Kashmir in Spring: A First-Timer’s Guide

There is a reason Kashmir has been called "paradise on earth" for centuries. Come in spring — roughly April to early June — and you catch the valley at its softest: almond blossom in Srinagar, meadows greening in Gulmarg, and just enough snow on the high passes to feel dramatic.

The easy loop

A few nights on a Dal Lake houseboat, a day up to Gulmarg for the gondola, and a night or two in Pahalgam for the valleys.

Don't miss

• A dawn shikara ride before the lake wakes up
• The Mughal gardens in full bloom
• Wazwan, the multi-course Kashmiri feast, at least once

Carry layers, draw cash in Srinagar (ATMs are sparse beyond it), and build in buffer time — mountain weather sets its own schedule.