Best Glamping Spots Near Srinagar for a Night Under the Stars

I still remember the first time I pitched a tent on the outskirts of Srinagar, back in the autumn of 2017, when the chinar leaves were turning that impossible shade of rust you only see in Kashmir. That night changed how I thought about camping forever. Since then, I have chased the idea of sleeping under open skies across the Kashmir Valley, testing every setup from rudimentary canvas to fully furnished dome tents with hardwood floors. The search for the best glamping spots near Srinagar has taken me to lakesides, apple orchards, pine forests, and mountain clearings, and I can tell you that the options available today would have been unthinkable a decade ago. This directory is the result of years of trial, error, wrong turns, and the occasional discovery of something extraordinary that made every failed attempt worthwhile.

Overview of Glamping in Srinagar

Glamping in Srinagar sits at an unusual crossroads. You have a city whose identity is defined by water, gardens, and houseboats, now embracing a form of travel that is fundamentally about dry land and open sky. The shift started slowly around 2016, when a few operators in Gulmarg and Pahalgam began importing geodesic domes and bell tents from manufacturers in Delhi and Jaipur. By 2023, dedicated glamping operations had spread to Sonamarg, Daksum, and even the outskirts of Srinagar proper. What makes this city different from other glamping destinations in India is the backdrop. You are not staring at a generic hillside. You are looking at snow-dusted Pir Panjal peaks with the Jhelum River winding through the valley floor, and the scent of pine resin mixing with wood smoke from a campfire. The best glamping spots near Srinagar understand this advantage and orient every tent, every deck chair, and every dining table toward the view. Luxury camping Srinagar has evolved beyond just "tent with a bed." Operators now offer private bonfire pits, Kashmiri wazwan under the stars, guided midnight walks to nearby streams, and sometimes even a shikara pickup from the lakeside city center. But quality varies enormously, and a glossy Instagram photo can hide thin mattresses, unreliable hot water, or a location chosen for Instagram appeal rather than actual stargazing conditions. I have personally checked in, slept over, eaten the meals, and sometimes walked out early. What follows is the honest, on-the-ground assessment of specific places, complete with what to order, when to arrive, and what they do not put on their websites.

Glamping at Pahalgam: Meadow Edge Camping

1. Pahalgam Aru Valley Glamping

I visited Aru Valley in late September 2024, and the light was doing that thing it does in Kashmir in autumn, turning the meadow grass into sheets of hammered gold. Aru Valley sits about 12 kilometers from Pahalgam town center, along the road that leads toward the Betaab Valley. Several operators set up luxury dome tents here during the summer and early autumn months, typically from May through October, though exact dates shift annually based on snowfall and local conditions.

The area known locally as Liddarwat is where most of the established camp operators have pitched their semi-permanent structures. The dome tents here are not the cheap, thin-walled festival type. I found insulated canvas domes on raised wooden platforms, each with a proper bed, a small sitting area with floor cushions, and an attached bathroom with running water. One property I tested had battery-powered lanterns strung along the pathway connecting the guest tents to the dining tent, which sat on an elevated wooden deck at the valley's edge. From there, I could see the Liddar River glinting below while eating a dinner of rista and gushtaba prepared by a local cook who had been working in Pahalgam kitchens for over twenty years.

The connection to Srinagar's broader landscape is direct. Pahalgam has been the gateway to the Amarnath Yatra for decades, and the meadows of Aru have served as pastureland for Bakarwal herders for centuries. When you glamp here, you are sleeping on land that carries layers of movement and migration. The stargazing is decent, though not the cleanest I have experienced in the Valley. There is some ambient glow from Pahalgam town on clear nights. For better visibility, walk about ten minutes downstream from the tent platforms to a natural clearing where the river bends and the tree line opens up. On a moonless night in September, I counted visible satellites crossing overhead while lying on the grass with no artificial light for dozens of kilometers around.

Weekday arrivals work best here. Weekends in summer bring domestic tourists from Jammu and other parts of India, and the camp operators shift to group-oriented programming with music and bonfires that can last until 11 p.m., which kills the stargazing. I arrived on a Tuesday and had the entire meadow to myself by 9 p.m.

The one serious complaint I have about dome tent Srinagar-adjacent setups like those in Aru Valley is the cold. Even in September, nighttime temperatures dropped to around 4 degrees Celsius, and the electric blankets provided in the tent could not keep up once they were switched off. Bring thermal layers. There is no point pretending otherwise.

Local Insider Tip: Ask the camp manager specifically for a tent on the western edge of the platform cluster. The eastern-side tents nearest the kitchen have a view of the service path where staff move around with flashlights, breaking the darkness.

Glamping in Daksum and Sindh Valley

2. Daksum Pine Forest Glamping

Daksum is perhaps the most overlooked place for glamping in all of Kashmir, and that is saying something in a region full of overlooked places. The road from Anantnag to Daksum winds through dense deodar and pine forest for almost the entire 30-kilometer stretch, and the valley opens suddenly into a wide meadow backed by a sheer cliff face thick with old-growth trees. I stayed at a small operation here in March 2023, when the snow had just begun to retreat and the camp was one of the first to reopen for the season.

The setup included six large bell tents arranged in a crescent along the edge of the Sokh River. Each tent had a double bed, a gas heater (absolutely necessary in early spring), and a small veranda with two cane chairs. The dining area was a communal tent with a wood-burning stove at the center, and the cook, a man from the nearby village of Sogam, made a version of kahwa tea with saffron and crushed almonds that I have never been able to replicate. He also prepared a simple but extraordinary dish of local greens with mustard oil and dried ginger that he said his grandmother used to make when the family would camp in these same meadows during summer grazing trips.

What makes Daksum special for glamping is the silence. I do not mean the relative quiet of a rural area. I mean a near-total absence of human-made sound. No traffic, no construction, no distant music. The only noise was the river and the wind moving through the pines. For stargazing, this is one of the best locations I have found in the Kashmir Valley. The tree canopy frames the sky naturally, creating a kind of amphitheater effect, and the lack of light pollution means the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on any clear night.

The connection to Srinagar's history is less obvious here but still present. Daksum lies on an old route that connected the Kashmir Valley to the Kishtwar region through the Sindh Valley. Traders, shepherds, and pilgrims have moved through this corridor for centuries. The meadows where the tents now stand were historically used as overnight stops by caravans traveling with horses and mules.

The practical downside is access. The road from Srinagar to Daksum takes about three hours and includes several narrow sections where a single vehicle must yield to oncoming traffic. In winter and early spring, snow can close the road entirely. Check conditions before committing. I got stuck for an extra day once because of an unexpected late-season snowfall, and while the camp staff were incredibly hospitable, the food supplies were limited.

Local Insider Tip: Bring your own saffron or ask the cook to use the local variety rather than the commercial packets. The difference in the kahwa is dramatic, and the local saffron is far superior.

Glamping at Sonamarg: The Gateway to Alpine Meadows

3. Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier Base Camp

Sonamarg, the "Meadow of Gold," has been a base camp for treks to Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, and the Great Lakes for decades. In recent years, a few operators have set up semi-permanent glamping operations near the Thajiwas Glacier, about 3 kilometers from the Sonamarg market area along the road toward the glacier. I visited in July 2023 and found a cluster of four large dome tents on a wooden platform overlooking the main meadow, with the glacier visible as a white smear against the dark rock face above.

The tents here were the most comfortable I encountered in any glamping setup in Kashmir. One property had proper mattresses with memory foam toppers, cotton sheets (not the synthetic ones you find in cheaper operations), and a portable gas heater that actually worked. The attached bathroom had a bucket bath system with hot water prepared on demand, which meant you had to give the staff about thirty minutes' notice before you wanted to bathe. The dining tent served a mix of Kashmiri and North Indian food, and the dal makhani was surprisingly good, slow-cooked overnight and served at breakfast with fresh naan.

The best time to arrive is mid-afternoon, around 3 or 4 p.m., so you can watch the light change on the glacier as the sun moves behind the peaks. By 6 p.m., the temperature drops fast, and the meadow goes from warm and bright to cold and shadowed within an hour. This is when the bonfire gets lit, and the camp staff bring out blankets and kangris (traditional fire pots) for guests who want to sit outside. The stargazing from Sonamarg is excellent. At an elevation of about 2,730 meters, the air is thinner and clearer than in Srinagar, and the glacier reflects starlight in a way that gives the whole meadow a faint, ghostly glow.

Sonamarg's connection to Srinagar is primarily as a transit point. Most tourists drive through on their way to Ladakh or stop for a few hours before turning back. The glamping operations here are trying to change that by giving people a reason to stay overnight, and they are succeeding. The meadow has a history as summer pasture for Gujar and Bakarwal herders, and you can still see the stone huts they used as shelters scattered across the landscape above the tree line.

One thing to know: the road from Srinagar to Sonamarg passes through the Zoji La tunnel approach area, and during peak tourist season, traffic jams of up to an hour are common near the tunnel entrance. Plan your departure from Srinagar accordingly. I left at 6 a.m. and made it in under two hours. Friends who left at 9 a.m. took nearly four.

Local Insider Tip: Ask the camp manager to point you toward the small shepherd's hut about 200 meters above the camp platform. The path is not marked, but the staff know it. The view of the glacier from that elevation is significantly better than from the tents.

Glaming at Gulmarg: High-Altitude Dome Experiences

4. Gulmarg Tangmarg Road Glamping

Gulmarg is the most established tourist destination near Srinagar, and it has the widest range of glamping options. The stretch of road between Tangmarg and Gulmarg, which climbs through dense forest for about 12 kilometers, hosts several small glamping operations that are easy to miss if you are driving too fast. I stayed at one in October 2023, set back from the road in a clearing surrounded by towering deodar trees.

The camp had three large bell tents and two smaller dome tents, all on raised stone platforms. The bell tents were the more impressive option, with high ceilings, a wood-burning stove, and a large window panel that could be rolled up to reveal the forest. The dome tents were smaller but better insulated, with double-layered canvas and a small electric heater. I chose the bell tent for the first night and switched to the dome for the second, and I would recommend the dome if you are visiting in autumn or winter. The bell tent's stove took a long time to heat the space, and the high ceiling meant the warm air rose well above the sleeping area.

The food here was basic but well-prepared. The cook made a version of yakhni (a yogurt-based mutton curry) that was lighter and more refined than what I have had in Srinagar restaurants, and the rice was the local short-grain variety that absorbs saffron beautifully. Breakfast included fresh bread from a bakery in Tangmarg and local honey from a supplier in the Drung area.

Gulmarg's glamping scene connects to the region's history as a royal retreat. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir used Gulmarg as a summer capital, and the area around the present-day golf course was reserved for royal hunting expeditions. The forest where these camps operate was historically part of the royal preserve, and the deodar trees are some of the oldest in the region, some estimated at over 300 years.

The stargazing from the Tangmarg road camps is limited by the tree cover. You need to walk to a clearing, and the nearest reliable one is about a fifteen-minute walk uphill from the camp. The view from there is spectacular, with the lights of Tangmarg visible far below and the peaks of the Pir Panjal range silhouetted against the sky.

Service can be inconsistent during the peak winter season, when Gulmarg fills with ski tourists. I visited in October, which is the shoulder season, and had no problems. But a friend who came in January reported that the camp was understaffed and the hot water supply was unreliable.

Local Insider Tip: If you are driving from Srinagar, stop at the small dhaba on the Tangmarg side of the road, about 3 kilometers before the main Tangmarg market. They make a version of noon chai (pink tea) with fresh milk and a hint of baking soda that is the best I have had on this road. Take a cup to go and drink it when you arrive at camp.

Glamping at Manasbal Lake: The Quiet Alternative

5. Manasbal Lakeside Glamping

Manasbal Lake sits about 30 kilometers from Srinagar city center, on the road toward Ganderbal. It is the deepest lake in the Kashmir Valley, and it receives a fraction of the visitors that Dal Lake attracts. This relative obscurity is what makes it ideal for glamping. I visited a small lakeside camp here in August 2023, and I was the only guest for two of the three nights I stayed.

The camp was set up on the eastern shore of the lake, on a flat grassy area about 50 meters from the waterline. There were four large bell tents arranged in a line parallel to the shore, each with a private veranda facing the lake. The tents had proper beds, a small table, and a floor lamp powered by a solar battery system. The shared bathroom was a permanent structure with running water and a Western-style toilet, which was a pleasant surprise given the remote location.

The lake itself is the main attraction. Manasbal is known for its lotus flowers, which bloom in July and August, and from the tent veranda, I could see patches of pink and white blooms floating on the surface. The water is clear enough to see the bottom in the shallows, and the surrounding hills are covered in willow and poplar trees. In the evening, the lake becomes perfectly still, and the reflection of the mountains and sky creates a mirror effect that is almost disorienting.

The stargazing from Manasbal is very good. The lake surface reflects starlight, and the lack of nearby settlements means minimal light pollution. I sat on the veranda until well past midnight, watching the stars multiply as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. The only sound was the occasional splash of a fish and the distant call of a night bird.

Manasbal has a historical connection to Srinagar that most visitors miss. The lake was a favorite of the Mughal emperors, and there are remains of a small garden on the northern shore that was reportedly built during the reign of Shah Jahan. The garden is overgrown now, but the terraced layout is still visible, and the view from the upper terrace is one of the best in the Valley.

The main drawback of glamping at Manasbal is the mosquitoes. In summer, they are aggressive and persistent, and the camp's mosquito nets, while provided, had several holes. Bring your own repellent and check the net carefully before settling in for the night.

Local Insider Tip: Ask the camp staff to arrange a boat ride at dawn. The lake is at its most beautiful between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., when the mist rises off the surface and the lotus flowers are just opening. The camp has a small rowboat that they will lend to guests if you ask the night before.

Glamping at Yusmarg: The Hidden Meadow

6. Yusmarg Pine Clearing Glamping

Yusmarg, the "Meadow of Jesus," is about 53 kilometers from Srinagar, and it remains one of the least developed tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley. The road from Srinagar passes through the Charar-e-Sharief area and climbs through pine and fir forest to reach the meadow at an elevation of about 2,380 meters. I visited a small glamping setup here in June 2023, and the experience was unlike anything else I have had in Kashmir.

The camp was located in a natural clearing about 500 meters from the main meadow, surrounded by towering pine trees. There were only three tents, all large bell tents on wooden platforms, arranged around a central fire pit. The tents were basic but clean, with foam mattresses, wool blankets, and a small gas heater. The bathroom was a permanent structure with a bucket bath and cold water only (hot water was available on request in a bucket). The dining area was a simple canopy with a table and chairs, and the cook prepared meals over a wood fire.

What makes Yusmarg special is the meadow itself. It is a wide, gently sloping grassland surrounded by dense forest, and in June, it is covered in wildflowers. I spent an entire afternoon walking through the meadow, and I did not see another person. The silence is profound, and the air has a quality I can only describe as "thick with green." The pine scent is so strong it is almost a physical presence.

The stargazing from Yusmarg is among the best I have experienced anywhere in India. The elevation, the lack of light pollution, and the clear mountain air combine to create conditions that rival professional observatories. I lay on the meadow grass for over two hours, watching the Milky Way arc overhead, and I could see the Andromeda Galaxy with my naked eye. The camp staff told me that on certain nights in autumn, when the air is driest, the visibility is even better.

Yusmarg's connection to Srinagar is primarily through the Sufi saint who gave the meadow its name. A small shrine in the area is associated with a Christian saint who is said to have visited during the Mughal period, and the meadow has been a place of spiritual significance for people of multiple faiths for centuries. The glamping camp is located on land that was historically used as summer pasture by local shepherds, and the clearing where the tents stand was once a gathering point for herders before they moved their flocks to higher pastures.

The practical challenge with Yusmarg is the road. The last 15 kilometers from the main Srinagar-Gulmarg road are on a narrow, unpaved track that can be difficult to navigate in rain or snow. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, and I would not attempt it in a standard sedan. I hired a local driver from the Charar-e-Sharief area who knew the road well, and even he had to slow down to a crawl in several places.

Local Insider Tip: Bring a pair of binoculars. The pine forest around the meadow is home to several species of woodpeckers and flycatchers that are rarely seen elsewhere in the Valley, and the early morning hours, between 5:30 and 7 a.m., are the best time to spot them.

Glamping at Doodhpathri: The Valley of Milk

7. Doodhpathri Streamside Glamping

Doodhpathri, about 42 kilometers from Srinagar, gets its name from the milky appearance of the stream that runs through the valley. The water picks up limestone particles from the surrounding rocks, giving it a pale, almost luminous quality. I visited a glamping operation here in May 2024, set up along the stream bank about 2 kilometers from the main Doodhpathri parking area.

The camp had five dome tents arranged in a semicircle around a central fire pit, with the stream running about 20 meters from the nearest tent. The dome tents were well-constructed, with insulated canvas floors, proper beds with cotton sheets, and a small sitting area with floor cushions. Each tent had a battery-powered lantern and a portable gas heater. The shared bathroom was a semi-permanent structure with running water and a Western-style toilet.

The stream is the defining feature of this location. The sound of running water is constant, and it creates a kind of white noise that makes sleep incredibly deep. I slept for nine hours the first night, which is unusual for me in any accommodation. The water is cold enough to be refreshing for a quick dip in the afternoon, but I would not recommend it for more than a few minutes, even in summer.

The food at the Doodhpathri camp was simple but satisfying. The cook made a version of Kashmiri pulao with dried apricots and walnuts that was fragrant and not overly sweet, and the accompanying raita was made with local yogurt and fresh mint. Breakfast included eggs, bread, and the inevitable kahwa tea, which I have come to consider a non-negotiable part of any Kashmiri glamping experience.

Doodhpathri's connection to Srinagar is through the Budgam district, which has historically been one of the most politically and culturally significant areas of the Kashmir Valley. The valley itself was relatively unknown to tourists until about a decade ago, when improved road access and social media exposure brought it onto the tourist map. The glamping operations here are still small-scale and family-run, which gives them a personal quality that larger operations in Gulmarg or Pahalgam sometimes lack.

The stargazing from Doodhpathri is good but not exceptional. The valley walls block a portion of the sky, and the stream mist can create a slight haze on humid nights. For the best experience, walk upstream from the camp for about ten minutes to a wider section of the valley where the sky opens up. I found a flat rock near the water's edge that made an excellent observation point.

One thing to be aware of: the stream can rise quickly after rain, and the camp's location, while above the normal waterline, is not immune to flooding during heavy downpours. I visited during a dry period, but the camp manager showed me water marks on the rocks from a flash flood the previous summer. Ask about weather conditions before booking.

Local Insider Tip: The limestone particles in the stream water give it a slight mineral sweetness that is genuinely pleasant to drink. Bring a water bottle and fill it directly from the stream upstream of the camp. It tastes better than any bottled water I have had in Kashmir.

Glamping at Gurez: The Remote Frontier

8. Gurez Valley Kishansar Lake Base Camp

Gurez Valley is about 140 kilometers from Srinagar, and it is the most remote glamping destination covered in this guide. The road passes through the Razdan Pass at an elevation of about 3,556 meters, and the valley itself is one of the most isolated inhabited areas in the Kashmir region. I visited a small glamping operation near Kishansar Lake in September 2023, and the journey alone was worth the trip.

The camp was set up on a flat area about 300 meters from the lake shore, with a view of the water and the surrounding peaks. There were four large bell tents, each with a double bed, a wood-burning stove, and a small table. The tents were well-maintained, and the staff had clearly been trained to a higher standard than at some of the more remote operations I have visited. The dining tent served a mix of Kashmiri and Dardic food, reflecting the cultural blend of the Gurez Valley, where Kashmiri-speaking and Shina-speaking communities live side by side.

The cook made a version of a local dish called "gaba," a slow-cooked wheat and mutton preparation that I have not encountered anywhere else in Kashmir. It was dense, rich, and deeply satisfying after a day of hiking around the lake. The accompanying bread was made from local wheat flour and cooked on a griddle over the fire, and it had a nutty flavor that was unlike any bread I have had in Srinagar.

Kishansar Lake is the main attraction, and it is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. The water is a deep, clear blue, and the surrounding peaks are covered in birch and willow trees that turn gold and red in autumn. I spent an entire day walking around the lake, and I saw fewer than ten other people. The silence is absolute, and the sense of isolation is both exhilarating and slightly unnerving if you are not accustomed to it.

The stargazing from Gurez is, without exaggeration, the best I have experienced in the Kashmir Valley. The combination of high elevation (the lake is at about 3,710 meters), extreme remoteness, and dry mountain air creates conditions that are close to ideal. I could see the Milky Way in extraordinary detail, with visible dust lanes and star clusters that I have never been able to see from lower elevations. I also saw several meteors during a two-hour observation session, including one that left a visible trail for several seconds.

Gurez Valley's connection to Srinagar is through the ancient trade route that connected Kashmir to Central Asia through the Burzil Pass. The valley was a key stop on this route for centuries, and the cultural influences of Central Asia are still visible in the architecture, language, and food of the region. The glamping camp is located on land that was historically used as a staging point for caravans crossing the pass, and the staff told me that old stone markers used by traders can still be found in the hills above the lake.

The practical challenges of glamping in Gurez are significant. The road from Srinagar takes six to seven hours, and the Razdan Pass can be closed by snow from November to April. There is no mobile phone coverage in most of the valley, and the camp's satellite phone is for emergencies only. The nearest medical facility is a small clinic in the Gurez town center, about 15 kilometers from the camp. This is not a destination for anyone who needs reliable connectivity or quick access to medical care.

Local Insider Tip: If you are driving from Srinagar, stop at the small market in the town of Bandipora, about halfway through the journey, to buy local walnuts and dried apricots. The prices are significantly lower than in Srinagar, and the quality is better because the produce comes directly from Gurez and surrounding areas.

When to Go and What to Know

The glamping season in the Kashmir Valley runs roughly from April through October, with the best conditions for stargazing in September and October, when the monsoon has cleared the air and the nights are cold but not yet freezing. July and August are the warmest months but also the most crowded and the most likely to have rain, which can obscure the stars and make roads difficult. Winter glamping is possible in a few locations, primarily in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, but it requires specialized equipment and a tolerance for extreme cold that most casual visitors do not have.

Booking directly with the camp operators rather than through aggregators will get you better rates and more flexibility. Most camps in the Valley do not appear on major booking platforms, and the ones that do often charge a significant markup. Ask your hotel in Srinagar for a phone number, or contact the local tourism office in Pahalgam, Gulmarg, or Sonamarg for current operator information. The scene changes rapidly, with new camps opening and closing each season based on permits, weather, and market conditions.

Bring layers. Even in summer, nighttime temperatures in the mountains around Srinagar can drop to single digits Celsius. A good sleeping bag rated to 0 degrees Celsius is a worthwhile investment if you plan to glamp regularly. A headlamp with a red light mode is essential for navigating camp at night without ruining your night vision for stargazing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Srinagar without feeling rushed?

A minimum of three full days is required to cover Dal Lake, the Mughal Gardens (Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chasm Shahi), the old city areas around Jama Masjid and Maharaj Gunj, and a half-day trip to the Dachigam National Park or Hazratbal Shrine. Adding a day trip to Gulmarg or Sonamarg brings the total to four or five days, which allows a comfortable pace without early morning departures every single day.

Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Srinagar, or is local transport necessary?

Walking is feasible within the old city, where Jama Masjid, Maharaj Gunj, and the surrounding markets are within a 1.5-kilometer radius. However, the Mughal Gardens are spread across distances of 3 to 5 kilometers from the city center, and Dal Lake's shoreline is too long to walk in a single outing. Auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, and app-based cabs are necessary for most movement between attractions.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Srinagar as a solo traveler?

Pre-paid auto-rickshaws arranged through your hotel or a registered counter at the tourist reception center are the most reliable option. App-based services operate in Srinagar but can have surge pricing and inconsistent availability in areas like the old city. Hiring a private car with a driver for the day, which costs between 1,500 and 2,500 rupees depending on distance, is the most comfortable and safest choice for solo travelers, especially after dark.

What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Srinagar that are genuinely worth the visit?

The area around Hazratbal Shrine is free to visit and offers a quieter lakeside experience than the main Dal Lake tourist zone. The Shankaracharya Temple, reached by a short climb of about 50 steps, provides a panoramic view of the entire valley and has no entry fee. The old city's Khanqah-e-Moula, a 14th-century mosque on the Jhelum River, is free to enter and is one of the finest examples of Kashmiri wooden architecture. Walking the perimeter of the old city along the Jhelum, from Habba Kadal to Fateh Kadal, costs nothing and reveals a side of Srinagar that most tourists never see.

Do the most popular attractions in Srinagar require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?

The Mughal Gardens charge an entry fee of 15 to 50 rupees per garden and do not require advance booking, though queues of 30 to 60 minutes can form at Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh during April and October peak periods. Dal Lake shikara rides are arranged on the spot at the Shikara Ghat near Dal Gate, with standard rates set by the tourism department. Gulmarg's gondola ride, which is the most popular paid attraction near Srinagar, does require advance booking during peak season, with tickets selling out by 9 a.m. on busy days.