Some regions are visited, others are explored, and still others are lived in. However, Kashmir must be felt. Its beauty and appeal will stay with you for a long time. However, to see the best of this heaven on Earth, you must not simply visit and stay. You must try everything - all the most spectacular things to do in Kashmir. That is the only way to discover what these incredible valleys have tucked away in their basket of goodness.
Top 10 Things to Do in Kashmir: For Ultimate Thrill and Adrenaline Rush
Kashmir, mostly located in the Himalayan mountains, offers a plethora of experiences that one must take advantage of by partaking in the thrilling things to do listed below. Some of the things are unique to this destination due to the location and terrain, so go ahead and enjoy them all. Check it out!
- Shikara Boat Ride: Make Your Every Paddle Count
- Tulip Garden: A Beautiful Masterpiece
- Wildlife Tour: Watch the Noblest Creations of God
- Skiing and Snowboarding: The Soothing Snow Sport
- Camping: A Bit Close to Nature
- Paragliding: Soar from Sky
- Shopping: Best Therapy
- Religious Retreats: Feel the Mighty Wonders of Divine
- Sightseeing: Ride the Wires
- Gondola Cable Ride: Let Your Soul Set on Sail
1. Shikara Boat Ride: Make Your Every Paddle Count
As your boatman takes you across the lake, relax and take in the beauty of the distant mountains. Away from the rush and bustle of polluted city life, a shikara ride is one of the nicest things to do in Kashmir. There was no smoke or sound from the vehicles, no irate mob, nothing. Nothing but the subtle sound of the boatman's oar breaking the surface of the water and the touch of cold water as you trail your hand across the lake's surface.
Location: Manasbal Lake in Sonamarg and Dal Lake in Srinagar
Timings: 6am to 5pm
Cost: starting from 250/-INR
2. Tulip Garden: A Beautiful Masterpiece
A journey to Kashmir would be not completed without taking a stop at this lovely tulip garden. It is Asia's largest tulip garden, known as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. Aside from tulips, other garden plants include hyacinths, daffodils, and ranunculus. From March through May is the optimum time to visit this garden. Every year in April, a tulip festival is held when visitors can experience the breathtaking vistas of the garden in full bloom.
Location : Jammu and Kashmir, Cheshma Shahi Road, Rainawari, Srinagar
Timings: 8am to 7pm
Cost: 60/-INR
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3. Wildlife Tour: Watch the Noblest Creations of God
The snow-capped mountains and deep forests are home to some of the most amazing and unusual flora and animals, which are a must visit place in Kashmir. You can explore these wildlife species by visiting any of the seven wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Jammu and Kashmir, including Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park, Dachigam National Park, Kazinag National Park, and Salim Ali National Park.
Some of the rare species found in this region include the snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, Marmot, red fox, Himalayan black bear, golden eagles, Monal pheasants, and griffon vultures. You may also go bird watching at one of Jammu and Kashmir's 24 wetlands, which are home to over 500 different bird species. Ladakh's Gharana and Surinsar regions are great for spotting migratory birds. The Black-necked crane, European blue whistling thrush, vulture, falcon, and bar-headed geese would all be seen.
Location: Jammu& Kashmir
Timings: 9am to 5pm
Cost: 20 to 100/-INR
4. Skiing and Snowboarding: The Soothing Snow Sport
Kashmir is a chilly place, with snow-capped mountains and freezing-cold river streams, and the best time to come is in the winter. This is one of the best things to do in Kashmir during the winter. With the arrival of winter, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and Gulmarg are completely blanketed with snow. This creates a chance for winter sports. Snowboarding and skiing are the best winter activities in Kashmir, especially if you need an adrenaline boost. If you're looking for things to do in Kashmir, you should go skiing.
Location: Gulmarg
Timings: 9am to 7pm
Cost: Starting from 13000/-INR
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5. Camping: A Bit Close to Nature
Beautiful valleys, meadows, and lakes in Jammu and Kashmir provide adventure seekers with a plethora of outdoor activities. Camping in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the best activities that family travellers may enjoy at some of the most renowned tourist locations. The Kashmir region of the union territory, ranging from Sonmarg's golden meadows and the gorgeous valley of Pahalgam to the Great Lakes in the middle of high Himalayan peaks, provides abundant opportunities for camping and adventure enthusiasts.
Location: Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Solang ,Jammu and Kashmir
Timings: At least one whole day
Ideal For: Friends, solo, couple
6. Paragliding: Soar from Sky
There is also the option of going paragliding for all those adventure enthusiasts. The vast and beautiful valley beneath is breathtaking. The breathtaking view of the beautiful valleys makes paragliding one of the most thrilling activities in Kashmir. Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Bhaderwah, Sanasar, and Harwan (Srinagar) all have paragliding opportunities. Paragliding in Harwan is the most easily accessible of these, as it is on the itinerary of the Grand Mughal Tour.
Location: Pahalgam, Hajan, Sonmarg ,Jammu and Kashmir
Timings: 9am to 3pm
Cost: Approx. 2700/-INR per person
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7. Shopping: Best Therapy
Shopping is one of the most popular pastimes in Kashmir. And I don't just mean antiques and other trinkets. Tourists can buy excellent Kashmiri handlooms and Pashmina shawls, antique copperware such as samovars, Namda hand-woven carpets, Ferins (native clothes), and pricey Doda Sapphire. Then there are the flowers, fruits, and vegetables offered on Dal Lake's shikaras. More than what you buy, it is how you buy that will delight you here.
Location: Ananag Sarnal Payeen , heritage, Ahmad Complex etc.
Timings: 8am to 7pm
Cost: At your own pace
8. Religious Retreats: Feel the Mighty Wonders of Divine
Visiting Amarnath Cave and Vaishno Devi Cave Temple is one of the most religious things to do in Jammu and Kashmir. The Amarnath Yatra is a pilgrimage to the ice stalagmite Shivalinga. Lord Shiva is claimed to have revealed the knowledge of life and eternity to Goddess Parvati. The pilgrimage is held throughout July and August. This 45-day Shravan Mela honours Shri Amarnath Ji.
A pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi is the Vaishno Devi Yatra. The temple is located on the Trikuta mountain, which has one base but three distinct peaks. Inside the cave, a similar structure can be seen. The three heads are claimed to represent those of Hindu goddesses Mata Kali, Mata Laxmi, and Mata Saraswati. This yatra, too, occurs during the months of July and August.
Location: Katra
Famous For: Religious offerings
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9. Gondola Cable Ride: Ride the Wires
Gulmarg Gondola is Asia's largest and highest cable car project, as well as the world's second largest and second-highest cable car project. In fact, a Gulmarg tour would be completed without a ride on the famed cable car. This must-do activity in Kashmir is ideal for families, loving couples, and adventurers looking to reach the peak of the mountain for the best skiing experience (in winter). The picturesque views of the mountains and valleys from the cable car are also unforgettable and unparalleled. The gondola can transport 6 passengers at a time and 600 passengers each hour.
Location: Gulmarg Gondola Cable Ride
Timings: 10am to 5pm
Cost: Starting from 700/-INR
10. Houseboat Stay: Let Your Soul Set on Sail
This is one of the best quirky things to do in Srinagar, and it is not just the shikhara rides on Dal Lake. Among the greatest things to do in Kashmir is spend a night on a houseboat anchored at the Dal Lake jetty. Whether you're a honeymooner, a family, or a solitary traveler, a night on one of Srinagar's houseboats is an experience you won't soon forget. Wi-Fi and airport transfers are available on the houseboats. You can also try the food services that they provide. If you are visiting Jammu and Kashmir with your family, a group of friends, or your partner, the houseboat stay facility is ideal.
Location: Dal Lake
Timings: 8am to 7pm
Cost: 1000/-INR
Isn't this area a slice of heaven on Earth? So, how can you afford to leave Kashmir off your list of places to visit? Plan a trip with Kashmir tour packages and get out there to encounter nature in person. Also, make sure you do all the things to do in Kashmir listed above so that when you return home, you have a piece of Kashmir with you. Why then what are you waiting for? Pack your bag, travel to this enchanted location, and allow Kashmir's beauty and allure to mesmerize you. Make lifelong memories by travelling to Kashmir!
FAQs
Winter (October to February, temperatures ranging from -2°C to 12°C) Winter in Jammu and Kashmir lasts from October to February. This is ideally Kashmir's best tourism season. This season in Kashmir, tourists can experience snowfall, Gondola rides, skiing, and a variety of other adventurous sports.
Kashmir, sometimes known as the "Paradise on Earth," is a tourist favorite due to its picturesque splendour, snow-capped mountains, abundant animals, stunning monuments, hospitable people, and indigenous people handicrafts.
A total of 4 days is plenty enough to explore Kashmir for adventure activities such as paragliding, snowboarding, trekking etc , Kashmir offer a plenty of activities to enjoy.
Shopping in Kashmir can be both enriching and thrilling. In its bustling and colorful markets, you can find items such as Pashmina shawls, dry fruits, paintings, spices, and other items found only in this region, making it a shopping enthusiast's dream.
Some of the thrilling activities that Kashmir offers are:
- Shikara Boat Ride
- Skiing and Snowboarding
- Camping
- Paragliding
- Shopping
- Gondola cable ride
Winter in Jammu and Kashmir begins in December with new snowfall and lasts until the end of March, with January being the coldest month. As a result, the winter season is the perfect time to visit Jammu and Kashmir for snowfall.
Some of the famous foods of Kashmir are Dum aloo, Shreemal, Modur pulao, The Kashmir Food Tour will take you on a culinary journey that is both diverse and wonderful to taste.
Kashmir has an incredible topography that includes fast flowing rivers, high altitude passes, spectacular mountain slopes, that allow for a variety of adventure activities such as trekking, skiing, paragliding, river rafting, mountaineering, and angling. Trying these incredible adventure activities in Kashmir provides you with the ultimate thrill and adrenaline rush.
