Kashmir’s capital, Srinagar, is spread across the heart of the valley, crossed by a web of canals and the greeny brown Jhelum river. Its numerous wooden mosques, Sufi shrines, Mughal gardens and, above all, houseboats moored on Dal and Nageen Lakes offer a memorable interlude in any Himalayan journey. 

After years of curfew, the markets of Srinagar’s wood-and-stone Old City are once again open for business – a rich source of hand-crafted Kashmiri souvenirs, from papier-maché baubles to finest pashmina shawls. Admire the traditional architecture and painted wood interiors of the Jama Masjid and Shah-e-Hamdan shrines, and hop in a cable car up for the spellbinding panoramic views over Srinagar and the valley from the Sufi Dargah of Makhdoom Sahib.