Best Time to Visit Kashmir: Month-by-Month Guide for Snow, Tulips and Chinars (2026-27)

The short answer, season by season

There is no bad month in Kashmir, only different trips. Pick the season for what you want to see, then use the month-by-month guide below to fine-tune.

Kashmir month by month

Temperatures and rainfall are long-term averages from the India Meteorological Department (1991 to 2020). Srinagar sits at 1,585 m; Gulmarg is more than 1,000 m higher, so it is always colder and gets far more snow.

What is the climate of Kashmir like?

Kashmir has four clear seasons: cold, snowy winters, a wet spring, warm summers and a dry, sunny autumn. In Srinagar, January averages 7°C by day and -2°C at night, while July reaches about 30°C by day and 18°C at night. Gulmarg is always cooler: its July high is about 21°C, and its January high stays under 1°C.

Most rain and snow falls from January to April. March is the wettest month in Srinagar, with about 105 mm, and Gulmarg gets roughly twice as much precipitation as the city in winter and spring, most of it as snow. From September to November the valley dries out: October gets only about 22 mm in Srinagar, which is why autumn skies are so clear. The monsoon that soaks the plains reaches the valley only weakly.

Kashmir, month by month, in detail

January: the heart of winter

January is the coldest month and the middle of Chillai Kalan, the 40 coldest days of the Kashmiri winter, which run until about 31 January. Gulmarg is deep in snow and at the peak of its ski season. Srinagar is quiet, and this is harissa season. Snow can disrupt travel: in 2026, Srinagar's first snow fell on 23 January and all 58 flights at the airport were cancelled on 27 January. Build a spare day into any January trip.

February: snow, skiing and the first thaw

February is still full winter in the mountains, with Gulmarg at its snowiest and the ski season going strong. In Srinagar, days start to warm, averaging 11°C by the end of the month. The traditional winter calendar calls this stretch Chillai Khurd (the "small cold", about 31 January to 19 February), followed by Chillai Bachha (about 19 February to 2 March). It is a good month for snow without the very coldest nights.

March: blossom and rain

Spring arrives in March. Almond trees flower first, at gardens like Badamwari below Hari Parbat, and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opens around the middle of the month (16 March in 2026). March is also the wettest month in Srinagar, so pack a rain layer. The Mughal Road to Poonch and Rajouri is usually still closed for snow, and Gulmarg keeps its snow on the higher slopes.

April: tulips and a busy valley

April is tulip month. The Tulip Garden usually stays open until about mid-April (it closed on 16 April in 2026), the Mughal gardens fill with spring flowers, and Srinagar averages 21°C by day. The Mughal Road usually reopens around the middle of the month: in 2025 it reopened on 15 April after more than three months shut. April is one of the busiest months of the year, so book stays and taxis early.

May: warm days and snow up high

May is one of the easiest months for a first visit. Srinagar is warm, around 25°C by day, the gardens are in full leaf, and Gulmarg is pleasant at about 16°C, with snow still lying at Apharwat for those who take the Gondola to the top. Side valleys such as Gurez start to open as the snow on the passes clears. It is a busy month, especially towards the end with school holidays.

June: summer holidays

June is peak family season. Srinagar averages 29°C by day, which feels mild after the plains, and Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are green and cool. It is one of the drier summer months in Srinagar. Expect crowds at Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens and the Gondola, and book well ahead.

July: the warmest month

July is the warmest month in Srinagar, at about 30°C by day. The meadows are at their greenest, and it is the best month for pony rides and walks in Gulmarg, where the high stays around 21°C. The Amarnath Yatra begins in early July, bringing heavy pilgrim traffic and security arrangements on the routes towards Pahalgam and Sonamarg, so check the yatra dates before you plan those days.

August: green, warm and a little wet

August is much like July, with a little more rain. The Amarnath Yatra continues for much of the month. The first apples start ripening in some orchards, and the valley is still very green. It is a comfortable month for families, but routes affected by the yatra stay busy.

September: clear skies and apples

September is when Kashmir quietens down after the summer. It is dry, with clear skies and warm days of about 28°C in Srinagar, and the apple harvest gets going across the valley. For travellers who want comfortable weather without the summer crowds, September is one of the best months of the year.

October: the driest month

October is the driest month, with only about 22 mm of rain in Srinagar, so the light is clear and the mountains sharp. The chinar trees start turning red and gold, harissa returns to the Old City shops from mid-October, and apples are still being picked. Snow can arrive early on the high slopes: in 2025, Apharwat had its first snow on 2 and 3 October. Mornings and evenings turn cold, so bring warm layers.

November: chinars and saffron

November is autumn at its most beautiful. The chinars are at their reddest, and the saffron fields of Pampore, between Srinagar and Anantnag, flower for about two weeks between late October and mid-November, when the Jashn-e-Zaffran saffron festival is held. Nights drop to around freezing in Srinagar and below freezing in Gulmarg. It is one of the quietest months, and a lovely one for couples.

More in our guide to Kashmir in November: chinar spots, the saffron bloom and weather by place.

December: snow returns

December brings the snow back. Gulmarg usually turns white, the ski season begins, and Chillai Kalan starts on 21 December. Nights in Srinagar fall below freezing. The Mughal Road closes for the winter (it shut on 29 December in 2024), and Gurez is usually cut off by snow on the Razdan Pass. The last two weeks of the month are busy with holiday visitors, so book early.

More on the month in our guide to Kashmir in December: weather by place, snow chances, Christmas crowds and packing.

Winter (December to February): the season for snow

For our family, winter means harissa: we used to ride to a small local shop in Rajouri Kadal, downtown Srinagar, at 4 in the morning in freezing cold, and it was worth it every time. It means snowball fights and snow angels in fresh snow in Gulmarg, and the slow, fun drive up from Tangmarg with chains tied to the tyres.

Snow is most reliable from late December to February. The coldest stretch, Chillai Kalan, runs from 21 December to about 31 January, when nights stay well below freezing. In Gulmarg the average January high is under 1°C, and the ski season runs from about December to early March.

• Stay overnight in Gulmarg: in winter it is worth staying at least one night instead of a rushed day trip, and trying skiing, even for a morning.
• Sonamarg is now reachable in winter: since the Z-Morh tunnel opened on 13 January 2025, the road from Srinagar to Sonamarg stays open through the snow season. The road beyond, over Zoji La to Ladakh, has usually closed in winter, though in 2025-26 the Border Roads Organisation kept it open with only short closures after heavy snow.
• Keep a spare day: heavy snow can cancel flights at Srinagar and close the Jammu to Srinagar highway. Do not plan a tight connection on the day you fly out.
• Pack for wet snow: bring an extra pair of clothes and shoes that can handle snow. You will need them.

Planning the snow part of the trip? Start with our Gulmarg guide for where to stay, skiing costs and the chains rule at Tangmarg.

Staying in the city? Our Srinagar guide has the winter version of the city: harissa shops, warm houseboats and a quiet Dal Lake.

When is the best time to see snow in Kashmir?

Late December to February is the best time to see snow in Kashmir. Gulmarg is the surest bet: it is snow-covered through these months, and Apharwat, at the top of the Gondola, often keeps snow well into spring. Srinagar gets snow on some winter days too, although not every year on the same dates: in 2026 the city's first snow came on 23 January.

If snow is the whole point of your trip, plan for January or February, not November. Early snow is a bonus, not something to build a trip around.

For where snow falls, recent snow dates, Chillai Kalan and what to pack, see our full guide to snowfall in Kashmir.

To reach the snow at Apharwat in any season, you need the Gondola. Our Gulmarg Gondola guide has the official fares and how to book.

Spring (March to May): blossom and tulips

Spring is Kashmir at its most colourful. Almond trees flower first, then the Tulip Garden opens for about a month, and by May the Mughal gardens are in full leaf and the days are warm. March is the wettest month in Srinagar, so pack a rain layer, and April and May are among the busiest months of the year, so book stays and taxis early. In the mountains, spring is when the snow melts: Gulmarg's meadow turns green again from late April or May, while Apharwat keeps its snow much longer.

Summer (June to August): green valleys and long days

Summer is when most families come, for school holidays and a break from the heat of the plains. Srinagar reaches about 30°C in July, while Gulmarg stays around 21°C, so the meadows are pleasant all day. This is the season for pony rides, the golf course in Gulmarg, and the side valleys, which are all open once the passes clear. The Amarnath Yatra runs in July and August, bringing heavy pilgrim traffic on the routes towards Pahalgam and Sonamarg.

Autumn (September to November): chinars, apples and saffron

Autumn is quieter than summer, and the colours make it one of the most beautiful times to come. October is the driest month in Srinagar, the skies are clear, and the chinar trees turn red and gold, reaching their best in November. Apples are picked across the valley from late summer into November, and Pampore's saffron fields flower for about two weeks between late October and mid-November. Harissa returns to the shops in mid-October, and by November nights in Gulmarg drop below freezing. Bring warm layers from mid-October onwards.

Roads and closures by season

Some roads and valleys close for snow every winter. Check this before you plan a route.

The Gondola can also close for maintenance: in 2026 it was shut from 25 May to 25 June after a technical fault, and reopened once its French manufacturer, POMA, cleared it. Check its status before your Gulmarg day.

Which month is best for your trip?

• First visit, with family: May, June or late September to October, for comfortable weather and everything open.
• With older parents: May, June or September. Skip Chillai Kalan, when the cold is hardest on older travellers, and March, when rain makes garden paths slippery.
• With small children: June to September for warmth, or February for gentle snow play without the harshest January cold.
• Snow and skiing: January and February.
• Tulips: late March to early April; check the Tulip Garden's opening date each year.
• Autumn colours and saffron: late October and November.
• Honeymoon: October and November for colour and quiet, or January and February for snow.
• Quiet and cold: December to February in Srinagar, avoiding the Christmas and New Year week.

Chosen your month? Our Kashmir travel guide covers the rest of the planning: days, route, bookings, SIM, money and safety.

What to pack, season by season