Kashmir in December 2023 – Plan An Unmatched Holiday to the Winter Wonderland

India is blessed to have such a beautiful place like Kashmir. The places in Kashmir like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, and Srinagar; are all cast in the snow, and nothing else in this world looks prettier than Kashmir. The entire valleys are covered with a blanket of snow in Kashmir in December.  

Kashmir in winter, especially in December, is way too challenging. But a trip there is totally worth it. The tropic area of Kashmir makes it the best destination to visit in Winters and it has its fun, joy, and entertainment. The weather in Kashmir during winters i.e between December to February has very pleasant surroundings which are usually duskier and the bone-chilling cold can make anyone numb.  

This blog will help you in how to plan a vacation trip to Kashmir this December by providing you with details like weather conditions, ways to travel, places to visit, things to do, and a lot more if you are planning a trip to Kashmir in December.     

Kashmir Weather and Temperature in December

The Kashmir weather in December has snowfall and experienced low temperatures of 10°C and a high of 21°C. The mornings in Kashmir can be foggy and the weather of Kashmir in December can get down to 1°C at night whereas afternoons in Kashmiris are relatively hot. The average temperature of Kashmir in December lies between 7-8°C. 

How to Reach Kashmir in December: Know What are the Best Ways

To plan a Kashmir trip in December, it is necessary to know how to reach and what are ways you can opt for travelling at that time. Fortunately, there are several ways to reach Kashmir. So, don’t worry. Below is a brief description of travelling to Kashmir by public transport, flight, private taxi, bike, etc. Through this blog, we are sharing some of the possible ways to you for reaching Kashmir in the best possible ways.      

• By public transport – There are so many public transports readily available from Srinagar like Public buses are available from Srinagar which is operated by  JKSRTC and other private companies which run at regular intervals and are also inexpensive tickets.
• By flight – To travel to Kashmir in December you can go by opting flight. There is a major airport in Srinagar. As it is connected to various cities like Delhi, Goa, Jammu, Leh Mumbai, and Bangalore. After reaching the airport, you can hire taxis to reach various cities in Kashmir.
• Via Private Taxi – You can even visit Kashmir by hiring a private taxi. Which are readily available from Srinagar. You can also rent a car through a travel service. You can visit various towns and cities by renting a private Taxi or car from Srinagar.
• By Bike – Kashmir is a state which is well connected by a network of states with several nearby cities and towns. 1- A National Highway connects Srinagar with Jammu. 

Best Places to Visit Kashmir in December - Holiday Trip in 2023

Kashmir is full of beautiful places and hence it attracts a lot of tourists.

The following are a few of the best places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir in December – 

Dal lake – Enjoying the Shikara ride on Dal Lake is one of the best things to do on a trip to Kashmir in December.  A Shikara boat ride in Kashmir is overall the experience when you are on a Kashmir holiday and there’s nothing more enchanting than planning a good ride there. So, whenever you plan for a trip to Kashmir do not miss experiencing this amazing ride on Dal Lake.

Gulmarg – It is considered to be one of the best and most popular  Kashmir places to visit in December. It offers you so many adventurous activities like skiing, riding a cable car. Riding a cable car in Gulmarg is truly an amazing experience. Skating and heli-skiing are some of the other popular activities that you can take up and explore in Gulmarg while planning a trip to Kashmir in Winter.

Sonmarg – Sonmarg is a place in Kashmir that is blessed turning into a sea of white and is known as golden beauty. Thajiwas Glacier and Zero Point are the most beautiful and popular places to visit in summary. There you can enjoy embracing the beauty of the land of golden meadows which has its charm in the dusky winter.

Pahalgam – Dealing with winters wouldn’t have been this easier without the help of ponies. And In Pahalgam, you can enjoy pony riding and rafting. To get a good experience of the glaciers in Kashmir at their best a horse/pony ride is a must and get to experience mesmerising Kashmir climate in December.

Apart from this, there are so many lesser-known/offbeat places to visit in Kashmir like Gurez, Lolab valley, Chatpal, Reshwari, Daksum, Karnah, Warwan Valley, Watlab. Tulail Valley, and Bhaderwah. 

Things to do in Kashmir in December - Adventures Activities With full of Fun

1. Trekking in Ranges of Kashmir-

Kashmir is a hub of trekking expeditions which attracts adventurers a lot. People visit the valleys of Kashmir for getting lost in the wonderful meadows of the valleys. Trekking is a tough sport for newbies and many exotic views come on the way to the top. The cost is also very less. Everest base camp is very famous. It is a trekking expedition where tourists get to interact with Sherpa, who are the locals of the Himalayas. Pack your bags to trek on the most difficult routes. Trekking is one of the best experiences of visiting Kashmir in December. 

2. Camping in Valleys of Kashmir-

There are many camping sites in Kashmir and the best thing to experience in Jammu and Kashmir is in December. The trekking sites are the sites for camping and these are the best places to feel the realm of the Himalayas. The place, Pahalgam is visited mostly by visitors and has become their favourite site for camping. The camping sites allow you to enjoy the beautiful greenery of valleys. To celebrate, people dance, sing, make tents, sit in circles and eat fancy or traditional food. This is the best part of camping. 

3. Enjoy Skiing –

Kashmir offers you so many places where you can experience skiing and among all of them, Gulmarg is the best destination to do skiing. There are so many resorts in Kashmir that offer you with skiing experiences like  Khyber Himalayan Resorts and Spa, Gulmarg Resorts, The Pine Palace, Resort Gulmarg Backcountry Ski Resort, Heevan Retreat Gulmarg and many more. The activity offers different experiences when it is done in winters especially in December as it is the perfect time to hit the slopes of Kashmir

4. Jeep- Safari and Sightseeing-

Jeep Safari in Kashmir is a great adventurous feat. People sit in the jeep and explore the valleys. It is the best way to see all the peaks of the valleys, roaming indigenous animals, indigenous flora, birds of hill ranges, and whatnot.  You get to see nature closely and experience the beauty of Kashmir. Jeep safari is for people of all ages, be it young, elderly, or middle-aged people. This activity can be done with family if you are planning to go to Kashmir valleys for vacation and should be your mandatory thing to include in the Kashmir tour package in December

5. Heritage walk-

Heritage walk is for people like you who want to know more about the cultures and traditions of the past and the locals. On a heritage walk, you get to see traditional handicrafts of the past, listen to folklores, feel the Kashmiri fabric, taste the amazing traditional dishes. You can hire guides for proper guidance. There is an Open-air museum here and you can cover the museum in two hours. Heritage walk will show you a hidden part of Kashmir and Srinagar. You will get to experience the hidden historical stories of the past.

How to plan your trip to Kashmir in December? Know the Tips

Travelling to a place like Kashmir is a delightful experience. But there are a few things to consider while planning your trip to Kashmir in winter. That is as follows- 

• Make plans keeping delays in the flights in view – Due to the heavy snowfall, you might face delays in the flight and even the roads aren’t as comfortable to travel on as it seems. so, plan out accordingly.
• Do proper enquiry about weather forecasting, roads – Make sure that you enquire about the roads accessibility and weather forecast well in advance.
• Avoid Opting Local Transport – Local transport won’t be convenient to travel in winters so book a prepaid car or private tax  well in advance for your entire trip to Kashmir in December 
• Carry a good number of warm clothes – You should carry all your best winter clothes as dealing with  -10 degrees won’t be an easy task for you and Kashmir has highly unpredictable weather so make sure you carry extra clothes. 
• Enquire about hotel booking in advance – Kashmir being a tourist place and December being the best time to visit there’s a possibility that you make face difficulties in getting hotel booking
• Gulmarg won’t be easier for you to travel while Pahalgam will be – Due to the heavy snowfall. It won’t be easy for you to travel to Gulmarg although it is assumed that roads will stay clear all the time with the help of snow clearing machines. But don’t worry this won’t affect your trip as there as so many places to visit in Kashmir in December.

Here are a few dos and don'ts to keep in mind to make your journey to Jammu and Kashmir more pleasant.

  Do’s 

• Do ask for a local sim card from your hotel as your SIM Card will not work because of restrictions put for the security of Kashmir
• You should bring all the essential things like medicines required, food, water, etc to avoid problems created later on like duplication of medicines, etc.
• If you are a foreign traveller make sure you carry your passport all the time as you won’t be allowed to visit various places without your password.
• If you are going to visit any holy place like a mosque you should make sure that you cover your head 

Don’ts 

• If you face problems like asthma or have a phobia of heights then prevent yourself from reaching the upper sections of destinations.
• Avoid carrying a lot of cash as it will bother you every time and you won’t be able to enjoy your trip to Kashmir in December. 
• It is advisable not to take pictures at the international airport of Srinagar due to security reasons.
• Avoid roaming out at unusual hours as it can put you in trouble. So, plan your outings accordingly.

Conclusion –

Planning a trip to Kashmir in December? Indeed it is a great idea. India is blessed to have such a beautiful place like Kashmir. If you don’t visit Kashmir then you are surely going to miss a lot of things. So, you must visit such a beautiful place like Kashmir this December 2023. And there’s no need to worry about packages and all as there are so many customized, cheap and affordable Kashmir tour packages in December available.

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