Your Travel Bucket List Cannot Be Complete without a Visit to Heavenly Kashmir! 10 Best Places to Visit in Kashmir (2019)

You simply can’t shortlist some of the best places to visit in Kashmir because the entire Kashmir is about natural beauty and breathtaking views. However, we've tried to pick some of the most popular tourist locations here so that even if you are visiting an offbeat place, you will get to see the best of nature out there.

Kashmir is different this way as there is no such thing as dull or lifeless here. At times, you wouldn't be able to differentiate the realm of dreams with the reality itself, that's how beautiful Kashmir is!

Kashmir is the land of lakes and shikaras, and we bet you that you won’t be able to forget this experience. All those who think that it is the same as living in a houseboat in Kerala’s backwaters then let us tell you that both of them are entirely different experiences.

You need to visit the Dal Lake in Kashmir and you are set for the entire day as you can simply relax in the Shikara (similar to houseboats) for all day long.

Almost every single person knows about the climate of Kashmir, and probably this is the reason that tourists flock around here. The cold weather persists throughout the year, but it is best to visit this place in summers as winters may become too harsh to bear.

However, if you genuinely want to have a one of a kind experience, you may give a visit in winters. Summers or winters, Kashmir has a lot to offer. While there, don't forget to enjoy the delicious cuisine of the J & K state, especially the famous Roghan Josh.

Srinagar is the largest city in Kashmir and also its summer capital too. This city is located on the banks of the Jhelum river, Dal and Anchar Lake and undoubtedly the most beautiful city in the whole of Kashmir.

You can find many places to visit in Srinagar, which include gardens, waterfronts, and valleys. Known as the mirror to the mountains, Srinagar is also famous for the Shikaras and its romantic vibe for the newly married couples.

Some of the most popular places you can visit in Srinagar are Dal Lake, Bonafide Multi-Brand, Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. The best time to visit this city is from June to August when the weather is pleasant, and you can roam around easily without worrying about the snow.

Leh is a high desert city and also the capital of Leh Region in Jammu and Kashmir State. Leh is famous for its trekking areas, and you can spot a lot of bikers around here. Leh is safe to visit in summers while most roads become inaccessible due to excess snow during winters.

You can witness a quaint setting of the Himalayas and Alpine Lakes here which looks like a scene straight out of a Bollywood movie. Leh is such an enchanting place that you won’t be able to forget about it for a long time to come.

Some of the most happening places you can visit in Leh are Leh Palace, Spituk Gompa, Tsemo Fort, Central Asian Museum, and Leh Old Town. Do not forget to shop in the streets of the old town for souvenirs and other local items.

A popular hill station located in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, Sonamarg is one of the most popular and tourist-friendly options to visit amongst this list of 10 best places to visit in Kashmir.

Sonamarg translates to Meadow of Gold, and it looks exactly like this because of vast lands and placid lakes out here. This is a valley situated amidst glaciers and the Himalayas. You can spot flower-filled meadows and snow-covered Himalayan peaks from here which creates a fantastic panoramic view for tourists here.

Some of the famous places you can visit in Sonamarg are Vishanar Lake, Zoji La Pass, Nilagrad River, Thajiwas Glacier. The best time to visit this place is in summers as it becomes almost impossible to visit this place in winters due to heavy snowfall.

While Sonamarg is known as the Meadow of Gold, Gulmarg is known as the Meadow of Flowers. If you want to witness more snow-clad region which resembles quite like Switzerland, then you should visit Gulmarg for it.

This area is a treat to eyes and located in the Baramulla district, which is a 3-hour drive from Sonamarg. This hill station is a top-rated skiing destination in India and captures the view of snow clad western Himalayas. Unlike other places in Kashmir, it would be best to visit Gulmarg between October and February as this place looks no less than heaven around this time.

Some of the most popular places to visit in Gulmarg are Sahrk Fin, Baba Reshi Shrine, and Nagin Valley. You should definitely try your hands at Skiing here in Gulmarg, and you can also enjoy gondola rides, trekking, mountain biking and more adventurous activities here.

Kargil is a town in Kargil district of Ladakh region in Kashmir. This is a usual stopover for people who are heading towards Leh or Padum. The town is small enough to visit within half a day but what makes it remarkable is its proximity to Line of Control and the history of Kargil War here.

This is the reason this town usually remains under high security throughout the year so make sure you visit it in half a day and then leave for Leh from here.

The places you can visit in Kargil are Drass War Memorial, Suru Basin, Mulbekh Monastery, and Kargil Main Street. You can also do trekking here but being a sensitive area we would recommend you to go for trekking on other passes.

Another hill station and next addition to this list of 10 best places to visit in Kashmir is Pahalgam. You are going to find it located on the mountain trails to Amarnath Cave Temple and this is why it's a popular stopover for many tourists.

It is considered as an illustration of heaven on Earth as it is surrounded by dense forests, meadows of flowers, and stunning lakes. If you want to enjoy some peaceful days, head to Pahalgam!

If you want to experience snowfall here, visit this place from December to January. Otherwise, summers would be the perfect time to visit Pahalgam. Some of the sightseeing destinations include Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, Kolahoi Glacier, and Lidder River. For other activities, you can enjoy horseback riding and canoeing here as well.

Hemis can be considered as a unique location to visit in Jammu and Kashmir, but you would not regret visiting this tiny but lovely village in Leh. It is quite unexplored so you won’t get to see too much crowd here and this place not only offers you natural beauty but also some serenity and calmness too.

This village is famous for its beautiful monasteries and flora and fauna. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, this place will excite you like no other spot!

The best place to visit in Hemis is Hemis National Park to spot the rare species of snow leopard and bharals. Other places to visit include Hemis Monastery, Gotsang Gompa and Stakna Gompa. Also, you can shop for some antique and unique items from here including but not limited to paintings, dragon statues, etc.

Kupwara is a small district in Kashmir which is 90 km away from Srinagar. Famous for its meadows and alpine mountains, you can spot some of the clearest waters in Kupwara. This is a must-visit location in Kashmir, best to visit from April to October.

You are going to love sitting around in the meadows here where rocky mountains and shimmering lakes are a common sight. You can witness lush greenery till the end of your view and undeniable charm of nature.

Kupwara is also home to abundant and exotic wildlife and perfect for the adventurous tourists exploring around Kashmir. The best places to visit in Kupwara are Bangus Valley, Lolab Valley, Qamar Reshi Sahib Shrine, and Seemab Valley.

Jammu is known as the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir and also the largest city in Jammu district. It is one of the most loved Jammu & Kashmir tourist places which is situated on the banks of river Tawi and surrounded by the beautiful Himalayas in the north.

The major tourist attraction in this city is the popular temple of Mata Vaishno Devi which is a significant pilgrimage for Hindus. This is why it is often referred to as the city of temples too.

Apart from this, you can find many other temples here, making it one of the most-visited travel spots around the year. You can also explore Jammu for sightseeing and trekking, and anytime would be best to visit it. Other places to visit in Jammu are Nathatop, Bagh-e-Bahu, Shivkhori, Raghunath Bazar, and Mansar Lake.

Last but not least, another popular tourist location in Kashmir is Poonch. This tourist place has lush green forests with the view of snow clad mountains all around it. It looks every bit of panoramic to look at because of the untouched nature’s creations here.

Often referred to as Mini Kashmir, Poonch is also enclosed by Line of Control from three sides and also has high security throughout the year.

Poonch also holds special historical significance because of being ruled by several local and foreign rulers in the past. To explore Poonch fully, you can visit Poonch fort, Noori Chamb, and Gurudwara Nangali Sahib. We would recommend you to visit this place in the summer to enjoy trekking and sightseeing here in clear weather.

There are more safe places to visit in Kashmir than you know and you just need the right kind of planning to visit this beautiful state of North-India. For this, we have got a simple guide for you to get it easy in Kashmir and enjoy the cold weather in the best way possible.

It's important to choose the right time of the year to visit Kashmir. There is heavy snowfall in winters, and you won’t be able to visit even half of the places because of critical conditions. Even the Dal Lake will be frozen at this time of the year. So, visit Kashmir in summers and spring as this is the time you'd get to enjoy Kashmir to the fullest.

Whether you are someone from India only or another country, you should always carry an identity card with you. For Indians, it can be any of their identification documents such as the Aadhar Card or Driving License, while for foreigners, it can be their passport. Because of being at the border and the critical political conditions, Kashmir always remains under high security, and you might have to show your ID card at most places.

You get the best opportunity for shopping when you are in Kashmir. Do not forget to shop the best Pashmina Shawls out there as they are the best you can get in the entire country. Apart from these shawls, you can also find a lot of things to purchase as souvenirs for your friends and family back home.

As Kashmir is a little trickier to visit and the 10 best places to visit in Kashmir aren’t enough to see it all in the state, you should try to opt for a package rather than making the bookings on your own. Especially when you are someone from outside India, a package-tour would definitely prove to be a much smoother option.