Srinagar is the gateway to the Kashmir valley, and reaching it has never been easier — a well-connected airport, a new all-weather rail link across the Chenab, and the famous NH44 mountain highway all lead into the valley.
Srinagar International Airport (SXR, Sheikh ul-Alam) is about 12 km from Lal Chowk and receives direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Jammu and Bangalore. Flight time from Delhi is roughly 90 minutes. Prepaid taxis to Dal Lake take 30–40 minutes; NorthYatra airport pickups are included in most of our Kashmir packages.
The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail link is now open end-to-end, so you can ride a train from Katra (SVDK) over the world's highest railway bridge into the valley — one of India's most scenic journeys. Alternatively, take a mainline train to Jammu Tawi (about 270 km) or Katra and continue by road.
NH44 connects Jammu to Srinagar (around 250 km, 6–8 hours) via Ramban, the Banihal tunnel and Anantnag; the highway is open year-round but check status in heavy snowfall or monsoon weeks. From Delhi it is roughly 820 km — most travellers break the journey in Jammu or Katra. Shared cabs, J&K SRTC buses and private taxis run daily.
Inside the valley, book cabs day-wise: Srinagar–Gulmarg (50 km), Srinagar–Pahalgam (90 km) and Srinagar–Sonamarg (80 km) all work as day trips. Shikara rides on Dal Lake are hired at the ghats; auto-rickshaws cover the city.
| From | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ~820 km via NH44 (or 90-min flight) | 1.5 h flight / 2 days by road |
| Jammu | 250 km via NH44 & Banihal tunnel | 6–8 h drive |
| Katra | ~230 km by road, or direct train to Srinagar | 6–7 h drive / ~3 h rail |
| Leh | 418 km via Kargil & Zoji La (summer only) | 2-day drive |
Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 12 km from the city centre and 30–40 minutes from the Dal Lake boulevard. It has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Jammu.
Yes — with the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail link complete, trains now run from Katra (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station) into the valley across the Chenab bridge. Many travellers combine a Vaishno Devi darshan with a rail ride to Srinagar.
NH44 is a well-maintained all-weather highway used by thousands of vehicles daily. Landslide-related holds can happen in monsoon and heavy snow weeks, so keep a buffer day and travel in daylight hours.
