Places to Visit in Srinagar: 14 Sights with Timings, Entry Fees and a 2-Day Plan (2026)

Updated: November 2026

Short answer: The best places to visit in Srinagar are Dal Lake (by shikara), the Mughal gardens of Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi and Pari Mahal, Shankaracharya Temple, Hazratbal Shrine, the old city around Jamia Masjid and Khanqah-e-Moula, Nigeen Lake and, in spring, the Tulip Garden. Floriculture-run gardens charge about ₹30 for adults and ₹15 for children, and tickets can now be booked online. The notified shikara rate is ₹700 for the first hour and ₹400 for each extra hour. Two full days covers the city well.

What are the top places to visit in Srinagar?

Garden fees are the Floriculture Department’s revised rates from 1 March 2024 (Rising Kashmir and Kashmir Life, February 2024); the department launched online garden ticketing at floriculture.jk.gov.in in March 2026 (All India Radio News, 15 March 2026). Check the portal for current fees and hours before you go.

Dal Lake: shikara rates and how to avoid overpaying

Dal Lake is the reason most people come to Srinagar. Take a shikara from the Boulevard Road ghats, drift past the houseboat rows and Char Chinar island, and stay out for sunset.

These are the Tourism Department rates notified in June 2023 (Greater Kashmir, 2 June 2023), the latest full list we could find in November 2026. Since April 2025, every shikara must display its rate card and carry life jackets for all passengers, including child sizes, and passengers must wear them (Kashmir Life, 18 April 2025). If a boatman asks for more than the card, point to it; if that fails, the tourist police at the ghats handle complaints.

Which Mughal garden should you visit?

All four sit on the slopes along the eastern side of Dal Lake, so you can cover them in a half-day loop. Want these places booked as one trip? See our Srinagar tour packages, with a houseboat night and day trips to Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

• Shalimar Bagh: the largest, laid out for Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century, with terraces, fountains and a black-marble pavilion. Go first thing in the morning.
• Nishat Bagh: built by Asif Khan, Nur Jahan’s brother; twelve terraces that drop straight towards the lake, with the Zabarwan hills behind. The best lake view of the four.
• Chashme Shahi: the smallest, built around a spring whose water people still fill bottles with. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough.
• Pari Mahal: a terraced garden on the hill above Chashme Shahi, associated with Dara Shikoh. Come for the sunset view across the lake and city.

In spring (roughly late March to April) the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden below the Zabarwan hills is the main event; it was among the destinations reopened in February 2026 and charges a higher fee than the other gardens. Bloom dates change with the weather each year.

What should you know before visiting Shankaracharya Temple?

The Shiva temple stands on Gopadri hill (Takht-e-Suleiman), about 1,000–1,100 ft above the city, and is a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (JKTDC). The view over Dal Lake and Srinagar is the best in the city.

• Climb: 243 stone steps with landings from the parking area at the top of the hill road; no lift or ramp.
• Security: mobile phones, cameras and other electronics are not allowed at the top. Leave them in the car; carry photo ID.
• Timing: vehicles are not allowed up the hill road after about 5 pm, and hours are shorter in winter (Travel Coffee, July 2026). Go in the morning.
• Getting there: taxi to the start of the hill road near Gagribal and Boulevard Road.

Hazratbal and the old city

Hazratbal Shrine, the white marble mosque on the northern shore of Dal Lake, is Kashmir’s most revered Muslim shrine and holds a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and women should cover their heads. Friday midday prayers draw large crowds.

The old city (Shehr-e-Khaas) is where Srinagar feels most like itself. Start at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, with its wooden pillars and large courtyard, then walk or drive to Khanqah-e-Moula, the carved wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan on the bank of the Jhelum. The lanes in between are full of copper, spice, bakery and papier-mâché shops. Go in the morning, ideally with a local guide.

A 2-day Srinagar sightseeing plan

A half-day or full-day Srinagar city cab can be booked through our Srinagar taxi service. For day trips out of the city, see our guides to Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam.

Where should you stay in Srinagar?

• A Dal Lake houseboat: the classic choice for at least one night (see our Dal Lake houseboat guide for categories and prices); reached by a short shikara crossing from the ghats.
• Nigeen Lake houseboats: quieter, fewer hawkers, a little farther from the Boulevard.
• Boulevard Road and Rajbagh hotels: easy access to the ghats, gardens and restaurants.

Most of our Kashmir trips include a houseboat night. The Kashmir Vaishno Devi 6N/7D tour with houseboat starts from ₹24,999 per person, the Kashmir houseboat tour 5D/4N from ₹21,999 per person (off-season), and the Magical Kashmir 6D/5N economy tour from ₹16,999 per person, all twin sharing on their live pages. Compare them on our best Kashmir tour packages page.

When is the best time for Srinagar sightseeing?

• Late March–April: Tulip Garden and almond blossom; gardens at their best.
• May–June: long, warm days; busiest season.
• September–October: clear skies and golden chinar trees in late October and early November.
• December–February: cold, sometimes snowy; gardens are bare, but the lake and old city are atmospheric. See Kashmir in December.

What this means for your trip

Give Srinagar two nights: one on a houseboat, one in a hotel if you prefer. Do Shankaracharya and the gardens on day one, the old city and Hazratbal on day two, and save a sunset for the shikara. Keep phones in the car at Shankaracharya, carry small cash for garden tickets or book online, and hold boatmen to the displayed rate card.

Srinagar sightseeing: frequently asked questions

How many days are enough for Srinagar sightseeing?

Two full days cover Dal Lake, the four Mughal gardens, Shankaracharya, Hazratbal and the old city at a comfortable pace. Add separate days for Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam, which are day trips or overnight stays from Srinagar.

What is the entry fee for the Mughal gardens in Srinagar?

Floriculture Department gardens charge about ₹30 for adults and ₹15 for children under 12 under rates revised from 1 March 2024. The Tulip Garden costs more. Online tickets are available at floriculture.jk.gov.in, launched in March 2026; check there for current fees.

What is the shikara ride price on Dal Lake?

The Tourism Department’s notified rate is ₹700 per shikara for the first hour, ₹400 for each extra hour and ₹2,700 for six hours (June 2023 notification, the latest full list we found). Every shikara must display its rate card.

Are mobile phones allowed at Shankaracharya Temple?

No. Phones, cameras and other electronics are not permitted at the top because it is a high-security area. Leave them in your vehicle, carry photo ID and plan to drive up before about 5 pm.

Can tourists visit Hazratbal Shrine?

Yes, outside prayer times. Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked, and women should cover their heads. Avoid Friday midday prayers if you want a quiet visit.

Is Srinagar worth visiting in winter?

Yes, for the snow-dusted lake, houseboats with heating and quiet old city, but the gardens are bare and days are short. Most people pair winter Srinagar with Gulmarg, where snow is far more reliable.

When does the Tulip Garden open?

It opens for a few weeks during the spring bloom, usually from late March into April; exact dates are announced each year depending on the weather. It was among the spots reopened in February 2026.