance fees (per person, paid at the gate or online)
Shikara Rideper boat, 1 – 2 hrs (Srinagar union rate)
₹1,000 – 1,500
₹1,000 – 1,500
Shankaracharya Templeno phones / bags inside
Free
Free
Indira Gandhi Tulip Gardenper person, about 4 weeks in spring
approx. 75
approx. 75
Fees as published for 2026 and can be revised by the authorities; "approx." rates are local / private and may differ. Children are usually free or half rate. Camera fees extra at some places.
Srinagar Tour Packages 2026
Packages by Travel Himalayas that stay in Srinagar – hotels and a private cab, with the complete price for your date on each page.
About ₹1,000 – 1,500 per boat for 1 – 2 hours at union rates.
What is the best time to visit Srinagar?
March – April: tulip festival. May – August: pleasant and busy. October – November: golden chinars. December – February: cold, snow on the hills.
How to reach Srinagar?
By air – Srinagar airport has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. By train – Vande Bharat to Srinagar. By road – Jammu 260 km.
How much does a Srinagar tour cost?
Our Srinagar packages start from about ₹12,200 per person (2 sharing) with hotels and a private cab – open a package for the complete price on your date.
