How to Reach Kashmir: Flights, the Vande Bharat Train, Roads and Distances (2026-27)

Three ways to reach Kashmir

There are three ways into the Kashmir valley: fly into Srinagar, take the Vande Bharat train through the mountains, or drive the Jammu to Srinagar highway. Most visitors fly. The train, running all the way from Jammu Tawi since April 2026, is now a real alternative, and the road is the most scenic and the least predictable.

By air: flying into Srinagar

Srinagar International Airport has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Noida and Jammu, run by IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet. It was designated an international airport in 2005 and has handled night landings since 2021.

The airport is owned by the Indian Air Force, with a civilian terminal run by the Airports Authority of India, so security is thorough. Reach it early for your flight home, especially in peak season. From the airport, a taxi to Dal Lake costs about ₹1,200 to ₹1,500.

In winter, keep a spare day before your flight out. Heavy snow can shut the runway: on 27 January 2026, all 58 flights to and from Srinagar were cancelled.

By train: the Vande Bharat to Srinagar

Kashmir is now connected to the national rail network. The Vande Bharat Express started running between Katra and Srinagar in June 2025, and since 30 April 2026 it runs all the way from Jammu Tawi. It covers 269 km in about 4 hours 50 minutes, six days a week (not on Tuesdays), with AC chair car and executive chair car classes.

• Stops: Jammu Tawi, Udhampur, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Srinagar.
• From Delhi and the rest of India: take any train to Jammu Tawi or Katra, then change to the Vande Bharat for Srinagar.
• Book early: seats go quickly in peak season and on holiday weekends.

Timetable, fares, the Chenab Bridge and how to connect from Delhi are in our Delhi to Srinagar train guide.

By road: the Jammu to Srinagar highway

The main road into the valley is the Jammu to Srinagar National Highway, part of NH44. It runs 247 km from Jammu through Udhampur, Ramban and Qazigund to Srinagar. Tunnels, including the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnel and the Qazigund road tunnel, have cut the distance and the time, but the stretch through the mountains is still slow and weather-dependent.

• Winter closures: the highway can close for days in winter because of heavy snow, landslides and avalanches, and traffic sometimes moves in single file or with escorts.
• Check the morning you drive: the J&K Traffic Police publishes road status and one-way traffic plans on jktrafficpolice.in.
• From Delhi by road: about 870 km, usually 15 to 20 hours of driving, so plan it over two days.
• The Mughal Road: an 84 km alternative route from Shopian to Poonch and Rajouri, closed for snow from roughly late December to mid-April each year.

Flight, train or road: which should you choose?

For most people on a five to seven day trip, flying in and out is the simplest choice. If you are coming from Punjab, Himachal or anywhere with a good train to Jammu or Katra, the Vande Bharat is a comfortable and scenic alternative. The road is best treated as an experience in itself, not the quickest way in.

Arriving in Srinagar: the first hour

• Your phone: prepaid SIMs from other states stop working when you arrive; postpaid SIMs work. If you are on prepaid, buy a local tourist SIM at the airport with your Aadhaar.
• Getting into the city: a taxi from the airport to Dal Lake costs about ₹1,200 to ₹1,500, or use a cab app once your phone works.
• Security: Srinagar airport is an Air Force airport with a civilian terminal, so expect thorough checks, especially when you leave.
• Take it easy: Srinagar sits at 1,585 m. Spend your first night in the city before going higher to Gulmarg or Sonamarg.

Distances from Srinagar

Srinagar is the base for almost every Kashmir trip, so most distances are measured from it. Times are for a car in normal weather; snow, security checks and traffic can add a lot.

Heading to the snow first? Our Srinagar to Gulmarg guide covers the route, taxis, buses and the chains rule at Tangmarg.

Getting around once you arrive

Inside Srinagar, cab apps work well for short rides. In our experience Rapido is the most reliable and fastest to book, and the local apps Aala and Novo also work. For sightseeing and trips out of the city, hire a taxi for the day or for the whole trip, and get the inclusions in writing: which places, how many hours, and whether local sightseeing is extra.

• Local union vehicles: in Pahalgam, trips to Aru, Betaab Valley and Chandanwari go in local union vehicles from the town, paid separately from your Srinagar taxi.
• Autos and e-rickshaws: autos are unmetered, so agree the fare first; shared battery e-rickshaws are the cheapest way through the Old City lanes.
• Shikaras: the water taxis of Dal and Nigeen lakes, priced per boat by the hour.

More on getting around the city in our Srinagar guide.

Which roads are open when

Some roads close for snow every winter. Plan around them.

Travel windows, checkpoints and safety on the road

• Travel in daylight: mountain roads are slower after dark and ice over in winter. Plan to arrive before sunset.
• During the Amarnath Yatra: in 2026 the J&K Police advised tourists to travel within the valley only between 7 am and 6 pm from 2 July to 28 August; vehicles on the road after 6 pm were sent to the nearest camp.
• Checkpoints: carry an original photo ID and a few photocopies, and cooperate calmly at security checks.
• Useful numbers: police 100, and 1363 for the Ministry of Tourism's free 24x7 tourist helpline.

For the full planning checklist (bookings, SIM, money and safety), see our Kashmir travel guide.