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Kashmir Itinerary for 7 Days: Best Places to Visit

It is a very late post. I visited Kashmir with my husband and it was our first trip together. It is well known that Kashmir is Paradise on earth surrounded by the Himalayas and there are so many beautiful places in Kashmir. I want to show you why it is called paradise. In this post, I am covering the Kashmir itinerary for 7 days with Best Places to Visit in Kashmir. for first-timer.

We traveled by train to Jammu and from there we took a road trip. We had booked Cab and hotels in advance.

Day-1 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Arrival in Jammu and Heading towards Srinagar.

on the first day of our Roadtrip Kashmir itinerary, we arrived at Jammu railway station in the early morning, and reached the taxi stand where a pre-booked cab was waiting for us.

We booked a taxi through the agent in Delhi. The driving distance from Jammu to Srinagar is 250-260 Km. I recommend starting early as roads are curvy and due to landslides, there are possibilities of heavy traffic.

Kashmir one week itinerary

Try Rajama Chaval (Kidney Beans dish with Rice) at one of the Dhaba on the highway.

places to eat on the way to Srinagar

We reached Srinagar after 7-8 hours with some quick stops at Patnitop and at some viewpoints on the way. After reaching Srinagar, checked into the hotel and we slept early on that day due to the long journey on the road.

Also Read: Guide to Kedarnath and Badrinath

Day-2 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Day trip to Sonmarg

There are so many places to visit around Srinagar on a day trip. On day-2 of 7 days Kashmir trip, we proceeded to Sonmarg which means “Meadow of Gold” with a backdrop of snowy mountains against a cerulean sky.

The place received its name because of the fact that during the spring season, it is enveloped with beautiful flowers that look golden. In late April when Sonmarg is open for road transport, the visitors can have access to snow which is furnished all over like a white carpet.

Best Places to visit in Kashmir Sonmarg

The main attraction is Thajiwas Glacier resting at the foot of Sonmarg Glacier. The Glacier remains snow-covered throughout the year. One can reach by Pony or on a walk.

Gulmarg- famous places to visit in kashmir

It is like a short trek to reach here, but it is doable by walking. We reached here and were awe-stricken with the beauty of the place. The great joy was having Maggie at the mountain. After spending a day on the top we got down and headed back to Srinagar in the evening.

must visit destinations in Kashmir

Day-3 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Visit to Gulmarg

Today Driver Bhaiya drove to Gulmarg. Gulmarg is a town and popular hill station and ski destination located in the Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is situated in the Pirpanjal range in the western Himalayas. It is also the ‘heartland of winter sports in India’.

On the way to Gulmarg, you can see apple and cherry trees all the way. We visited one of the apple and cherry Gardens and purchased the cherries. The route to Gulmarg is picturesque.

summer season in Kashmir

There are many attractions in Gulmarg including Gulmarg Gondola. It is one of the highest in the world measuring 3,979 meters from sea level. At stage 1 of the Gondola at Aphrawat, you can enjoy endless snow. But here there was some twist between the two of us.

We enjoyed the snow in Sonmarg and we decided not to go for a Gondola ride and we opted to visit Khalinmarg. Gulmarg is the Best Place to visit in Kashmir during summer and winter.

top things to do in Gulmarg

Khalinmarg is a valley located 5 km from Gulmarg covered with nature’s beauty and splendor. Khalinmarg gives panoramic views of the majestic Himalayan peaks.

Khalinmarg is carpeted with fragrant and blossoming flowers with greenery all around in spring and becomes a ski run destination for its visitors in winter. It is a 1.5 hr trek or can reach by Pony. I and my husband were not ready to go by Pony, but also we were unable to go by foot so hired a pony to reach there.

On the way, we stopped halfway and ate delicious Kashmiri Pulav at one of the dhabas and clicked some photos on the way. After reaching here, we just sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the weather, the beauty, and everything it has to offer. Tourists were busy playing with the snow but for us, beauty was to be with nature.

Gulmarg Gondola Ride-best things to do in Kashmir

It was a wonderful day and retired for the day at Srinagar.

Day-4 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Srinagar Local Sightseeing

From our 7 days trip to Kashmir, on the 4th day, we did Srinagar Local sightseeing. we started the day by seeking blessings at Hazrat Bal Shrine. It is located on the left bank of the famous Dal lake. It is famous among Muslims but all the community people go here to seek blessings. It is a very calm and serene place near Dal lake.

After that, we headed to visit the famous Mughal Gardens of Kashmir. We visited Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chasme Shahi, and botanical gardens till noon. All the gardens are nearby.

Srinagar famous tourist places
Places to visit in Srinagar

After lunch at one of the restaurants near Dal Lake, we headed to visit Shankaracharya temple on the hilltop. Temple is located upstairs at 1000 ft above the plain. You can view the entire Srinagar from the top of the hill.

After the whole day of sightseeing, in the evening our driver left us on the bank of Dal lake for reaching to Houseboat. After checking into the houseboat we opted  Shikara ride for 2 hours. It is a must-do activity if you are in Srinagar.

Kashmir tourist Places

We also explored the floating market of Dal Lake, and knew about the life of people who lives in the houseboat. As the sun was at dusk, we retired for the day with an amazing sunset at Dal Lake. You can take Srinagar Local Sightseeing tour Package by Taxi Or auto from the town.

Sunset over Dal Lake

Day-5 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Srinagar to Pahalgam

There are so many beautiful places to visit near Srinagar, and Pahalgam is one of them. On this day, we checked out from the houseboat and started towards Pahalgam.

On the way we pit stopped first for shopping of dry fruits and then visited Mattan sun temple; well known for its lovely Shiva Lingam, surrounded by clear blue water on all sides. We reached Pahalgam by noon. One can visit the saffron fields of Palampore; it was not the season time, so we couldn’t visit it.

Pahalgam Places to visit Near Srinagar

Pahalgam is located at a height of 7200 ft popularly known as the ‘Valley of Shepherds’. It is a scenic hill station in Kashmir where many Bollywood movies have been shot. Perched at the intersection of the Lidder River and the Sheshnag Lake, Pahalgam is encompassed by thickly lush pine backwoods, stunning vistas of knolls, and the snow-clad Himalayan Mountains.

We pit-stopped for photography at Lidder River and then Checked into the hotel, we took lunch at the famous Dana Pani restaurant and headed for Places to visit in Pahalgam. Our first stop was – Baisaran.

7 days Kashmir itinerary

Baisaran is often dubbed as ‘Mini Switzerland’ because of its long dark meadows and dense pine forest that gives the green carpet look to the meadow and provides a contrasting hue to the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains.

It is a major tourist place to visit in Pahalgam, a voyage to the meadow is truly a treat for the senses. The entry ticket is INR 10 per person. We sit on the grass and enjoyed the beauty around us.

Kashmir top places to visit

Day-6 of  Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Visit Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari

Our morning started with the walk along the Lidder river as our hotel was located just on the bank of the Lidder river. Pahalgam is surrounded by so many walnut tree gardens. It was the month of June and all the trees were loaded with green walnuts. Walnut harvesting season is Sep-Oct.

Also Read : Top things to do in Manali,Himachal Pradesh

On this day opted Pahalgam sightseeing trip that gave us varying sights from snow-clad white regions to green-filled meadows and rocky terrains to dense forests.

It is possible only by hiring taxis available locally. While private vehicles can ply to these destinations without any restrictions, taxis coming from other parts of the state like Srinagar are not allowed to ply to these viewpoints.

Pahalgam near srinagar places to visit

Our first stop was Aru valley near Pahalgam. It is very famous for trekking and camping activities. This valley is at a height of 8,000 feet and provides wonderful scenery all around.  The drive through Aru valley is itself quite enjoyable and a traveler’s delight.

places to visit in Pahalgam

The next stop was Betaab valley. The original name for this valley was Hajan Valley and is at a distance of 15 kilometers from Pahalgam. A Hindi film by the name “Betaab” was shot mostly in this valley and the valley is now known as “Betaab Valley”.  

It is a beautiful valley with a background of mountains and a long valley through which a river flows. A beautiful park is created along the river. When the days are bright and sunny, a whole day can be spent in the park to enjoy the scenery and flowing waters of the river.

After some snaps here and resting for a while, we headed to our last point Chandanwari.

The last stop on the route was Chandanwari. It is the starting point for the “Amarnath Yatra”, Chandanwari is at a distance of 16 Kilometers from Pahalgam and at a height of 9,500 feet.

The short journey from Pahalgam to Chandanwari itself is quite enjoyable, Lidder river flows on one side of the road, and mountains with green vegetation provide the setting on the other side. There are innumerable streams flowing down from the snow-clad peaks. Just stop for sightseeing and enjoy the scenery.

You can see the melting snow of the glacier converting into a stream and flowing downwards.

After returning from sightseeing we took lunch at Dana Pani restaurant and passed our evening time at the bank of the Lidder river. A touch of water only gives you so much healing to the body. Overall, we loved Pahalgam very much as it has mountains, rivers, a clear sky, and beautiful weather.

Day-7 Kashmir Itinerary: Pahalgam to Jammu and Train to Homebound

This was the last day to be back home with beautiful memories of the Kashmir trip. This was just a perfect 7 days Kashmir trip Plan to experience the best of Kashmir Valley.

Will always cherish it for a lifetime.

How to Reach:

By air: Fly to Srinagar airport [15 km away] which is well connected via all major Indian cities.

By Train: The nearest railhead is Jammu is located within the city and is known as Jammu Tawi. This railhead is linked to most Indian cities.

Where to Stay:

Kashmir is a budget destination. You can stay at homestays, budget hotels, or at luxury resorts as per your choice. I recommend staying at Houseboat on Dal Lake for 1-2 nights, it is a fabulous experience.

Getting around

Taxis are available at reasonable rates at Taxi stand in Jammu and Srinagar.No needs to book a taxi in advance through a travel agent. You can get it as and when required. Also, autos are available for local sightseeing in Srinagar.

Travel Tips

  • Entry fees for the Gardens are Rs.20 Per Person.
  • There are 245-250 steps leading up to the temple area of Shankaracharya temple. Entrance to the hill is guarded by army personnel and cars are not permitted after 17:00 hours, although the temple remains open until 20:00 hours. Camera, Mobile phones, purses, etc not allowed.
  • In Pahalgam, you are required to hire taxis of Pahalgam taxi passing for sightseeing, and rates are fixed.
  • If you are good at health, there is no need for Pony hire, you can trek for 2-3 hours and can reach khalinmarg and Baisaran valley.

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Kashmir 7 days itinerary india

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3 Comments

  1. This is one of the best places to visit, And about a week an ago I have one guy on Facebook has shared the videos of Beautiful Kashmir and how Media Mis Interpreting people about the Kashmir valley that nothing left to see in Kashmir, All thanks to you guys where we can see the Beautiful visuals of Kashmir and I would Love to visit it one day and Explore the Kashmir, Scenic beauty and I heard from my friend who is my colleague from Kashmir you must taste the home food. Anyway, thank you for sharing such a beautiful post with great visuals.

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