Best Things to Do in Jammu & Kashmir

Kashmir provides numerous sightseeing opportunities for visiting tourists, with its local handicrafts, sceneries that are unparalleled in the world for their beauty, historical and religious places of interest, and many other interesting things. Learn about the top 10 things you can do here to make the most of your trip to Kashmir.

Kashmir, situated in the north-western part of India, is a state that is loved and visited by tourists from all over the country and even abroad. The place boasts of stunning scenic attractions, excellent places of interest, including religious and historical spots, mouthwatering dishes, amazing handicrafts, and numerous fun activities to take part in. If you are planning to visit the place anytime soon, you can check the top 10 things to do in Kashmir enumerated here.

Go Capturing Photographs!

• Kashmir offers stunning landscapes for photography.
• Popular spots include Dal Lake and Gulmarg.
• Ideal for capturing wildlife, mountains, and local life.
• Local guides help find the best photography locations.
• Ask for permission before photographing religious sites.

If you are a budding photographer, Kashmir will undoubtedly provide a range of opportunities for you. You can click photos of various sceneries and places of interest in Kashmir for your own personal collection. For a decent price, you may also sell some of these to newspapers, magazines, or websites back home. You may even use them to spice up a travel blog that you might have. Make sure, however, that you keep a local guide who can inform you about which places to capture with your lens. Local people may not like some religious places to be clicked. Offending sensibilities may land you in trouble.

Explore the Wildlife!

• Home to 500+ bird species, including migratory birds.
• Dal Lake and Pari Lake are birdwatching hotspots.
• Other wildlife includes marmots, yaks, and wild boars.
• Unique animals like the Himalayan tahr can be spotted.
• Visit Gharana and Surinsar for wildlife sightings.

The wildlife of Kashmir presents a sight to behold! You can find many birds visiting Dal and Pari Lakes. Eastern Ladakh, Gharana, and Surinsar are frequented by many birds. Apart from 500 varieties of birds, you can also find marmots, wild boars, jackals, sharpu, bharal, tahr, serow, nilgai antelope, Tibetan antelope, and the yak, among many other varieties of wild animals.

Take a Bike Ride

• Rent a bike to explore Kashmir’s beauty.
• Popular routes include Srinagar to Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
• Ideal for adventure and offbeat travel.
• Biking gives you a close look at local culture.
• It’s an eco-friendly way to travel.

You can rent a bike and set off on a road trip to see these things and make a stop now and then to enjoy the beauty of nature up close. A bike ride can be a great idea if you love to go off the beaten track.

Visit the Monasteries

• Visit Alchi, Thiksey, and Hemis monasteries.
• Explore ancient Buddhist art and architecture.
• Dress modestly and seek photo permission.
• Perfect for peaceful meditation.
• Many monasteries offer scenic views.

The local monasteries are something that you should not miss. The Alchi, Thiksey, Hemis, and Cave monasteries are some of the most renowned ones in Jammu and Kashmir. While visiting them, take care to dress appropriately and take permission from the monks before clicking photos. Do not smoke, drink, or talk loudly inside the monasteries. Women should take permission before entering the prayer rooms.

Indulge in Window-Shopping

• Shop for handicrafts, carpets, and shawls at Dal Lake.
• Enjoy shopping from a Shikara boat.
• Bargaining is common in markets.
• Popular items include Pashmina shawls and saffron.
• A unique and scenic shopping experience.

The floating market in Dal Market presents tourists with the unique opportunity to window shop for items like handicrafts, apparel, carpets, shawls, and many other things. If you are a shopaholic, you will love to buy from the floating market while taking a ride in a Shikara (boat).

Engage in a Snowball Fight!

• Winter months bring heavy snow, perfect for snowball fights.
• Locations like Gulmarg offer snowy fun.
• Enjoy with friends and family.
• Snow activities like skiing are also popular.
• Always prioritize safety and local customs.

If you are visiting Kashmir in the winter season, you can definitely expect snow, as most places in the area have sub-zero temperatures in the chilly months of December and January. You can take part in a snow fight with your loved ones and even throw snowballs at strangers who are willing.

Climb the Snow-capped Peaks

• Ideal for winter trekking and mountaineering.
• Popular peaks around Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
• Local guides are essential for safety.
• Requires proper clothing and fitness.
• Not for beginners; ensure you’re physically prepared.

The winter season also provides you with the opportunity to climb the snow-capped peaks in the vicinity. Make sure that you take a local guide along and wear enough woolens and proper hiking boots to have a firm grip while climbing. However, try this only if you are fit and healthy enough. If you are going to the place to recover your health, it is best not to try such things.

Get Photographed in Kashmiri Attire

• Rent traditional Kashmiri attire for photoshoots.
• Popular rental spots: Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg.
• Capture cultural transformation with full-length attire.
• Great for keepsake photos.
• A fun way to embrace local culture.

Many tourists love to rent Kashmiri attire from Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg and get photographed in them. These dresses are usually full-length, traditional attires of Kashmir, and you will love to be transformed into a Kashmiri local for a few minutes and treasure the photo for a lifetime.

Go Swimming!

• Nagin Lake offers peaceful swimming in summer.
• Less crowded than Dal Lake, ideal for a relaxing swim.
• Surrounded by beautiful views.
• Also popular for boating and picnics.
• A calm, scenic swimming experience.

If you are visiting Kashmir in the summer months, you can go swimming in Nagin Lake. It is a part of the famous Dal Lake and is connected to it by a narrow causeway. Swimming in this lake is ideal, as the water is not very deep here, and the crowd is thin. It is located 2.5 km away from the middle of the city.

Make a Video Blog

• Capture scenic spots and local culture in a vlog.
• Share your travel experiences and insights.
• Perfect for showcasing Kashmir’s beauty.
• Monetize your blog through ads.
• A great way to document your trip.

You can easily capture videos of yourself at various places of interest and describe their significance to make a great video blog. With some ads on the blog, you will even be able to recover your travel expenses.