Pack a bag to visit heaven on earth, Kashmir: Things to do

You might have traveled to many hill stations in India and the world but nothing can match the beauty of Kashmir. Famously known as the ‘Heaven on Earth,’ Kashmir is one of the most beautiful and top places in India to visit and spend a perfect vacation with your friends and family. 

The mesmerizing mountain ranges and hypnotizing natural beauty will definitely allure you. This place is not for you if you just want to visit just for the sake of traveling in Kashmir. There are a lot of things that you can do and take part in different activities. If you love to adventure trip then Kashmir has stored a lot of things for you. 

Apart from sightseeing in Kashmir, you can take on different outdoor activities like paragliding, hiking, trekking, etc. Before heading on your Kashmir journey make sure that you add the following things to your to-do list. 

In this article, we have covered the 15 best things to do in Kashmir that will surely make your trip memorable. The list offers various activities and other things that will double your excitement for your Kashmir trip. 

1. Shikara Boat Ride

The Shikara boat ride is the best thing to do in Kashmir as you will get to admire the beauty of this heavenly place. Lay back and relax while you ride in a boat and get lost in your picturesque surroundings of yours. Dal Lake is famous for boat rides and many tourists visit this place to stay in houseboats. Kashmir is one of the best destinations for a honeymoon and the Shikara boat ride is a must to do thing in Kashmir. 

Away from the daunting sounds of vehicles, bright city lights, and pollution, a place where you can finally find peace, where you can hear the birds chirpings, where you can get lost in the silence of the lake, it is Shikara boat ride in Kashmir. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best places to visit in Kashmir. 

Location: Srinagar, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: May to November 

Timings: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

Entry Fee: INR 400

2. Gondola Cable Ride

If you are an adventure-loving person then the Gondola cable ride will definitely excite you. One of the highest cable rides in Jammu&Kashmir, the Gondola cable ride allows you to view the beauty of Kashmir from the top. 

Tourists prefer to view the magnificent mountain from cable car and enjoy the aesthetic scenery of the snow-capped mountain. Add a Gondola ride as the best thing to your to-do list because you cannot miss the height and the scenery and winter is the best time to view it. The ride is suitable for any season however if want to have a glance at a mountain covered with snow then winter is the best time. The gondola ride is one of the famous Gulmarg tourist places.

Location: Baramulla, Gulmarg, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: May to November 

Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Entry Fee: INR 300-800

3. Monasteries and Temples of Kashmir

Alright, your Kashmir travel without visiting monasteries is incomplete because it represents the great Hindu and Buddhist culture in Kashmir. Kashmir is known for its traditions, history, culture, cuisine, literature, and music, and therefore, it is important for you to visit ancient temples and monasteries in Kashmir. 

Some of the monasteries where you can visit like Alchi monastery, Chemry Gompa Hemis monastery in Leh, Basgo monastery, and Korzok. Temples you can visits are Martand Surya Temple, Shankaracharya temple, and Shankaragaurishvara Temple. You can visit these temples and monasteries and seek blessings.  

Location: Gulabgarh, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: May to November 

Timings: NA

Entry Fee: NA

4. Golf Court in Gulmarg

One of the major attractions for golf enthusiasts in Jammu & Kashmir is Gulmarg Golf Course, which is renowned for being the highest green golf course in the world. Golfers from all over the world flock to this location every year in significant numbers for golfing vacations.

An impressive collection of alpine mountains surrounds the 18-hole golf course. The Gulmarg Golf Course is situated in a lovely meadow, where visitors may see 16 different varieties of flowering flowers throughout the summer. Because of this, it is also regarded as one of the top golfing vacation spots in the world throughout the summer.

Location: Gulmarg, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: May to September

Timings: 8:30 am to 10:00 pm

Entry Fee: INR 800 for Indians and INR 1200 for foreigners

5. Mouthwatering Kashmiri Cuisine

Rich, flavorful recipes steeped in tradition that combine three distinct culinary methods—Mughal, Muslim, and Kashmiri Pandit—have been developed over many years.

In Kashmir, this grand ceremonial feast is called “Wazwan” and features primarily meat-based cuisine. The term “wan” refers to a variety of beef curries and other complicated meals, and the word “waz” means “chef.” It is sometimes referred to as a “feast fit for kings” and is a magnificent 36-course dinner with around 15–34 courses. Some of the most well-known dishes on the menu, including Gushtaba, Rogan Josh, Rista, Tabak Maas, Dhaniwal Korma, and Marchwangan Korma, include lamb as the main ingredient.

Location: Srinagar, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: Any month of the year  

Restaurants: The Habit- Cafe & Grill, Stream Restaurant, Alchi Kitchen

6. Shopping

Shopping is a must when you travel to different countries or cities. Things you purchase remind you of the heritage and culture of that place and bring back your sweet memories. Kashmir has a bunch of things that you can purchase including famous Kashmiri carpets, apples, and local garments known as Ferins, or Doda Sapphire. 

Not only this, you can purchase fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, and dry fruits from Kashmiri markets. It does not matter what you purchase, it all comes down on how you purchase it. Kashmir is a tourist place so make sure that you bargain everything before you buy. 

 

7. Tourist Attraction Sightseeing

Kashmir is known for its beautiful landscapes which makes this small city perfect for tourist attractions. There are many popular destinations in Kashmir that enable you to witness the century-old culture and heritage. 

Srinagar, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam are some of the famous places where you can visit with your family and friends. Dal Lake, Apharwat peak, Nehru Park, Strawberry Valley, Floating Post Office, Aru Village, Shankaracharya Hill Temple, and Ganderbal are some of the places where you must visit. 

These places reflect the rich culture and traditions of Kashmir and also tell you the tale of its beautiful land in India. 

8. Pony Ride

You won’t see bikes or cars riding on the roads of Kashmir, pony is the common means of transport in the Kashmir valleys. Taking a pony ride in the valley of Kashmir will allow you to get a view of the natural beauty. A peaceful ride on the short pony is what you need in your Kashmir tour. 

You can take a pony ride in different cities of Kashmir like Sonamarg, Yusmarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The means of transport in these valleys are ponies and it is the best thing you will experience in Kashmir.  

Locations: Yusmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and Gulmarg

Best months to visit: May to November 

Timings: 8 am to 9 pm

Entry Fee: INR 400

9. Walk to Old Heritage

The most important place where you must visit in your Kashmir visit is sightseeing the old heritage. Not many people know about this place and are one of the hidden places in Kashmir. This place is no less than a paradise because the structure and designs of the old garden and big home are a delight to the eye. 

If you are here in search of peace then you are at the right place because walking to the old heritage of Kashmir will fill you with flakes of emotions as you watch the century-old heritage and culture. 

10. Wildlife Tour

Do you know Kashmir also has rich wildlife and is protected by the 7 wildlife sanctuaries? You can see the wildlife species at these sanctuaries that are popular not only in Jammu&Kashmir but all of India. Visit any of these sanctuaries including Kishtwar National Park, Hemis National Park, Kazinag National Park, Salim Ali National Park, and Dachigam National Park.

Snow leopards, brown bears, musk deer, red foxes, golden eagles, Himalayan black bears, Monal pheasants, griffon vultures, and Marmot are considered to be the rare wild species that you will find in the sanctuaries in Kashmir. 

Best months to visit: May to November 

Timings: NA

Entry Fee: NA

11. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

Talking about Tulips, the first country that comes to mind is the Netherlands but have you ever heard about the Tulip garden in Kashmir? You must not have but let us tell you that there is a place where you can have a delightful sightsee of Tulip garden in Kashmir. 

Indira Gandhi Memorial is one of the largest Tulip gardens in Asia where you can see varieties of tulips. Whatever kind of Tulip you like to see you will find it in Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. It is one of the best places to visit in Srinagar. 

Location: Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: March to May 

Timings: 8 am to 7 pm

Entry Fee: INR 50 for adults and 25 for children

12. Paragliding

In the adventure sport of paragliding, athletes use a gliding craft without any fixed parts to do the free flight. Since a qualified co-pilot will fly with them, no prior experience is necessary.

Paragliders must be at least 6 years old and weigh no more than 95 kg in order to participate in paragliding. 

Pregnant women and persons with heart problems, sinus problems, lung problems, ear infections, and claustrophobia should avoid paragliding. The instructors’ briefing, putting on and taking off the safety harness, and the actual flying time is all included in the duration of the paragliding.

Best places: Sonamarg, Harwan, Baderwah, Gulmarg, and Sanasar

Best months to visit: May-June and September-October 

Timings: NA

Entry Fee: NA

13. River Rafting

White river rafting will definitely give you the adrenal rush that you expected from your Kashmir trip. The adventure trip that you wanted in your Kashmir trip, river rafting is the best option for you to do. 

Additionally, you may go rafting close to Sonamarg. However, Pahalgam’s Lidder River white water rafting is more well-known. River rafting requires teamwork and cooperation, and you must also adhere to the safety directives provided by the instructors.

Location: Pahalgam, Jammu&Kashmir

Best months to visit: May to August 

Timings: 8 am to 9 pm

Entry Fee: INR 1800-4000

Final Thoughts

In this article, we have covered indoor and outdoor activities that you can take part in during your Kashmir visit. Spend some time with your friends and family near nature and the beauty of snow-capped mountains. Away from the crowd and busy city life, relaxing vacation in Kashmir is all you need to freshen your mind. 

There are many famous places in Kashmir where you can get a glance at the beauty of Kashmir. Do not forget to share your Kashmir experience with our viewers by commenting down below.  

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