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Discover the best time to visit Kashmir and Ladakh
Updated: Jun 16, 2024
Kashmir
Although summer is the best time to visit Kashmir, every season has its own charm and specialities. Be it winter or spring, Kashmir has something to offer to adrenaline junkies for an adventurous trip. You can see flowers blooming in summer with light drizzle while in winter the whole place is covered with a thick layer of snow. Kashmir welcomes tourists the whole year offering outdoor activities like skiing in freezing cold to trekking in mild temperatures.
The best time may depend on your preferences like the places you want to visit, activities you wish to try. If you are planning your Kashmir trip then you can take the help of these well-designed Kashmir tour packages suitable for everyone. Here, we have provided information relating to every season of the year so that you can pack your bags without any second thoughts and take off for Kashmir.
⪢ Spring (March to May)
Spring in Kashmir is short-lived but it shows the most beautiful faces of nature. Weather is not freezing as the temperature rises. It ranges between 10 - 15°C (50 - 59 Fahrenheit) but may drop down at night making it colder. Days are tolerable though. You will see vibrant wildflowers in lushy meadows with greenery everywhere.
Kashmir offers varieties of activities to do in spring like trekking, sightseeing, bird-watching, photography etc. you can visit Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Badaamwari during this time of the year. Gulmarg also called as ‘meadows of flowers’ is a prime tourist spot from march to may. The biggest festival of Kashmir, Tulip festival, is celebrated in spring showcasing varieties of Tulips. You can also visit Tulip Garden. Roads start to get cleared and declared open by March end or April start.
⪢ Summer (June to September)
Summer is considered as the ideal time to travel to Kashmir. Weather conditions are the prime reason for this. Temperature fluctuates between 20 - 30°C (68 - 86 Fahrenheit) with lesser degrees at night. All the places are open and accessible and you can visit Pahalgam, Gurez Valley, Yusmarg, Sonmarg, Gulmarg etc. The tour in the summer season is famous for undertaking treks. Some of the popular summer treks of Kashmir are Tarsar Marsar trek, the great Kashmir lakes trek, Naranag Gangabal trek etc. The atmosphere is not freezing and trails are clear and easy to navigate.
Some other adventurous activities available are swimming, river rafting, fishing, paragliding etc. Frozen lakes have almost melted by June. All the highways, internal roads are cleared out by BRO and you can visit off-beat places that are secluded from the rest of India.
Rainfall is infrequent in India unlike the other states of Kashmir. Hotels and other accommodations are fully packed during the peak season and you can book Kashmir tour packages in advance if you are visiting Kashmir in summer.
⪢ Autumn (September to October)
Kashmir turns into a golden paradise during “Harud”, that is, Kashmiri autumn. Leaves turn yellow and start to fall. It is that time in Kashmir when many crops are ready to be harvested such as apples, walnuts etc. Some must-visit places in Kashmir in October and November are Naseem Bagh. Chashma Shahi, Nishant Bagh etc.
The atmosphere again starts to get cold after the summer and it can go as low as 0°C (32 Fahrenheit) in the early mornings. Autumn is every photographer’s delight and it is the perfect time to click stunning pictures. All the outdoor activities like trekking, sightseeing are still available.
Ladakh
Summer is the ideal time to plan a trip to Ladakh. However, it does possess uniqueness during the whole year. Temperature is low all the time in Ladakh but it is tolerable during summer, spring and autumn. You can visit lakes, monasteries, valleys in Ladakh while attending different kinds of festivals celebrated there. They have a fixed time for it.
Valleys are magnificent there with flowers everywhere. Trees stand tall and high enhancing the beauty of the place. It is very important to choose a good travel agent to plan your Ladakh trip, we strongly recommend you to check this tour operator in Kashmir and Ladakh with high reviews on Google.
⪢ Spring (March to April)
After being stagnant in winter, tourism in Ladakh restarts with full enthusiasm in the spring season lasting from March to April. The mercury level varies from 10 - 15°C (50 - 59 Fahrenheit). Nights are colder while days are warm. Snow starts to melt, clearing the roads. You can opt for Kashmir-Leh Highway to visit Ladakh if you are on a bike trip. Manali-Leh Highway is closed in March - April.
You can visit monasteries like Hemis monastery, Thiksey monastery, Pangong lake etc. Lakes have melted hence are open for tourists to visit. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is needed for some of them though like Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri Lake etc. Hotels and other stays are not very congested hence, you can get good deals, saving some bucks.
⪢ Summer (June to September)
Arguably, the best time for a trip to Ladakh, summer showcases the beauty of the place to its core. The ideal weather for everything makes Ladakh fully packed from June to September. Temperature is higher, fluctuating between 15 - 25°C (59 - 77 Fahrenheit). Skies are clear and sunny with a balmy climate. Roads and highways are fully open with very little snow to be seen around. You see gorgeous views all around with crystal clear peaks in the backdrop.
One of the highlights of a trip to Ladakh in summer is the ‘Hemis Festival’ celebrated in June. It is held at Hemis Monastery to honour Padmasambhava. Lamas gather around and Cham Dance is performed during the ceremony. Lastly, you can visit Ladakh in summer without thinking twice. You will experience the best of it, doing every outdoor activity available and navigating to top attractions there.
⪢ Autumn (September to October)
The whole place turns into hues in autumn, leaves falling all around. It looks very dreamy with colder days than summer. It is still pleasant in Ladakh with mercury level at around 15°C (59 Fahrenheit). September - October is a good time for a Ladakh trip. You can witness light snowfall in high-altitude passes by the end of autumn. It does not snow heavily.
You can rent a bicycle to ride around a bit to witness the dramatic change of colours in the valleys of Ladakh. Try to plan all the adventures in the September - October month of autumn, as most of them start to close by November as winter is about to onset. Some of the outdoor activities are not available too in the end. You will have limited service there.
Take a trip in autumn to enjoy all of Ladakh. The Gustor festival is celebrated in Thiksey Monastery every year in October. Cham dance is performed by Lamas in the monastery. A trade fair is held too where the barter system is organised.
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