Kashmir and Ladakh India Complete Guide 2026: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Leh
Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations Kashmir and Ladakh India Complete Guide 2026: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Leh TL;DR I will frontload the advisory because it is the single most important thing to read before you plan a trip to Kashmir or Ladakh. On August 5, 2019, the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the constitution, which had granted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir a special autonomous status. The state was then reorganized into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Since then the region has operated with a visible security presence, intermittent connectivity restrictions in earlier years, and a steady normalization of tourism that accelerated from 2022 onwards. Record visitor numbers landed in 2024 and 2025, with Indian and foreign travelers returning in large volumes. I still tell every reader to check the US State Department India advisory (Level 2, with specific guidance to reconsider travel to Jammu and Kashmir),...