Srinagar sits at the heart of the valley, and most of its highlights — Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens, the old city and the great shrines — are within a few kilometres of each other. The mountain resorts radiate from it: Gulmarg to the west, Pahalgam to the south-east and Sonamarg to the north-east, each about two to three hours’ drive away. Each place below has its own guide with what to do, how to get there and which tours include it.
Things to See in the Kashmir Valley
Twelve places that turn a Srinagar break into a proper journey through the valley.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines 
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines Mughal Gardens
Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi & Pari Mahal
Four seventeenth-century imperial gardens on the slopes above Dal Lake: terraces, water channels, fountains and chinar trees laid out for Jahangir, Shah Jahan and their court. Together they are the finest Persian-style gardens in India.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines Tulip Garden
Asia’s largest tulip garden, for a few weeks in spring
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, below the Zabarwan hills, bursts into colour with well over a million tulips for roughly three to four weeks from late March. It is one of India’s most photographed spring sights.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines Srinagar Old City
Wooden mosques, river bridges and old bazaars
Downtown Srinagar along the Jhelum is where the city’s soul lives: the vast wooden Jamia Masjid, the carved and painted Khanqah of Shah-e-Hamadan, Hari Parbat fort, old bridges and bazaars full of spice, copper and bakeries.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines Hazratbal Shrine
The white-marble shrine on the shore of Dal Lake
Kashmir’s most revered Muslim shrine, a gleaming white mosque with a dome and minaret on the north-western shore of Dal Lake. It houses a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad and draws huge crowds on holy days.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens & shrines Shankaracharya Temple
An ancient Shiva temple high above the city
A stone Shiva temple crowning the Shankaracharya hill (Takht-e-Sulaiman), about 300 m above Srinagar. The climb up the final flight of steps rewards you with the best panorama in the city: Dal Lake, the houseboats and the old town at your feet.
The great mountain resorts
The great mountain resorts Gulmarg
The meadow of flowers — and India’s ski capital
A vast, cup-shaped meadow at around 2,650 m, ringed by fir forest under Mount Apharwat. In summer it is green and full of wildflowers and pony rides; in winter it becomes India’s best-known ski resort, served by one of the highest cable cars in the world.
The great mountain resorts 
The great mountain resorts Betaab & Aru Valleys
Two postcard valleys above Pahalgam
Short drives above Pahalgam, Betaab Valley is a green bowl of meadow and river named after the Bollywood film shot there, while Aru is a quieter shepherd village at the head of its own valley — the start of treks to Kolahoi glacier and Tarsar lake.
The great mountain resorts Quieter meadows
Quieter meadows Doodhpathri
The valley of milk
A wide, rolling meadow of pine and fir in Budgam district, around two hours from Srinagar, crossed by the foaming Shaliganga stream. Much less developed than Gulmarg or Pahalgam — perfect for a quiet picnic day.
Quieter meadows A sensible seven-day plan: Days 1–2, Srinagar — a shikara ride, the Mughal gardens, Shankaracharya hill and the old city, with a night on a houseboat. Day 3, a day trip to Sonamarg. Days 4–5, Pahalgam, with Betaab Valley and Aru. Day 6, Gulmarg and the gondola. Day 7, back to Srinagar for shopping and the floating market before your flight.
Visiting in April? Build your Srinagar days around the Tulip Garden. Want quieter meadows? Swap a resort for Doodhpathri or Yusmarg.
Plan your valley escape
See the Kashmir Valley the easy way
Dal Lake at sunrise, the Mughal gardens, the Gulmarg gondola and the pine valleys of Pahalgam — with local guides who know the roads, the rules and the best time of day for each place. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.