Kashmir has to be the queen of hilly states in India. It has perhaps the most versatile of sightseeing experiences, and all the fun activities to do in Kashmir only serve to make the memories more eventful. From temples to glaciers Kashmir has something for everyone. When we talk about the unique things to do in Kashmir in this article, we will be focusing on those experiences that can only happen in this one place out of all the millions of locations throughout the world! Kashmir is a mesmerizing location that has everything from grassy alpine meadows and pine forests to the barren lands of Ladakh and chilling waters of the Kashmir Great Lakes. So join us as we revisit Kashmir, as has rightfully been termed the ‘Heaven on earth‘.

There is no end to the many activities to do in Kashmir that both children and adults look forward to. Here are some of them.

Extraordinary Things To Do in Kashmir For The Perfect Vacation

1. Ride a Shikara in Dal Lake

Kashmir is famous for its rich culture and heritage, both of which the boating is a part. Shikara is a traditionally designed and embroidered boat with a characteristic shed on the top. Some Shikaras are completely covered. These boats are found on most important locations for sightseeing in Kashmir, although a fascinating thing about these boards is that they are mostly used in lakes and never on rivers. Riding Shikara on the most famous lakes of Kashmir – the Dal Lake, is surely on every travel enthusiast’s bucket list!

Entry fee: 300 to 500 INR per hour per person.

Opening and closing timings: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 1 to 2 hours

2. Explore the cuisine of Kashmir

among the many interesting things to do in Kashmir, perhaps the most gastronomically satisfying would be to explore the cuisine of this phenomenal place. Kashmir does not have a single traditional cuisine however since many different areas of Kashmir have their own specifications. The major cafes and restaurants in Kashmir are known to serve Kashmiri, Punjabi and Tibetan food to tourists. Most of the bigger hill stations of Kashmir do have Instagrammable cafes and heritage restaurants opened solely for the benefit of tourists.

Entry fee: no preliminary entry fee

Opening and closing timings: no official opening and closing timings

Time taken to visit: 1 hour

3. Shopping in Srinagar

who does not like to shop when out on a vacation to a relatively unknown cultural location? Shopping in Srinagar is extremely satisfying as there is no end to the handicrafts and shawls found in this city. You can easily carry souvenirs back home for yourself and your friends and family. Many heritage markets open on the streets of Srinagar either daily or weekly. Apart from the shawls of Srinagar, the characteristic dry fruits of Kashmir are also a famous buy. Shopping is definitely a popularly opted choice among all activities to do in Kashmir.

Entry fee: no preliminary entry fee

Opening and closing timings: 9:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours

4. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola

Gulmarg is a high altitude hilly location in Kashmir which has a wide variety of curated activities to do in Kashmir for all its tourists. The Gulmarg Gondola is a two phase cable car ride which is located alongside the skiing course which also operates on two different phases here. The Gulmarg Gondola is one of the most important things to do in Kashmir, because this is the highest cable car in the world. The ultimate location brings you face to face with some of the harshest climate and rugged mountain slopes  in the whole world.

Entry fee: 700 INR per person for the first phase and 920 INR per person for the second phase.

Opening and closing timings: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 3 hours

5. Skiing

Gulmarg, it is true, is famous for skiing. But what is not known to most tourists is that Kashmir itself is also considered a proper skiing destination for enthusiasts as there are unending snow sport activities to do in Kashmir. Many locations in Pahalgam and Patnitop also allow for seasonal skiing. The Gulmarg skiing locations are sometimes open throughout the year. Most of these places are kid friendly and beginner friendly – as a bonus they come with the breathtaking views of the Kashmiri vistas.

Entry fee: 740 INR per person for phase 1 and 1210 INR per person for phase 2.

Opening and closing timings: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 hours

6. Trekking to the Great Lakes

no trip to the mountains is complete without a phenomenal trekking experience. Kashmir has a number of great treks, the most famous of which is the Kashmir Great Lake treks, which takes approximately 7 days to complete. Because of the long nature of this journey and yet the relatively simple climb, trekking to the Great Lakes is a coveted tour for sightseeing in Kashmir. On this tour you will get a chance to appreciate several adventure sports like hiking, camping, paragliding etc.

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: 7 days

7. Pilgrimage trip to Amarnath

The journey starts when you enter Kashmir, and the final trip to the holi caves is taken from a base camp location near Pahalgam known as Panchtarni. The Amarnath cave is a famous pilgrimage location in Kashmir and visiting this naturally created shivlingam is one of the most important and spiritual things to do in Kashmir that you might want to commit to! It only takes one day from the beautiful little sleepy town of Panchtarni to reach the cave. You can spend the rest of the time here in the lap of nature and engage in activities like stargazing. 

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: entry possible from 5:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. after which entry closes

Time taken to visit: one day trip from Panchtarni.

8. Stay in a Houseboat

Many tourists who visit Srinagar also book for this exciting adventure! Houseboats are another characteristic feature of Kashmir, especially the city of Srinagar. Is our luxurious boat residences that let you stay in them for as long as you want. Most of these boat residences are famous for creating the most luxurious and traditional Kashmiri experience for the foreign tourists. Among all the other things to do in Kashmir. While staying in a houseboat, you can enjoy authentic Kashmiri food, home decor and the continuously changing view from your window.

Entry fee: 2000 INR per night minimum

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: try to experience the houseboat for a minimum of one or two days.

9. Paragliding

Who does not want to fly in the sky? Paragliding and related activities to do in Kashmir truly allows you to fly, and that too in a few of the most beautiful valleys in the world surrounded by Himalayan peaks that appear to be higher than the sky itself. There are many hill stations in Kashmir that offer paragliding to tourists. These include Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar and Patnitop. Contact your travel agent today to let them know in advance that you are planning to include paragliding in your trip!

Entry fee: 2700 INR per person

Opening and closing timings: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 15 minutes paragliding

10. White river rafting

Some of the biggest rivers in the world are located in Jammu and Kashmir. In this hilly terrain these rivers are young, and they rush full speed down steep slopes. This makes white river rafting not only possible but also recommended as one of the most thrilling things to do in Kashmir. While you are river rafting you get a chance to view the surrounding landscape from a completely new perspective and also get to explore the banks of these internationally known rivers. Therefore the river rafting experience also adds to another popular agenda – sightseeing in Kashmir.

Entry fee: 1800 INR to 3500 INR per person

Opening and closing timings: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 1 hour

11. Camping on the banks of river Indus

There is one river that is unanimously known as the mightiest river in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Many of the most devotional and spiritual of other tributaries come and join river Indus as it makes its way into Pakistan. When you are on a trip to Kashmir, make sure you are able to spend some time involved in the exciting sightseeing in Kashmir experience through the exploration of its water bodies. The Indus river usually flows through deep open valleys that are surrounded by refreshing grasslands and dense forests. There are many popular campsites and picnic spots along the banks of river Indus in Kashmir. 

Entry fee: around 2000 INR to 3000 INR for one night

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: minimum one day

12. Exploring the patriotic location of Kargil

Indians remember this place for the legendary war that we fought in the 1990s against Pakistani invasion. When you visit Kargil, you will have the opportunity to engage in one of the most adrenaline inducing activities to do in Kashmir – visit the Drass War Memorial and listen to the brave stories of martyrs who have given up their lives for the dignity of the Indian soil. Apart from this war Memorial however Kargil is an extremely peaceful place, dotted with uninhabited values and monasteries perched on arid hilltops. You will also be able to catch the glimpse of Tiger Hill when you are in Kargil!

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: no official opening and closing timings

Time taken to visit: 4 to 5 days

13. Stargazing in Kashmir

Who does not love a sparkling sky at night? The city of Leh has been turned into a mythical place by almost every exuberant traveler. The surrounding cold desert looks like the perfect place for the heavens to meet Earth. Many tourists come to this city to enjoy one of the most phenomenal things to do in Kashmir – which is stargazing. It is said that Ladakh has one of the clearest skies in India and spotting astronomical entities is possible in Ladakh like it is in no other location in the country. If you are planning to take your telescope along with you for a stargazing cum camping experience, contact your travel agent beforehand so that they can arrange for its safe journey!

Entry fee: no preliminary entry fee

Opening and closing timings: no official opening and closing timings

Time taken to visit: 8 to 9 days for the whole trip

14. Mughal Gardens of Srinagar and Anantnag

The heaven on earth is famous for the ornamental Mughal Gardens that emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan had built in this city centuries ago. Some of the most famous Mughal Gardens in Srinagar are the Chashmeshahi Gardens and the Shalimar Bagh. The regions around Southern Kashmir which include Anantnag, Achabal, Verinag and Kokernag also have their own sets of terrace gardens and Mughal Gardens most of which are meant to eclipse a fascinating, miraculous sulphurous water spring. An exploration of these Mughal Gardens is a must among all activities to do in Kashmir.

Entry fee: 20 INR to 25 INR depending on the place

Opening and closing timings: approximately from 9:00 a.m. in the morning to 5:00 p.m. in the evening. (Differs in each Mughal Garden)

Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours

15. Explore the city of Jammu

The winter capital city is complete in itself, and one cannot stress that enough. From heritage architectural spots for sightseeing in Kashmir to natural retreats that photographers and hikers will revel in – you can basically choose a trip to Jammu City to fulfill any and all of your expectations. When you are here don’t forget to visit the Bahu fort, Akhnoor fort, Vaishno Devi temple, Raghunath Temple, Bhairo Nath Temple, Shiv Khori and Mahamaya Temple. Luckily for religious tourists the list of revered temples in Jammu do not exhaust here! A natural alternative to these locations can be the Surinsar Lake or the Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary. If you get time, do visit Purmandal from Jammu.

Entry fee: no preliminary entry fee

Opening and closing timings: no official opening or closing timings

Time taken to visit: 10 to 11 days

16. Trek to Kolahoi Glacier

This high altitude Glacier trek is one of the best short term trekking journeys you can undertake in Kashmir. Why is going to the Kolahoi Glacier one of the finest things to do in Kashmir? For one, Kolahoi Glacier is a phenomenal geological structure that you may never see again – it is a vast body of slow moving ice surrounded by some of the highest Himalayan peaks. You will find the options to engage in many adventurous activities at this place and overnight camping is also an option. Secondly, the pathway that leads to this Glacier is breathtaking. You will feel like you have been transported to one of the most exotic locations in Europe when you travel through this place.

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: 7 days for the whole trek from Srinagar

17. Visit Aharbal Waterfall

Do you want to visit the Niagara falls of Kashmir? Aharbal Waterfall is a major attraction in southern Kashmir because of its forceful flow and aesthetic location. It is an open piece of land where the water is able to move freely and create the most goosebump-inducing ambience. There are shops nearby where you can purchase souvenirs and delicious local food. If you have not tried this before, try it now – eating a plate of hot Maggi in front of a cold dashing waterfall has its own separate fan base! Visiting the Aharbal Waterfall is definitely one of the best activities to do in Kashmir.

Entry fee: 25 INR per person

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours

18. Get lost in the alpine meadows of Pahalgam

Kashmir is unparalleled when it comes to alpine vegetation and gently rising valleys that capture the heart and soul of travelers from all around the world. Pahalgam is dotted with grooves and tiny forests of pine and deodar trees. Many lakes have found a place in its incredible, exotic landscape. Not only this, there are multiple aesthetic cafes to eat at and dusty roads to follow when you go on a once in a lifetime evening walk – with perfectly shaped, rugged snow covered mountain peaks bending down to watch over you. After all there is a reason that Pahalgam has been termed as the mini Switzerland of Kashmir! Aru Valley,Lidder meadow and Valley, Betaab Valley, apple maido and Valley etc are some of the best natural getaways for those who love mountainous terrains. 

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: no official opening or closing timings

Time taken to visit: minimum 2 to 3 hours at each meadow.

19. Fishing for trout

There is no end to the unique things to do in Kashmir that you can take part in other than simply sightseeing and photographing. Fishing is one such activity. Even if you had never taken fishing before, this is the time to approach it correctly! There are more than 20 local and exotic trout varieties that are today plentiful in Kashmir. They can be found in the Doodhpathri Valley, Kishanganga river, Lidder river, Gurez and Dachigam. Of these places you will find the government itself has made provisions for the sale and fishing of trout. The Fisheries Department of Jammu and Kashmir even offers a thrilling sport known as ‘Trout Angling’ that tourists can try their hands at while journeying through Northern Kashmir.

Entry fee: 1000 INR per day for trout angling

Opening and closing timings: no official opening and closing timings. Best time to fish for trout is between sunrise and 11:00 a.m. during the season of April to October.

Time taken to visit: minimum 3 hours

20. Experience Mount Harmukh and Wular Lake

The perfect trek does not exist – let us finally prove you wrong! Mount Harmukh is a mountain peak of highest religious importance among the Hindus and the  Buddhists, and is located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu Kashmir. Of course climbing to the top of Mount Harmukh is not possible; what is possible however is for you to make way to the Wular Lake – the second largest freshwater lake in Asia. The journey to this place will take you through untrodden pine forests, high altitude open lands were nothing but grass can grow, challenging rocky terrains and finally bring you face to face with the gently sloping shows of this tranquil lake. Mount Harmukh is situated between the Indus river which flows in the south and Kishanganga river which flows in the north of this mountain.

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: one day trip

21. Night Stay at a Wooden Cabin

Many of us are often fascinated by the unique traditional lifestyle of the places we visit as tourists. If you have always found the nomadic, shepherdian lifestyle of many small and big tribes and sects of Kashmir – you can get the perfect chance to experience the same by staying in a traditional wooden cabin made just for the convenience of national and international tourists. There are many such cabins operated by tourism departments and private owners which provide every imaginable luxury in a rustic and natural setting. Living in a wooden cabin is one of those lesser known activities to do in Kashmir that can add several stars to your already perfect vacation!

Entry fee: Prices start from 3000 INR per night

Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours

Time taken to visit: minimum one day

22. Walking into Dachigam National Park

Flora and fauna in the middle of a charming natural environment – that is exactly what this famous National Park located 22 km away from Srinagar is all about. Dachigam National Park is a relatively new establishment which was set up in 198 at the elevation of 14000 feet. It is the most scenic National Park you can possibly imagine and has multiple different landscapes so that every visitor has an experience of their favorite kind of Himalayan vegetation. Some animals you would be really entranced to spot here are the hangul, snow leopard, musk deer, Himalayan black bear and the leopard cat. 

Entry fee: 30 INR for tourists and 100 INR for camera

Opening and closing timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Time taken to visit: 4 to 5 hours

23. Visit Monasteries of Ladakh

That location where the barren terren of Ladakh gradually mixes into the large green valley of Kashmir is indeed beautiful. Such locations bring us close to the fascinating side of Kashmir which is so heavily inspired by Tibetan and Buddhist culture. This is why almost everyone considered visiting the Kashmiri monasteries as an essential aspect of sightseeing in Kashmir. Some of the most popular monasteries in Kashmir are Lamayuru Monastery, Spituk Monastery and Mulbekh Monastery. Most of these monasteries are more than 600 years old and have unknown pleasant secrets hidden inside the shrine premises.

Entry fee: no entry fee

Opening and closing timings: most monasteries stay open for 24 hours though some do have their respective timings.

Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours 

Frequently Asked Questions?

Conclusion

Kashmir travel packages are one of the most value for money packages out there for any trip or vacation. Coming to Kashmir makes one feel like they are travelling to the ends of the world to experience a culture and secrets of life like never before. From the high paced, adrenaline-inducing activities like hiking and paragliding to the peaceful and soulful vegetations to monasteries in distant parts of the state, Kashmir will always reach beyond your expectations!