The short answer
April and May for flowers and mild weather, December to February for snow, September and October for clear skies and low prices. July and August are warm in Srinagar and busy with domestic tourists.
Month by month
March – May
The tulip garden in Srinagar opens for roughly three weeks from late March to mid-April, and it is the single biggest crowd magnet of the year. Daytime temperatures sit between 15°C and 22°C. Gulmarg still holds snow at the top gondola stage through April.
June – August
Srinagar reaches 30°C, Pahalgam and Sonmarg stay pleasant, and the Amarnath Yatra affects traffic and hotel availability on certain routes. Book early, and expect the Srinagar–Pahalgam road to be slow on yatra days.
September – November
The quietest good-weather window. Chinar trees turn red through late October, hotel rates drop 20–30% from peak, and the light is excellent for photographs.
December – February
Proper snow. Gulmarg becomes a ski destination, Dal Lake occasionally freezes at the edges, and temperatures drop below zero at night. Some roads close for hours after heavy snow, so keep a spare day in the itinerary.
What to pack
- Layers, not one heavy coat — mornings and afternoons differ by 12°C.
- Shoes with grip for Gulmarg and Sonmarg, any month.
- Cash; card acceptance is patchy outside Srinagar.
How long to stay
Six days works well: two nights Srinagar, one on a houseboat, one in Gulmarg and two in Pahalgam. That is exactly how our Kashmir package is built, with a private car for all transfers.