5-Day Family Friendly Itinerary for Kashmir

1. Day 1: Mughal Gardens
   10 min (2 km) from Srinagar

   Visit the renowned gardens - Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi, built by Mughal emperors centuries ago. Enjoy the beautiful views of Dal Lake and the Himalayas.

2. Day 2: Gulmarg
   2 hr 25 min (51 km) from Srinagar

   Head to the snow-covered meadows of Gulmarg, also known as the "Meadow of Flowers". Take a gondola ride to the Apharwat Peak and avail skiing facilities.

3. Day 3: Pahalgam
   2 hr 42 min (94.1 km) from Srinagar

   Visit Betab Valley, famous for being the location of the Bollywood movie Betaab. Enjoy pony rides, fishing, and white water rafting in Lidder River.

4. Day 4: Sonamarg
   3 hr 16 min (82.4 km) from Pahalgam

   Visit the "Golden Meadow", Sonamarg, also known as the "Gateway to Ladakh". Visit the Thajiwas Glacier and undertake trekking activities.

5. Day 5: Dal Lake
   15 min (3.2 km) from Srinagar

   Spend some leisure time camping on a shikara houseboat. Enjoy water sports activities like water skiing, kayaking and lake swimming.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Mughal Gardens (2-3 hrs, ₹20-25)
• Gulmarg and gondola ride (5-6 hrs, ₹600-800 per person)
• Pahalgam and Lidder river adventure (4-5 hrs, ₹1,000-1,500 per person)
• Sonamarg and Thajiwas Glacier (6-7 hrs, ₹500-600 per person)
• Dal Lake and water sports (3-4 hrs, ₹500-700 per person)
Total Estimated Costs: ₹2,620 - ₹3,125 per person

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can add a trip to Yusmarg, Kokernag, or Doodhpathri. Shikara rides on Dal Lake are best done during early mornings or evenings, due to heavy traffic during the day. If you have less time, you can skip Sonamarg and add a day in Gulmarg, visiting places like Alpharwat Glacier, Khilanmarg, and Strawberry Valley.