Kashmir Valley · Western Himalaya & Trans-Himalaya
How to reach
By air
- Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar (SXR) — About 12 km south of the city. Winter fog and snow close it periodically, and the valley then has one road out.
By rail
- Srinagar (SINA) — On the Banihal–Baramulla line, which ran as an isolated valley railway for years before the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla link was completed in 2025 and through trains from the plains began.
- Anantnag (ANT) — For the southern valley, Pahalgam and Martand.
- Baramulla (BRML) — The northern terminus, at the gorge where the Jhelum leaves the basin.
- Banihal (BAHL) — At the southern end of the tunnel under the Pir Panjal.
By road
NH 44 from Jammu through Ramban and Banihal, and under the Pir Panjal by tunnel — the year-round roadNH 1 eastward over the Zoji La to Ladakh, closed by snow for much of the winterMughal Road from Shopian over the Pir Panjal to Poonch, seasonal and historically the Mughal approachSinthan Top road from Anantnag to Kishtwar, open only in the warm monthsThe valley's own ring of roads along both banks of the Jhelum
By water
Shikaras on the Dal and Nigeen, still the transport of the lake's own villagesHouseboats moored on the Dal, Nigeen and the JhelumCargo boats on the Jhelum, which was the valley's main freight route until the road age
Getting around
Shared taxis and minibuses between towns, autos and app cabs in Srinagar. Distances are short — Srinagar to Pahalgam or Gulmarg is under three hours — but winter snow and single-road dependence make timing matter more than distance.
How to reach Kashmir Valley by air, rail, road and water, and how to get around once there. (5)