Srinagar Travel Tips: 9 That Matter
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Read this before the packing list: Jammu & Kashmir is a security-sensitive, disputed region. The April 2025 attack near Pahalgam and the India-Pakistan tension since are why the US State Department and UK FCDO currently advise against travel to J&K, the FCDO naming Srinagar directly. Check your government’s current advisory before you book. Everything below assumes a precaution-first trip with a registered operator, not a spontaneous one.
Nine tips that actually change how a Srinagar trip goes, past the generic “bring sunscreen” advice.
1. Get the India e-Visa Early, From the Official Site Only
Most foreign visitors need an India e-visa, available only through indianvisaonline.gov.in . Copycat sites that charge extra fees are a real and common scam; apply 4-120 days before travel and bookmark the official URL, not a search-result ad.
2. Currency Is the Indian Rupee, and Cards Aren’t Universal
Carry cash (INR) for houseboats, shikaras, old-city shops and day-trip drivers; card acceptance thins out fast once you’re past hotels and larger restaurants.
3. Don’t Drink the Tap Water
Bottled or filtered water only, the same rule as most of India.
4. Dress Modestly, Especially Near Shrines
Cover shoulders and knees generally, and expect a stricter standard at Hazratbal Shrine, Jamia Masjid and the other old-city mosques: modest dress, shoes off, no photos inside the prayer hall.
5. Never Photograph Military, Police or Checkpoints
This is a genuinely important rule here, not a generic travel caution: never point a camera at soldiers, police, checkpoints or bunkers. Ask before photographing locals too, especially women.
6. Bargain, but Watch for the Commission Steer
Haggling is normal in old-city markets. The real risk is drivers and guides steering you toward commission-paying crafts shops rather than fair-priced ones; favor fixed-price government emporiums, and know that Shahtoosh (endangered-antelope wool) is illegal, whatever a shop calls it.
7. Agree the Shikara Fare Before You Get In
Official tariff is roughly ₹750-800 an hour; touts at the ghats routinely quote two to three times that. Agree the fare, or book through your houseboat or a hotel desk, before stepping into the boat.
8. Expect Checkpoints, and a Slower News-Watching Habit
Security checkpoints are a normal part of getting around, and curfews or connectivity disruptions have happened before during periods of tension. Check local news each morning of your trip, not just once before you left home.
9. Book Your Houseboat Through a Registered Operator
The same touting culture around crafts shops shows up at the airport and lake ghats for houseboats. Book a reputable, registered houseboat through a known agent rather than whoever approaches you first off the plane.
Quick Reference
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| E-visa, official site only | Copycat visa sites are a real scam |
| No military/checkpoint photos | Genuinely enforced, not just discouraged |
| Agree shikara fare first | Touts quote 2-3x the official rate |
| Registered houseboat | Same commission culture as crafts shops |
For where to actually stay once you’ve booked a registered houseboat, see our places to stay guide , and check the current UK FCDO advisory again before you finalize any of this.
If you only take one tip from this list, make it the e-visa one. Everything else is recoverable mid-trip; a rejected or scammed visa application isn’t.