Srinagar
Dal Lake & houseboats
Srinagar is the soul of the Kashmir Valley — a lake city where life floats on water. A shikara glides you past floating gardens and the Mir Bahri houseboats, while the old town hums with papier-mâché workshops, Pashmina looms and the aroma of wazwan.
Set on the banks of the Jhelum and ringed by mountains, Srinagar is the launchpad for the whole valley. It is where most Kashmir itineraries begin, with onward roads to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg.
On and around Dal Lake
Stay overnight on a cedar-panelled houseboat, take a dawn shikara to the floating vegetable market, and watch the lake turn gold at sunset. The Mughal gardens — Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi — rise in terraces above the water, while Hazratbal shrine and the Tulip Garden (in spring) sit a short drive away.
The old city & crafts
Wander Downtown to Jamia Masjid's wooden pillars and the hilltop Shankaracharya Temple for a city panorama. Srinagar is also the place to buy genuine Kashmiri walnut wood, saffron, Pashmina and hand-knotted carpets — our drivers know the trusted, fair-price workshops.
Highlights
- Houseboat stay & shikara ride on Dal Lake
- Nishat, Shalimar & Chashme Shahi Mughal gardens
- Hazratbal Shrine and Jamia Masjid
- Shankaracharya Temple city viewpoint
- Tulip Garden (late March–April)
