Spend a few memorable days of your summer vacation in early or late May by going on a quick trip to Paradise On Earth. During the month of May, you can explore several enchanting destinations on a budget, or plan a getaway that realizes all your dreams of luxury! All popular places to visit in Kashmir in May are crowned with flower beds, consistent golden sunlight, mesmerizing species of birds and rodents as well as impossible alpine locations that slowly become accessible with the melting of snow. The months of May and June are popular tourist months in Kashmir, especially for couples and families that are looking for a lazy and rejuvenating visit to the most beautiful part of the Himalayas.
Weather Conditions in Kashmir in May!!
Kashmir in May is a predominantly dry month – neither snow nor rain grace the valley during this time. The climate is pleasant and the temperature is just between 14°C to 30°C. The sky is mostly clear with white fluffy clouds. Pine forests look fresh and dewy, but flower beds are mostly only found in untouched alpine and subalpine locations.
Sparkling Tourist Destinations in Kashmir in May
1. Srinagar
The winter capital of Kashmir is pretty crowded in May, but the festivities are definitely worth it! New restaurants and cafes open up for food lovers on every budget, and Zaina Kadal Road comes alive with a new season of local handicrafts and designer goods. The weather is beautiful for Shikara riding on Dal Lake and Wular Lake with the help of a great tourist guide, you can pre-book your stay at a houseboat too! The famous Mughal Gardens, Chashme Shahi Bagh and Shalimar Bagh are covered with unique herbs, flowers and spices during this time of the year. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Pari Mahal and Shankaracharya Hill are a few of the most important places to visit in Kashmir in May.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 7 to 9 days
2. Gulmarg
The hill station itself isn’t second to any other when it comes to natural, Himalayan beauty, but what makes it even better is the seasonal activities that tourists can enjoy throughout their stay. For those who looking Places to visit in Kashmir in May, Gulmarg Valley is the top location for floral and botanical discoveries. Skiing activities are open in the summer months, and if you ride the Gulmarg Gondola right to the top, you can even spot some quality snow! May is also the perfect time to visit the Drung Waterfall. Tourists can access the region without any road blockage, but the waterfall itself still stays mostly frozen and highly picturesque! The traditional wooden cottages and alpine meadows of Gulmarg must not be missed by any mountain lover.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 7 to 9 days
3. Sonmarg
All places in and around the hill station become accessible in the summer season. Sonmarg is home to some of the best tourist places to visit in Kashmir in May, including offbeat lakes and glaciers! The Vishansar Lake, Gadsar Lake, Satsar Lake and Krishansar Lake can all be visited individually or in a single route starting from Sonmarg. In April and early May, you will see a rocky terrain covered with sparse areas of snow, mossy grasslands and half-frozen lakes. By early June, all roots to Thajiwas Glacier and ZojiLa Pass open up. The father of the valley, Nilagrad River, flows through low altitudes with a magical summer and high altitudes of boulders, dry snow and pine forests. Sonmarg is an even better option than Gulmarg or Pahalgam if you want to come by adventure sports with hiking and trekking!
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 7 to 9 days
4. Bhaderwah
This misty, poetic addition to the top list of tourist places to visit in Kashmir in May has been given the title of Mini Kashmir. The top heritage attraction of Bhadarwah is the medieval Bhaderwah Fort, still retaining somewhat of its past regal glory. This town is perfect for long walks, picnics and nature photography. If you go to the outskirts of the town you can even spend some time bird watching or stargazing! Above this town lies the Seoj Meadow, a perfect place for local animal herds to graze in the month of May. Alternatively, you can visit the Jai and Chinta Valley downhill. The gushing energetic Chenab River gives this popular religious site its ideal climate, forest cover and fresh source of water.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
5. Aru Valley
This Valley is the ultimate destination for adventure lovers – and the real fun only begins in the month of May! Aru is a tiny tourist village in Kashmir and surrounded by gorgeous, towering mountain peaks on all sides and provides a suitable location for tourists to camp near the pristine Lidder River. All you can stay in the traditional wooden Kashmiri houses and experience the local traditions from a close angle! It is one of the top locations for paragliding and white river rafting in Kashmir in May. This time of the year is also suitable for a short trip to Kolahoi Glacier via Chandanwari. You can combine your trip to Aru with Pahalgam for the most optimal experience during your Kashmir Tour.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 6 to 7 days
6. Anantnag
Do you want your summer trip to be sunny, breezy and full of greenery? Anantnag is the most beautiful and offers many Places To Visit in Kashmir in May because of the lovely waterfalls, thick subalpine forests and relaxing hot water springs. During the reign of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the Mughal Gardens of Kokernag, Verinag and Achabal were built to increase the mesmerizing beauty of these natural water bodies. The Kashmiri Mughal Gardens look beautiful throughout the year – but may bring a different kind of surprise in the form of new flowers, leaves and herbs. The clear blue, fluffy sky invites photographers and social media influencers from all over India to this part of Kashmir.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
7. Pulwama
Among all the places to visit in Kashmir in May, Pulwama is the wealthiest in terms of good cuisine and relaxing homestays. Spend time in worship and celebrations at the many religious places to visit in Kashmir in May – Avantiswami Temple, Avantishwar Temple, Hundur Monastery, Jama Masjid Shopian, Payer Temple etc. You will be able to get a first-hand experience of rice and saffron cultivation if you visit in the second half of May. Great quality milk and dairy can also be enjoyed and purchased at Pulwama and the quality of this produce isn’t comparable to any other across India! Balance out your cultural stay with a few hours of unconditioned peace in the forests of Aharbal.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
8. Jammu
From the beginning of Summer in Kashmir, Jammu is a popular name among the tourist places to visit in Kashmir in May becoming the number one location of devotees from all over India. There are many places to visit in Katra like Vaishno Devi Mandir, Gauri Mata Mandir, Bhairavnath Temple, Mahamaya Temple and Shiv Khori, the city is also popular for other cultural experiences like Dogra Art (in the form of the Dogra Art Museum) local deities (Bawey Mata Temple) and delectable cuisines (dum aloo and rogan josh) and Katra Tourist Places offers a unique blend of spirituality and culture.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
9. Katra
In the month of May Katra is very different from the Central Kashmir Valley, and this variation can be all the more fascinating in this nearby temple town. It is said that the dry, climate of May is the best time to visit Vaishno Devi Man. The nearby temples of Bhairavnath and Gauri Mandir also make for amazing visits during the summer months, especially on ponies and palanquins. Katra is one of the best spots for woodwork and woolwork shopping in Kashmir.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
10. Patnitop
The months of May and June are considered the best for a visit to Patnitop – especially if you are looking for a relaxing cultural experience. It is a hill station located upon a Meadow overlooking a virgin Valley. It used to be a tiny hamlet which has today grown to be a modern tourist city. Two additional tourist places to visit in Kashmir in May from Patnitop are Nathatop and Madhatop, both towns welcoming visitors with stunning natural sights, delectable local snacks of patnitop and open locations for camping and hiking. Patnitop is slowly becoming a new location for paragliding, skiing and white river rafting in Kashmir! Local monuments that you can visit include the Baglihar Dam, Naag Mandir and Sudh Mahadev temple.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
Famous Treks in Kashmir in May
11. Tulian Lake Trek
This trekking journey is hands down one of the most rewarding Lake Summit Trek in Kashmir in May. It is a moderately difficult trek that covers the highest altitude of 12087 ft. Most of the journey goes through dense pine, deodar and fir forests. This silent, open valley with frequent showers and passing clouds makes the journey unimaginable. Nearing the lake, however, you will notice high-altitude meadows, pastures surrounded by boulders and the crested tops of snow-capped vistas of Zanskar and Pir Panjal ranges. In early May, Tulian Lake is partially frozen but still suitable for camping, stargazing and trout fishing activities. If you don’t want to walk, you can also take a pony or a horse up to the summit.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 5 to 6 days
12. Alpather Lake Trek
There are two natural wonders near Gulmarg that most avid travellers covet. One of them is the untouched Alpather Lake and the other is the snow covered Apharwat Mountain Peak. The good news is, both of these are accessible from Gulmarg. However, travellers need special permits to get this close to the Indian National border! The rocky meadow surrounding the lake at the top is covered with blotches of red and pink flowers, as well as green and yellow moss. This journey takes you pretty close to the top of the Apharwat peak – the mix of frozen water, snow-covered boulders with fresh summer shrubbery makes this a wonderful location for sightseeing in Kashmir in May.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 days
13. Mahadev Trek
In the second half of May, a short and moderately difficult trek to the Mahadev summit of the Zabarwan Range opens up for climbers and trekkers. This trek follows the same path as the Tarsar and Marsar Lakes Trek, and you will be able to visit both these heavenly water bodies on your way. With a total distance of only 20 km, the pathway also goes through enchanting and peaceful river banks, welcoming traditional villages and some stunning views of glaciers, waterfalls and streams. The Mahadev Trek is an underrated weekend climb in Kashmir in May both for local travellers as well as International ones. After all, the panoramic, stunning view at the top is definitely worth any challenges encountered in the journey.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 1 to 1.5 days
14. Marchoi Trek
Another breathtaking destination for trekking and sightseeing in Kashmir in May! The Marchoi Summit and Glacier is a rare journey that takes 4 days to complete and goes through some of the most picture perfect locations of the central Kashmir Valley. The journey starts from the sparkling trekking village of Naranag and progresses towards Dumail Wild crossing dangerous roads, colourful meadows and gushing streams. The journey covers an altitude of 2200 m to 3200 m! If you want to spend some time in valleys still mostly undiscovered by tourists, Salnai Valley will be a once in a lifetime experience! Along with Marchoi Peak, you will also catch clear views of Gadsar Peak and Harmukh Peak.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 4 days
15. Leh
The Capital City of Ladakh stands testimony to the glorious, spiritual past of Tibetan Buddhism and Ladakhi Kingdoms of the past. Hall Of Fame, Thiksey Monastery and Alchi Monastery can be visited within a few hours from your homestay. Ladakh is one of the chosen tourist places to visit in Kashmir in May for bikers and backpackers due to the crystal clear, stunning beauties of Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and Khardung La Pass. The banks of Indus and Zanskar look out of the world in Ladakh summers.
Entry fee: No Entry cost
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 7 to 9 days
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. A perfect summer trip can be easily enjoyed by travellers of all ages as long as they follow a few simple guidelines. Carry a few warm clothes and water-resistant boots with a good undergrip. It is a good time for adventurous sports but make sure you carry a medical certificate and are in the best health. Always have extra cash with yourself. Hydrate your body as much as possible.
A. Yes, travellers do need light woollen clothes when visiting Kashmir in May. Everyone is advised to wear at least one or two layers of woollen clothing during this month.
A. It usually does not snow in Gulmarg in May. However, in the recent past, some surprising snowfalls have been recorded. These events are mysterious and cannot be predicted beforehand.
Conclusion
The Best Group travel packages for Kashmir are full of exciting surprises, challenging detours and some harmless accidents. It is the most fun when travellers choose their own destinations and create a customized itinerary while availing all the benefits of a discounted package! Is this exactly what you are dreaming for your next vacation? Contact TRISOJ to get a concrete idea of current prices and how to get the best deals!
