Kashmir Tours & Holidays

The spellbound state which gaze as heaven on earth with colourful gardens and snow-capped peaks in the backdrop

Apart from being home to mesmerizing lakes, and colorful gardens with snow-capped peaks in the backdrop, J&K cities are home to ancient mosques, Hindu temples, Buddhist Monasteries and Sikh Gurudwara that showcase traditional artwork in the best light. This state is primarily visited by leisure travelers, honeymoon travelers, pilgrims, family holidayers and adventure sport enthusiasts. In nutshell, Jammu & Kashmir caters to the preference of mostly all types of travelers. Some of the prime cities that experience maximum tourist footfall are Jammu – for temples and historical sites; Srinagar – for natural beauty, valleys & Dal Lake; Leh Ladakh – the moon land & its monastries; Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam are more known for their piscturesque valleys and adventure activities.

Jammu & Kashmir, owing to its Mughal history, and influence of Buddhism, is rich in heritage. The Mughal Gardens in Srinagar are one of the most visited sites. The three major Mughal Gardens are: The Shalimar Bagh, the Nishat Bagh and the Chashm-e-shahi. Shalimar Bagh has four terraces and a total area of about 539 m by 182 m. Nishat Garden is the largest among the three and is lined with colorful flower beds. Chashm-e-shahi has three terraces and a water spring covered with stones pergola. The Gompas of tis state, majorly in Leh, have attracted globe trotters. Hemis Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery situated in Leh, Ladakh. This World Heritage Site’s design showcases Tibetan Style architecture in all its grandeur. Similarly, the Shanti Stupa holds the relics of Buddha, which makes it an important religious site for Buddhists. The Stupa overlooks Leh and is famed for providing a panoramic view of the adjacent villages and surrounding peaks.

Jammu & Kashmir is a heaven for adventure enthusiasts, who are often left spoilt for choice. When in Srinagar, remember to go a Shikara ride. If you are a hard core adventure enthusiast go on trekking in Ladakh. Go on a monastery tour to learn about the ancient Buddhist cultural heritage. To witness varied flora and fauna thriving in their natural habitat, take a tour to national wildlife parks and sanctuaries in the state. Go rafting Raft on Zanskar, Indus, or Lidder and camp at famous campsites to witness nature in full bloom. Try paragliding at Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Bhaderwah or Sanasar and go skiing at Pahalgam or Thajiwas glacier. Travelers love activities like golfing, trout-fishing, trekking and mountaineering in the zone. Pampered with nature’s beauty Jammu and Kashmir is famed for supporting a wide range of flora and fauna. The flora consists of more than 3,000 species of plants, including Horse Chestnuts, Maple, and Silver Fir. Many species are exclusive to the region and are highly sought after for their medicinal properties. Fauna found in the state includes Bears, Brown Musks, Shrews, Cheetahs, Deer, Leopards, Muskrats, and Wild Sheep. The Kashmir Valley has several dense forests that are home to these and many other plant and animal species.

Along with adventure, nature, leisure and family tourists, Jammu & Kashmir is a hub for pilgrims. It houses the famous Vaishno Devi Mandir, Amarnath Cave, Raghunath Temple and Shankaracharya Temple for the Hindus, while the very revered Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal Mosque for the Muslim community. Located around 14 kms from Katra (Near Jammu), Vaishno Devi Mandir is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site. It is believed that the Hindu Goddess, Mata Vaishno Devi resides in a Holy Cave situated at an altitude of 5,200 ft. Whereas, Amarnath Cave is situated around 140 kms from Srinagar.

The religious shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

The shrine is surrounded by mountains on all sides, the shrine is open only for a few months during summer. Raghunath Temple was built by the founder of J&K, Maharaja Gulab Singh. The ancient temple consists of seven shrines that can be reached by taking a shikara. The main deity of the temple is Lord Rama. Raghunath Temple is a fine example of the grandeur of the yesteryear royals and has its inner walls covered in gold sheets. The galleries have several Saligrams that hold religious significance for Hindus. Apart from these, it is the Shankaracharya Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva), which was built in 371 BC and has been a must visit place amongst tourists. One of the most prominent Hindu saints, Shankaracharya once stayed at this ancient temple. The temple is situated on the Zabarwan Mountain and you will have to trek 1100 feet above the plains to get a glimpse of Lord Shiva.

Muslim pilgrims visit Jamia Masjid, which is a prominent mosque located in Srinagar. The intricate architecture of the mosque has attracted generations of travelers and left them awestruck with its beauty. The mosque's courtyard and 370 wooden pillars add to its beauty. The Masjid has a spacious courtyard that can accommodate up to 100,000 people. Located on the banks of Dal Lake, Hazratbal Mosque houses a relic that is believed to be Prophet Muhammad's hair, which makes it the holiest of all shrines in Kashmir. Hazratbal is the only mosque in Srinagar with a dome. The reflection of the white marble that the mosque is made of, in the Dal Lake is a sight to behold.
 

Nature, Religion and Culture adds to the colors of this state and all shades of life are celebrated by different fairs & festivals of Jammu & Kashmir. Fairs and festivals showcase the colorful cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Tourists from all around the world descend to this quaint Indian state every year to take part in some of the famous festivals like Hemis Festival, Karsha Gustor, Matho Nagrang, Spitok Gutor and Tulip Festival.

With love for celebration, comes the love for feasting. Major part of this state has winters for long duration with snow, hence they mostly preserve food with different traditional techniques and non-vegeterian food is predomimant.The use of dried herbs in food makes them aromatic. Food here features delectable meat dishes including Qabargaah, Aab Gosht, Matschgand, Muj Gaad, and Rogan Josh. Preparing a Kashmiri Wazwan - the traditional multi cuisine Muslim meal, is an intricate art. They love their tea and are masters at preparing Noon Chai, Kashmiri Chai, and Kahwah.

Like any other state of India, Jammu & Kashmir is rich in handicrafts & handlooms. Carpets, Pashmina Shawls, Willow wood artefacts, Kashmiri Hand Embroidered items etc., are some to name. So when here, do not miss to shop for these and also save some space for apples, wallnuts, almonds and the world famous Kashmiri saffron. Tourists find is very comfortable here as locals are warm hearted and welcoming. Easy to communicate English & Hindi languages are used. Nevertheless, your tour guide will be there to assists you.

The snow-capped Himalayas and Pir Pinjal range influence the climate of this region. Jammu is hot & humid whereas Kashmir is moderate in summers and cold in winters. But climate in Ladakh has nothing in common, where temperatures can dip to -40 degrees. So we plan & execute holidays keeping our guest’s interest as the most important aspect.

We look forward to make your holiday personalized, and thus design custom-made itineraries at best prices. Our teams ensure that our guests go back with happy memories of lifetime.