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

Kashmir does not have a single best season — it has four distinct ones, each offering a completely different valley. Choosing between them is less about weather and more about the kind of trip you want.

Spring (March to May)

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opens for roughly three weeks from late March, and the almond blossoms in Badamwari arrive just before it. Daytime temperatures sit between 15°C and 22°C. This is the most photogenic window of the year and, unsurprisingly, the busiest — book houseboats at least six weeks ahead.

Summer (June to August)

The valley becomes a refuge from the plains, hovering around 25°C to 30°C. Pahalgam and Sonamarg are at their greenest, and the high-altitude treks to Tarsar Marsar and the Kashmir Great Lakes open up once the snow clears in early July.

Autumn (September to November)

Our own favourite. The chinars turn copper through late October, the crowds thin, and rates drop noticeably. Pack layers — nights fall to single digits by November.

Winter (December to February)

Gulmarg becomes a genuine ski destination, with the Gondola running to Apharwat at 3,980m. Roads to Sonamarg close, and the Srinagar–Leh highway shuts entirely, so plan a valley-focused itinerary rather than a touring one.

If you want one recommendation: late September to mid-October gives you the best balance of weather, colour, availability and price.