Most travellers fly into Srinagar (SXR); nonstop flights run from cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Amritsar, with Kolkata seasonal. By rail, trains reach Katra, where a compulsory security check precedes the Vande Bharat to Srinagar (about 3 hours); a direct Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat takes about 4 h 50 min. By road, NH44 from Jammu is about 270 km.
By air
Srinagar's Sheikh ul Alam airport is 30–40 minutes from Dal Lake. Nonstop flights connect about 10 Indian airports; others connect via Delhi or Mumbai. Morning arrivals let you start sightseeing on Day 1.
By rail
Delhi and most cities → Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra → Vande Bharat to Srinagar (~3 h). Keep an hour for the security check at Katra. From Jammu Tawi, a direct Vande Bharat reaches Srinagar in about 4 h 50 min. A direct Delhi–Srinagar sleeper has been announced but wasn't running at last check.
By road
Jammu → Srinagar on NH44 is about 270 km (8–10 h). Delhi → Srinagar is roughly 800 km over two days. The Jammu–Srinagar highway can close after heavy rain or snow.
Which should you choose?
Arriving by train (Vande Bharat) & station pickup
Vande Bharat to Kashmir. Since June 2025 trains run into the valley on the Udhampur–Srinagar line. The direct Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat takes about 4 h 50 min; trains also run from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Timings change — check IRCTC/NTES (139) before booking. Tatkal for AC classes opens one day before at 10 am.
Nearest station: Srinagar railway station (SINA), Nowgam.
Station pickup: Your driver meets you at the station exit with a name board and takes you to your hotel or houseboat. Allow extra time on the way back: there are security checks before boarding.
FAQ
Not yet; change at Katra.
About 4 hours 50 minutes.
Including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar; Kolkata seasonally.
It can close in bad weather; the train is steadier.
Yes. Your driver meets you at the station exit with a name board and takes you to your hotel or houseboat. Allow extra time on the way back: there are security checks before boarding.
