Snowfall in Kashmir: When and Where to See Snow, Month by Month (2026-27)

When does it snow in Kashmir?

Snow reaches Kashmir in stages. The high slopes above Gulmarg can see the first flakes as early as October, Gulmarg itself usually turns white in December, and the valley floor around Srinagar gets snow on some days between mid-December and February. By March the valley thaws, but the mountains keep their snow well into spring.

Travelling in December? See Kashmir in December for the weather, crowds and roads that month.

The short version: if seeing snow is the point of your trip, go in January or February. December is a good bet in the mountains, and anything earlier is a bonus rather than a plan.

Where to see snow in Kashmir

Whether you see snow depends as much on where you go as when. The higher the place, the earlier the snow arrives and the longer it stays.

Gulmarg snowfall

Gulmarg is the most reliable place in Kashmir to find snow. Its average January high is under 1°C and its nights stay well below freezing from December to February, so snow that falls stays. The ski season runs from about December to early March, and Apharwat, at the top of the Gondola, holds snow for most of the year.

Snowfall in Srinagar

Srinagar gets snow, but not on a timetable. In the 2024-25 winter the city's first snow came on 27 December; in 2025-26 it did not come until 23 January. When it does fall, the Mughal gardens, the houseboats and the chinar-lined roads turn white, and it is one of the most beautiful sights of the year. Do not plan a Srinagar-only trip around snow; plan Gulmarg or Sonamarg and treat snow in the city as a bonus.

Pahalgam and Sonamarg in snow

Pahalgam, lower than Gulmarg, is snow-covered from about December to February. Betaab Valley can be visited through the winter, while Aru is usually cut off by snow from January to early March. Sonamarg, higher up on the road to Ladakh, has been reachable through the winter since the Z-Morh tunnel opened on 13 January 2025; beyond it, Zoji La has usually closed for winter, though in 2025-26 the Border Roads Organisation kept it open with only short closures after heavy snow.

Offbeat snow: Doodhpathri, Yusmarg and Sinthan Top

Doodhpathri and Yusmarg are quieter meadows that are beautiful under snow, especially in late January and February, but their roads can close after heavy snowfall, so check before you set off. Sinthan Top, at 3,792 m, holds snow well into May, which makes it a late-season option; in the depth of winter the road is usually impassable.

Chillai Kalan: the 40 coldest days

Kashmiris divide winter into three parts. Chillai Kalan, the "great cold", runs for 40 days from 21 December to around the end of January. It is followed by Chillai Khurd, the "small cold", for about 20 days, and Chillai Bachha, the "baby cold", for about 10 days, until the end of February. During Chillai Kalan, nights stay below freezing, water pipes freeze, and in the coldest years parts of Dal Lake freeze over.

It is also when Kashmiri winter culture is at its fullest. People wear the pheran, the long woollen cloak (21 December is now marked as Pheran Day), and carry a kangri, a small earthen pot of embers, under it for warmth. Kitchens turn to harissa and to hokh syun, vegetables dried in summer for the winter. 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.

Snow in recent winters: how much it varies

No two Kashmir winters are the same, which is why we do not promise snow on particular dates. Here is how the last two seasons went.

Some recent winters have also been unusually dry, with long spells without snow during Chillai Kalan. The lesson for planning: January and February give you the best odds, Gulmarg gives you the surest snow, and a spare day protects you from both too little snow and too much.

How cold does it get?

Colder than most visitors expect, especially at night. Srinagar's average January night is about -2°C and Gulmarg's about -8°C, but cold spells go well below that. On 21 December 2024, at the start of Chillai Kalan, Srinagar fell to -8.5°C, its coldest night since 1974, and parts of Dal Lake froze. The city's all-time record is -12.8°C, on 13 December 1934.

Days are much milder than nights, often above freezing in Srinagar even in January, so the cold you feel most is early morning and after sunset. That is when a proper jacket, gloves and a warm room matter most.

How much snow falls in Gulmarg?

Gulmarg gets far more precipitation than Srinagar, and from December to March most of it falls as snow. February and March are the wettest months there, which is why the ski season holds into early March even as the valley below warms up.

Single storms can be big. In one spell in late January 2026, Gulmarg got about 8 inches of fresh snow and Sonamarg about 12 inches overnight.

Avalanches and winter safety

Heavy snow brings avalanche risk to the mountain resorts, and it is taken seriously. The J&K Disaster Management Authority issues avalanche warnings by district and altitude after big snowfalls: in late January 2026 it warned 11 districts, with a high-danger warning above 2,000 m in Ganderbal, and an avalanche struck the Sonamarg resort that week.

• Follow the warnings: if an avalanche warning covers where you are going, change the plan. Your hotel and taxi driver will know the latest.
• Skiing: stay on the marked slopes unless you are with a qualified guide. For off-piste skiing, Gulmarg has a daily backcountry avalanche advisory, provided by the J&K Tourism Department.
• Roads: after heavy snow, wait for roads to be cleared and reopened rather than pushing through. Travel in daylight.

Staying warm: rooms, houseboats and heating

In winter, the room matters more than the view. Ask exactly how it is heated before you book: an electric heater, a bukhari (a wood or kerosene stove), or central heating. Ask whether there is power backup, because heaters stop when the power does, and whether hot water runs all day. Houseboats can be wonderfully cosy in winter, but only if the heating is good, so ask the same questions. In Gulmarg, stay close to the Gondola and the meadow so that nobody has to walk far through deep snow.

Is there snow in Kashmir right now? How to check

Before you travel, check the conditions on the day rather than relying on last year's dates. These are the sources we use:

• Weather: the India Meteorological Department's Srinagar forecasts and warnings on mausam.imd.gov.in.
• Roads: the J&K Traffic Police updates on jktrafficpolice.in for the Jammu to Srinagar highway, Mughal Road and the roads to Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
• Gulmarg Gondola: the notifications on jammukashmircablecar.com and the official Instagram, @gulmarggondola_official.
• Flights: your airline's app on the morning you fly, since snow can close the runway at Srinagar.

For Gulmarg, our snowfall in Gulmarg today page carries dated reports from the ground, with photos, once this winter's snow arrives.

Kashmir in winter: what a snow trip is like

A winter trip is slower and colder than a summer one, and for many people it is the best trip of their lives. Our own best memories are the simple ones: snowball fights and snow angels in fresh snow in Gulmarg, and the fun ride up from Tangmarg with chains tied to the tyres and the views opening up at every bend. In winter it is worth staying at least one night in Gulmarg rather than doing it as a day trip, and trying skiing, even for a morning.

For Srinagar in winter, including harissa shops and warm houseboats, see our Srinagar guide.

For the snow itself, start with our Gulmarg guide: where to stay, skiing, sledges and the frozen Drung Waterfall.

Things to do in the snow

• Ski or snowboard in Gulmarg: beginners start on gentle slopes near the base with an instructor; the long runs off Apharwat are for experienced skiers.

Everything about learning to ski there is in our Gulmarg skiing guide.

• Ride the Gondola into the snow: Phase 1 to Kongdoori for snow play and Phase 2 to Apharwat for the deep snow and the views.

Book only on the official portal; the details are in our Gulmarg Gondola guide.

• Sledge rides: locals pull sledges across the Gulmarg meadow. There is no fixed rate, so agree the price and the time first.
• See Drung Waterfall frozen: about 3 km from Tangmarg, it freezes into a wall of ice in the depth of winter.
• An igloo café: in recent winters a hotel in Gulmarg has built a café out of snow, from about early December to mid-March.
• Eat like a Kashmiri winter: harissa for breakfast, kahwa through the day, and anything hot.

Getting around in snow

Snow changes the roads. Plan for it rather than being surprised by it.

• Gulmarg road: in snow, only 4x4s and cars fitted with anti-skid chains may drive from Tangmarg to Gulmarg. Registered vendors fit chains at Tangmarg.

• Sonamarg: open through the winter via the Z-Morh tunnel; Zoji La beyond it has usually closed for winter (in 2025-26 it stayed open, with short closures).
• Mughal Road and Gurez: the Mughal Road usually closes from late December to about mid-April, and Gurez is usually cut off from about December to April or May.
• Jammu to Srinagar highway: open in winter, but it can shut for heavy snow. Check the J&K Traffic Police updates on the morning you drive.
• Flights: heavy snow can cancel every flight at Srinagar, as it did on 27 January 2026. Keep a spare day before your flight home.
• Travel in daylight: roads ice over after dark, so plan to reach your hotel before sunset.

What to wear and pack for Kashmir snow

Dress in layers, and pack for being wet as well as cold. Our one rule: bring an extra pair of clothes and shoes that can handle snow, because after a morning in fresh snow you will be soaked. If you do not own proper winter gear, you can rent snow boots and jackets at Tangmarg on the way to Gulmarg, and buy a pheran in Srinagar, which is warm, practical and the best souvenir of a Kashmir winter.

What to eat in a Kashmir winter

Winter food in Kashmir is built for the cold. Harissa, slow-cooked mutton and rice, is the winter breakfast, served in the Old City from about mid-October to March. Kahwa, green tea with saffron, cardamom and almonds, is drunk all day, and noon chai, the pink salted tea, comes with fresh bread from the neighbourhood baker. In homes, winter is also the season of hokh syun, vegetables dried in summer and cooked through the cold months. Ask your hotel or houseboat for Kashmiri dishes rather than the standard menu: they are usually the warmest thing on it.

A five-day snow trip, the way we would plan it

This is a winter-only outline built around the best chance of snow. Keep the last day free: snow can close roads or cancel flights.

1. Day 1: arrive in Srinagar. A slow afternoon, a sunset shikara if the lake is open, and an early night.
2. Day 2: Srinagar. Harissa for breakfast downtown, the Old City in the morning, Hazratbal in the afternoon.
3. Day 3: drive to Gulmarg, chains at Tangmarg if there is snow. An afternoon of snow play and sledges on the meadow. Stay the night.
4. Day 4: a morning ski lesson, then the Gondola to Kongdoori, and on to Apharwat if Phase 2 is running. Back down to Srinagar before dark, or a second night if you are skiing.
5. Day 5: a day trip to Sonamarg through the Z-Morh tunnel, or a spare day in Srinagar before your flight.

For every step before you go (bookings, SIM, money and safety), see our Kashmir travel guide.

Snow trips with children and older parents

Snow is magical for children and can be hard on older parents, so plan around comfort. Kongdoori, at Gondola Phase 1, is the easiest place for snow play, with tea stalls close by; Apharwat, near 4,000 m, is best left to healthy adults. Avoid the coldest weeks of Chillai Kalan with older parents, choose a hotel close to the Gondola so nobody has to walk far in the snow, and ask exactly how rooms are heated before you book.