Kashmir · Dal Lake, Houseboats and Mughal Gardens
Srinagar
Srinagar is where a Kashmir trip begins and ends: the airport and the railway station are here, and so are Dal Lake, the houseboats and the Mughal gardens. In winter the lake goes quiet and the Zabarwan hills above it turn white. On the coldest January days, parts of Dal Lake freeze.
In winter
Srinagar in winter
- Chillai Kalan, the coldest 40 days, runs from 21 December to the end of January. Nights fall well below freezing: Srinagar reached −6 °C in January 2026.
- Parts of Dal Lake can freeze in January. Shikara rides pause on those days and start again when the ice breaks.
- The Mughal gardens stay open through winter with shorter hours; most close at about 5 pm.
- Snow can close the airport for a day. In the January 2026 snow, the Vande Bharat train from Katra kept running.
- Houseboats and hotels heat their rooms in different ways, so ask how before you book.
Best time
When to go
- December – February
- Snow on the hills, a quiet lake
- Late March – April
- The Tulip Garden and almond blossom
- May – August
- Long days on the lake
- Late October – November
- Chinar trees in red and gold
Winter 2026-27
Winter trips that include Srinagar
Srinagar & Snow Day Trips
Kashmir Honeymoon
Classic Kashmir Winter Circuit
Highlights
What Awaits You
01Shikara Rides on Dal Lake
An hour on a shikara at sunset, past the houseboats and the lakeside markets.
02A Night on a Houseboat
Carved cedar houseboats moored along Dal and Nigeen lakes, reached by shikara.
03The Mughal Gardens
Nishat, Shalimar and Pari Mahal step down the hillside above Dal Lake in terraces laid out in the 1600s.
04The Tulip Garden in Spring
Rows of tulips below the Zabarwan hills, open for a few weeks from the second half of March.
05The Floating Vegetable Market
Farmers trade vegetables from their boats on Dal Lake at first light. Go early.
06The Old City
Jamia Masjid, the wooden houses along the Jhelum and the old bridges of downtown Srinagar.
Gallery
Through the Lens
Srinagar in photos, mostly in winter.
Experiences
What You Can Do
Srinagar has a season for every soul.
Through the year
Every Season, a Different Srinagar
Spring
Almond blossom, then the Tulip Garden's few weeks of colour, then green gardens.
Ready to explore?
