Kashmir Valley

The Kashmir valley sits at around 1,585 m, ringed by the Pir Panjal and the greater Himalaya. That relatively low floor is why it is green rather than barren, and why it works as a destination across three quite different seasons rather than one.

Srinagar is built around Dal and Nigeen lakes, where houseboats and shikaras are a working part of the economy rather than a set piece. The Mughal gardens — Shalimar, Nishat and Chashme Shahi — are terraced up the eastern shore and were laid out in the seventeenth century.

For walkers, the real draw is above the valley. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek links seven alpine lakes across roughly 70 km between July and September, and Tarsar Marsar offers a shorter version of the same terrain. Both are meadow-and-lake walking rather than high-altitude suffering, which makes them unusually accessible for the scenery they deliver.

Worth saying plainly: access can be affected by security conditions at short notice. Check current government advisories, and book with a local operator who will tell you honestly when a route is closed rather than taking your deposit and hoping.