Kashmir in five days — Srinagar's lake and gardens, the Gulmarg gondola, and Pahalgam's valleys

Two of the great gardens on the lake's eastern shore, then the water itself in the evening.

1. 09:30

   Shalimar Bagh

   monument · 17 min from Srinagar · about 1 h 15 min there

   The garden Jahangir made into a royal garden in 1619, at the north-east of the lake.
2. ↓ 5 min by road · 3 km
   11:30

   Nishat Bagh

   monument · 14 min from Srinagar · about 1 h 15 min there

   The terraced garden of 1633 between the lake and the Zabarwan Range.
3. ↓ 17 min by road · 12 km
   16:00

   Dal Lake

   lake · 12 min from Srinagar · about 2 h there

   The evening on the water in a shikara, past the houseboats and the floating gardens. We have no verified fares; agree the price before you set out.

The temple on the hill, the Friday mosque, and the fort above the city.

1. 09:00

   Shankaracharya Temple

   temple · 14 min from Srinagar · about 1 h 30 min there

   The Shiva temple on the Zabarwan hill above the city, a centrally protected monument, with the view over the lake.
2. ↓ 17 min by road · 10 km
   11:30

   Jama Masjid Srinagar

   temple · 5 min from Srinagar · about 45 min there

   The Friday mosque of the old city, begun in 1394. Dress modestly and ask before entering.
3. ↓ 3 min by road · 1 km
   14:00

   Hari Parbat Fort

   fort · 8 min from Srinagar · about 1 h there

   The fort on the hill above the old city, built in 1808 on walls begun under Akbar.

About an hour from Srinagar by road; the gondola and the meadow church.

1. 10:00

   Gulmarg Gondola

   viewpoint · about 3 h there

   The two-stage cable car up the shoulder of Apharwat. It stops in bad weather, so go early and be ready for a closure.
2. ↓ 9 min by road · 4 km
   14:30

   St Mary's Church

   temple · 1 h 1 min from Srinagar · 13 min walk from the road · about 30 min there

   The grey stone church of 1902 on the meadow.

A long road day back through Srinagar to the Lidder valley, with the evening by the river.

1. 15:00

   Mamaleshwar Temple

   temple · 1 h 23 min from Srinagar · about 30 min there

   The small, old Shiva temple above Pahalgam, a short walk from the town.
2. ↓ 2 min by road · 1 km
   16:30

   Lidder Valley

   viewpoint · 1 h 22 min from Srinagar · about 1 h there

   The river and the valley below the town, for an evening walk.

The meadow village up the West Lidder, then back to Srinagar for the night or the flight.

1. 09:30

   Aru

   town · about 2 h there

   The meadow village up the West Lidder valley, below the snow peaks.