Srinagar, India: travel guide
Dal Lake houseboats, Mughal gardens and floating vegetable markets
Kashmir's summer capital of Dal Lake houseboats, Mughal gardens, and the floating market — the jewel of the Himalayas.
About Srinagar
Srinagar lies on the Jhelum River and around the still waters of Dal Lake, in the Kashmir valley, with mountains rising on every horizon. Wooden houseboats and shikara boats are the signature of the city.
Things to do in Srinagar include a shikara ride past floating gardens and the early morning vegetable market, a visit to the Mughal gardens, and a walk through the old city to the Makhdoom Sahib shrine. Nigeen Lake is quieter than Dal, and Manasbal Lake and Yusmarg lie within reach of a day trip.
Spring brings tulips and blossoms, summer is cool, and autumn turns the chinar trees gold. It suits couples and slow travellers.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- SXR
Last updated
Top places to visit in Srinagar
Dal Lake
lake · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Srinagar's shimmering centrepiece, famed for its houseboats, floating gardens and vegetable markets, best experienced on a gentle shikara ride at dawn or dusk.
Nishat Bagh
mughal-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The "Garden of Joy", a grand terraced Mughal garden of 1633 on the eastern shore of Dal Lake, with fountains, chinar trees and Zabarwan mountain backdrops.
Shalimar Bagh
mughal-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest and most famous Mughal garden, built by Jahangir for Nur Jahan in 1619, with four rising terraces, pavilions and chinar-lined water channels.
Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden
flower-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹200
Asia's largest tulip garden on the Zabarwan foothills, bursting with over a million blooms across terraces for a few spectacular weeks each spring (late March-April).
Hazratbal Shrine
shrine · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Kashmir's holiest Muslim shrine on the western shore of Dal Lake, a gleaming white-marble mosque enshrining a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad.
Chashme Shahi
mughal-garden · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The smallest but prettiest Mughal garden, built around a natural spring in 1632, with terraced lawns and sweeping views over Dal Lake.
Shankaracharya Temple
temple · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
An ancient hilltop Shiva temple on Shankaracharya Hill, reached by a long stair climb, offering 360-degree panoramas over Srinagar and Dal Lake.
Lal Chowk & Old City Bazaars
bazaar · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Srinagar's commercial heart and the old-city bazaars, the place to shop for Pashmina shawls, walnut-wood carving, saffron, dried fruit and Kashmiri handicrafts.
Jamia Masjid Srinagar
mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A vast and serene 14th-century mosque in the old city, notable for its Indo-Saracenic architecture and 378 deodar-wood pillars around a peaceful courtyard.
Nigeen Lake
lake · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A quieter, cleaner offshoot of Dal Lake ringed by willows and houseboats — a peaceful alternative for shikara rides and tranquil stays.
Pari Mahal
garden-ruins · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A terraced 17th-century garden and former Sufi school built by Dara Shikoh on a spur above Chashme Shahi, with arched ruins and stellar Dal Lake views.
Hari Parbat Fort
hill-fort · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
An 18th-century Afghan fort crowning Hari Parbat hill, ringed by a Mughal wall and revered Hindu, Muslim and Sikh shrines, with commanding city views.
Things to do
- Dal Lake Shikara Ride Leisure · 1.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Gulmarg Gondola Day Trip Adventure · 10 h · from INR 4,000 per person
- Pahalgam Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from INR 4,500 per person
- Kashmiri Wazwan Cooking Experience Cooking Class · 3.5 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Sonamarg Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from INR 4,500 per person
- Mughal Gardens Tour Sightseeing Tour · 4 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Nigeen Lake Kayaking Water Sports · 1.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Old City & Shrines Heritage Walk Walking Tour · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Gulmarg Gondola Day Trip 10 h · from INR 4,000
- Pahalgam Valley Day Trip 10 h · from INR 4,500
- Srinagar City & Mughal Gardens Day 8 h · from INR 2,200
Where to stay in Srinagar
- Dal Lake about INR 5,000 per night
Houseboats and lakeside accommodations with scenic views
- Downtown about INR 3,000 per night
Main shopping and commercial area with mid-range hotels
Hotels
- Sukoon Houseboat 4-star · INR 9,000 to INR 20,000 per night
- Butt's Clermont Houseboats 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 12,000 per night
- The Lalit Grand Palace Srinagar 5-star · INR 14,000 to INR 28,000 per night
- Vivanta Dal View 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 per night
- WelcomHeritage Gurkha Houseboats 4-star · INR 7,000 to INR 15,000 per night
- Pasadona Super Deluxe Houseboat 3-star · INR 2,300 to INR 3,200 per night
Where to eat
- Ahdoos Kashmiri, Mughlai, North Indian · about INR 800 per person
- Mughal Darbar Kashmiri, Mughlai, North Indian · about INR 850 per person
- Krishna Vaishno Dhaba North Indian, Vegetarian, Punjabi · about INR 350 per person
- Cafe Liberte Cafe, Continental, Bakery · about INR 550 per person
- Lhasa Restaurant Tibetan, Chinese, Kashmiri · about INR 600 per person
- Shamyana Restaurant Kashmiri, Mughlai, Chinese · about INR 700 per person
- Winterfell Cafe Continental, Cafe, Fast Food · about INR 500 per person
- Kong Posh Restaurant Kashmiri, North Indian · about INR 650 per person
Getting to Srinagar
Airport: Srinagar (SXR)
Getting around
- Shared Taxi
- Taxi
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.
More in India
Frequently asked questions about Srinagar
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Srinagar?
- The highest-rated places in our Srinagar guide are Dal Lake, Hazratbal Shrine, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden.
- Where should I stay in Srinagar?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Srinagar: Dal Lake, Downtown.
- How do I get around Srinagar?
- Ways to get around Srinagar covered in our guide: Shared taxi, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Srinagar?
- Scams reported to us for Srinagar include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Srinagar?
- The nearest airport to Srinagar has the code SXR.