Winter in Kashmir is a completely different country. Days are sunny and crisp, night temperatures regularly drop below freezing, and the same gardens you hiked in summer disappear under a clean blanket of snow. It is worth the cold — provided you prepare for it.
Layer, layer, layer. Start with a thermal base, add a fleece or wool mid-layer, and finish with a windproof, water-resistant jacket. Waterproof boots with good grip are non-negotiable, especially for icy steps in Gulmarg, and a warm shawl or pashmina handles the evening chill with far more grace than a puffer jacket.
Keep a small day-bag with gloves, a scarf, sunglasses (snow glare is real) and a power bank — batteries drain fast in the cold. Cash matters too: cold weather occasionally affects card machines in mountain towns.
On the road, let your driver pace the journey. Mountain passes and step roads can be closed for clearance after fresh snowfall, and a little flexibility in the itinerary goes a long way. Our winter packages build that buffer in.
And the reward? Near-empty slopes, steam rising from kehwa glasses, and snow falling silently over Dal Lake. Few places on earth look as good in white.
