Srinagar
City of Lakes and Mughal Gardens
Overview
Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, set at about 1,585 metres on the Jhelum river and the shores of Dal and Nigeen lakes. It is famed for its cedar-wood houseboats and shikara canoes, the Mughal pleasure gardens of Shalimar Bagh (1619) and Nishat Bagh (1633), the Hazratbal shrine, and the old city's Jamia Masjid. In spring the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, among Asia's largest, blooms below the Zabarwan hills. MyTripMyTravel operates Srinagar as a chauffeured lake-and-garden mission: a private shikara at first light, the Mughal gardens, and a heritage houseboat night.
Srinagar is built around water. The Jhelum threads through its old quarters and spills into Dal and Nigeen lakes, where wooden houseboats sit moored against the Zabarwan hills and long-prowed shikaras glide between floating gardens and a dawn vegetable market. The houseboats themselves are a colonial inheritance, when the Dogra rulers forbade outsiders from owning land, the British simply built their homes on the water instead.
Above the lakes, the Mughal emperors laid out terraced pleasure gardens fed by hill springs, Shalimar Bagh, commissioned by Jahangir in 1619, and Nishat Bagh, built by Asaf Khan in 1633, still climb in ordered tiers of chinar, fountain, and flowerbed. In the old city, the wooden Jamia Masjid and the white marble Hazratbal shrine anchor a dense weave of lanes, while the Shankaracharya temple and Pari Mahal look down from the ridges.
MyTripMyTravel runs Srinagar as an unhurried, chauffeured circuit of the valley's set pieces. A private shikara before the crowds, the Mughal gardens read with a guide, the old city walked rather than lost in, and a night on a well-appointed houseboat or a lakeside hotel. Because Kashmir's situation can shift, our planners track current advisories and hold the itinerary flexible.
At a glance
Srinagar in brief
When to visit
April to October
April to October is the classic window. Spring brings the tulip garden and blossom (late March to April), summer is mild and green, and autumn (late September to November) turns the chinars gold, many travellers' favourite season. Winter (December to February) is cold, often snowbound, and atmospheric but limits some sightseeing, while morning fog can occasionally delay flights, which our planners buffer. Kashmir's security situation can change, so we track current advisories and keep the plan adaptable.
Things to do
Experiences in Srinagar
Sunrise shikara on Dal Lake
A private early canoe among the floating gardens, houseboats, and the dawn vegetable market, the essential Srinagar experience.
Mughal gardens circuit
The terraced pleasure gardens of Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi, laid out by the Mughals against the Zabarwan hills.
Old city and Jamia Masjid
An escorted walk through the wooden lanes of the old town, taking in the great Friday mosque and its papier-mache and shawl workshops.
Hazratbal shrine
The white marble mosque on the Dal's northern shore that holds a relic revered by Kashmiri Muslims, visited with respect.
Tulip Garden (seasonal)
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden below the Zabarwan range, among Asia's largest, blooming for a few weeks in early spring.
Wazwan tasting
A guided introduction to Kashmir's ceremonial multi-course feast, rogan josh, gushtaba, and rista, in a heritage setting.
Getting there
How to reach Srinagar
Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (SXR), about 12 km from the lakes, has broad domestic service and select international flights; we manage the fleet handover.
A new all-weather rail link now connects the Kashmir Valley to the national network via Banihal, with onward service toward Katra and beyond; we handle station transfers.
The Srinagar to Jammu highway (NH44, ≈ 270 km) is the main overland artery; weather and landslides can cause delays, which our planners buffer.
Our GPS-tracked, orthopedic-grade vehicles handle airport, garden, and old-city transfers, with a chauffeur staged around the shikara and walking legs.
Where to stay
Carved cedar-wood houseboats on Dal and the quieter Nigeen lake, with lake-facing verandahs and full board.
Full-service lakeside and garden-view hotels with spa wings, set back from the shikara ghats for calm.
Design-led stays blending Kashmiri craft with modern comfort, near the gardens or the Zabarwan foothills.
Where to eat
Kashmir's ceremonial banquet of slow-cooked meats, rogan josh, gushtaba, rista, and tabak maaz, served with a guide's context.
Saffron-and-almond kahwa tea with breads such as girda and bakarkhani from the old city's tandoor bakeries.
The valley's refined meat-free tradition, haak greens, nadru (lotus stem), and dum aloo, in a heritage-hotel setting.
Good to know
Srinagar, your questions
What is the best thing to do in Srinagar?
A private shikara ride on Dal Lake at sunrise is the defining experience, ideally paired with the Mughal gardens and a night on a heritage houseboat. Our missions time the boat before the crowds and handle the ghat logistics.
When do the tulips bloom in Srinagar?
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opens for only a few weeks, typically late March to mid-April, depending on the season. It overlaps beautifully with spring blossom, and our planners track the bloom to time the visit.
Are houseboats worth staying on?
Yes, a night on a carved cedar-wood houseboat is a distinctive Srinagar experience, quietest on Nigeen lake. We select well-maintained, full-board boats and can split the stay with a lakeside hotel for variety.
Is it safe to travel to Srinagar?
Kashmir is a beautiful destination whose security situation can change, so we monitor current government advisories, keep itineraries flexible, and use trusted local ground handling. We will always advise honestly on timing.
How many nights should I spend in Srinagar?
Two to three nights is ideal, enough for the lake, the Mughal gardens, the old city, and a Wazwan meal, with the option to add Gulmarg, Pahalgam, or Sonamarg as day trips or onward stages.
Plan with us
Design a private journey through Srinagar.
Tell us your dates and what you love. Our travel desk builds a private, chauffeured itinerary around Srinagar and the wider North India, with handpicked hotels and a transparent quote, usually within a few hours.
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