Kashmir Complete Guide 2026: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Dal Lake Houseboats and Mughal Gardens
Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations Kashmir Complete Guide 2026: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Dal Lake Houseboats and Mughal Gardens I have spent more weeks in Kashmir than in any other Indian region outside my home state, and every visit pulls me back to the same answer when friends ask if the place lives up to its reputation. It does. The valley is greener than photographs suggest, the people warmer than headlines admit, the food heavier than appetite predicts. This guide pulls together what I have learned across multiple trips between Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Jammu, with practical numbers for 2026 travellers. TL;DR Kashmir is the northernmost union territory of India, with Srinagar serving as the summer capital from May to October and Jammu taking over as the winter capital from November to April. I plan five days minimum for a first trip, eight days for a relaxed loop, and twelve days if I want to add Jammu and the Vaishno Devi pilgri...