Kashmir is considered heaven on earth because of its natural beauty, which is covered with snow-capped mountains. The sparkling lakes here are a different story altogether. Kashmir is very famous for its beautiful valleys, gardens, lake, snow, and heartwarming scenes. Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of our country, India. Every year, lakhs of people come here to visit.

How to Reach Kashmir

Kashmir is well connected by air, rail, and road. Srinagar is the biggest city of Jammu and Kashmir state, so if you want to visit the whole Kashmir, then first you have to reach Srinagar. You have to book a ticket to any one of these three railway stations : Jammu, Katra, or Udhampur. The distance from Jammu to Srinagar is 245 km, the distance from Katra to Srinagar is 220 km, and the distance from Udhampur to Srinagar is 180 km. And after reaching these railway stations, you will get a sharing tempo or a sharing taxi for 800 rs per person outside the same station. Sometimes it takes 7 to 8 hours to reach Srinagar from Jammu due to bad road condition. You can book a direct flight to Srinagar airport from any airport and you will get a flight to Srinagar from Delhi for only Rs. 6000 to 7000 per person. You can get a taxi here for just Rs 2500 per day to travel the whole of Kashmir. You will get taxis outside the railway station and Jammu airport. But during peak season, it can be a little difficult to get a taxi here.

Best Places to Visit in Kashmir

Gulmarg—The Winter Wonderland

Kashmir’s most popular tourist place is Gulmarg, which is at an altitude of 8500 feet. You will find snow all along the way, which looks very pleasant to the eyes. The total distance of Gulmarg is approximately 50 km. This journey will be very enjoyable for you. There are two points to visit in Gulmarg: Face one and Face two. Face one is at an altitude of about 10,000 feet, and face two is at an altitude of about 13,000 feet. You will travel to face two by cable car. The entry here will cost you around Rs 1800 to go up and down. This is the highest- running cable car in India. You will not get to see such a sight anywhere in India. After reaching the topmost point of Gulmarg, you will feel as if you are really in heaven. After reaching this height, it seems like the mountains and clouds are all at your feet. After visiting face two, you will have to go to face two while capturing these beautiful sights in your eyes. You can do a lot of snow activities here in the winter season, and you can enjoy your whole day very well by coming to Gulmarg with your family and friends. The beauty of Gulmarg increases in summers, that is why Kashmir is considered a paradise.

Drung waterfall

The entire waterfall in Drung Waterfall is frozen. Coming here, it feels like the world has frozen. You can visit this waterfall before going to Gulmarg. When you go towards Gulmarg, there comes a point on the way called Tangmarg. From Tangmarg you have to take a car, which will cost you around 1000 rs per person. The total distance from Tangmarg to Drung Waterfall is 4km. If you come here in January-February. Then you will find many frozen waterfalls here, which are very pleasing to the eyes.

Pari mahal

This is the most beautiful place in Srinagar city, which is built in the middle of beautiful mountains. And this Pari Mahal is the highest point of Srinagar city. From January to April you will find snow all around here. The view here is good, and the top looks very beautiful here. This is going to be an unforgettable view.

Nishat garden

Many gardens in Srinagar city were built by the Mughals. That is why  these gardens are also called Mughal gardens. If you come here in April, you will find the whole view here very beautiful. Your mind will be filled with joy seeing the greenery and colorful flowers all around. You can also visit the tulip garden from here, where you will get to see thousands of types of tulip garden plants. But this tulip garden is open only from March to April month. Because these tulip plants bloom for only one month and then fade away.

Pahalgam

The total distance from Srinagar to Pahalgram is approx. 90 km; it will take you around 2.5 to 3 hours. But the roads of Kashmir are so beautiful that you will not even realize the time. You will get the highest rates of Pahalgam hotels in the whole Kashmir trip. Because there  are a lot of tourists coming here, but there are very few hotels. From here you can go towards Baisaran Valley via horse or mule. While riding, you will find this trek even more adventurous, and you can complete this 7 km trek in just 1 hour. Many movies have been shoot here, which makes it more famous. Here snow remains frozen in the pine trees, due to which this valley looks very beautiful. You can rent dresses here and get your photos clicked. You can also visit the Aru Valley of Pahalgam; it is one of the most beautiful Valley of Pahalgam.

Dal lake

Dal Lake is the most famous lake in India, and two things are very famous in this Dal Lake. One is the moving Shikara in the water here. And second, there is a houseboat built on this Dal Lake. Where you can go inside and stay. Actually, there are 21 ghats in this dal Lake and in all these ghats there are separate houseboats, so if you want to stay in a separate house board you can book a houseboat between ghat number 15 to 21. Because the water in these ghats is very clean, the water in other ghats is not so clean. You can do a lot of shopping inside the houseboat. Shikara rides are also a very good experience. You must definitely take this ride.  By the way, the best time for a shikara ride is in the evening because in the evening you are taken to floating market that is, Meena Bazaar moving on water. And this floating marketing is the most famous market in India.

Travel Essentials

Comfortable trekking shoes or boots, especially if you plan to visit Gulmarg or Pahalgam.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat to protect from the sun.

A good-quality camera to capture the stunning landscapes.

Personal medications and a basic first-aid kit.

A power bank and portable charger to keep your devices powered up.

ID proofs and necessary permits if you plan to travel to border areas.

Cash, as ATMs may not be available in remote areas.

Kashmir’s natural beauty, warm hospitality, and rich cultural heritage make it a must-visit destination. Whether you want to relax by Dal Lake, trek through the meadows, or experience thrilling winter sports, Kashmir has something for everyone. Pack your bags and get ready to explore the paradise on Earth.