When the first snowfall in Kashmir reaches Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar, what the 2026 season has brought so far, and how to plan a trip around the first snow.
Chasing the first snow?
Send your dates. We tell you honestly where snow is likely that week and plan the stay and cab around it.
In This Article
- When does the first snowfall in Kashmir usually happen?
- What has the 2026 season brought so far?
- Has Srinagar ever had snow in early November?
- Gulmarg, Sonamarg or Pahalgam: where should you chase the first snow?
- How to plan a trip around the first snowfall
- What does the first snow feel like in Srinagar?
- Frequently asked questions
Quick Answer: The first snowfall in Kashmir reaches the high passes and peaks first. In 2026 it came around 13 October, dusting Apharwat above Gulmarg, Zojila, Razdan Pass and Sinthan Top. Gulmarg's meadow usually turns white between late November and December, while Srinagar's own first snow normally waits for December or January.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
Every autumn the same question arrives on our phones from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata: has it snowed yet? The honest answer about the first snowfall in Kashmir is that it comes in stages, from the top of the mountains down to the valley floor, over about two months. Knowing that ladder is the difference between a trip that finds snow and one that finds cold rain.
When does the first snowfall in Kashmir usually happen?
Snow follows altitude. The higher a place, the earlier it turns white and the longer the snow stays. This is the usual pattern we see year after year, not a promise for any single week:
| Place | Altitude (approx.) | First snow usually |
|---|---|---|
| Apharwat peak, Zojila, Sinthan Top | 3,500 to 4,000 m | October to early November |
| Sonamarg | 2,800 m | November to December |
| Gulmarg meadow | 2,650 m | Late November to December |
| Pahalgam | 2,200 m | December, some years late November |
| Srinagar city | 1,585 m | Late December or January; November snow is rare |
So a traveller who lands in Srinagar in mid-November will often see snow on the ridges from the plane window and in Gulmarg's upper slopes, but walk around the city in dry, cold autumn air.
What has the 2026 season brought so far?
The season's first snow reached the higher reaches around 13 October 2026. Apharwat above Gulmarg, the Zojila axis beyond Sonamarg, Razdan Pass on the Gurez road and Sinthan Top all turned white, and the Meteorological Department expected a dry spell to follow. In early November the valley floor is still in late autumn: chinars are dropping their last red leaves, mornings are frosty and the high ridges hold patches of white.
For a live view of what Gulmarg is expecting, our Gulmarg snowfall page tracks the forecast, and our Gulmarg in November guide covers what the resort is like this month.
Related reading: Kashmir in December: What the Valley Looks Like When Winter Arrives
Has Srinagar ever had snow in early November?
Yes, but rarely, and locals remember each time. Srinagar had snow on 10 November 2009. On 3 November 2018 the city got its first November snow in nine years. Then on 6 and 7 November 2019 came the big one: the heaviest 24-hour November snowfall in Srinagar since 1980, according to a study in ICAR's Indian Horticulture journal, which put orchard damage at 20 to 50 percent across the valley.
In Kashmir, an early snow is beautiful to visitors and frightening to orchard owners, because apple trees still carrying their leaves catch the weight of it and split. That is why you will hear older people greet a November snow with worry rather than joy.
Gulmarg, Sonamarg or Pahalgam: where should you chase the first snow?
| Gulmarg | Sonamarg | Pahalgam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chance of early snow | Best: Apharwat via gondola Phase 2 | Good, especially towards Zero Point | Lower; snow comes later |
| Drive from Srinagar | About 2 hours | About 2 to 2.5 hours | About 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Winter access | Open; chains or 4x4 may be needed above Tangmarg | Z-Morh tunnel (open since January 2025) keeps the town reachable; Zojila beyond closes | Open; side valleys close |
| Best for | First-timers who want sure snow | Quiet snow and glacier views | A calmer stay with snow later in the season |
If you have one day and want the best chance of touching snow in November, Gulmarg with the gondola is the bet, weather allowing. Phase 2 to Apharwat runs only when wind and visibility permit, so keep a spare morning.
Book for this trip
How to plan a trip around the first snowfall
- Pick late November to mid-December if you want snow on the ground in Gulmarg and Sonamarg without the Christmas and New Year rush.
- Keep two or three flexible days. Snow arrives with western disturbances that the forecast shows three to five days ahead.
- Base yourself in Srinagar and do Gulmarg and Sonamarg as day trips, so a closed road does not strand your hotel booking.
- Book a cab with a local driver who carries chains. Above Tangmarg the police sometimes allow only 4x4s or chained cars after fresh snow.
- Pack for minus 5 to minus 10 at night in the hills: thermals, a down jacket, waterproof boots and gloves. Rent gumboots and coats at Gulmarg if you need them.
- Watch the Meteorological Department's Srinagar forecast and the J&K Traffic Police updates each morning before you set off.
Our guide to driving in Kashmir in snow covers chains, 4x4 rules and when to turn back.
What does the first snow feel like in Srinagar?
When it finally falls on the city, it comes quietly at night. You wake to a strange silence, no traffic, the call to prayer carrying further than usual, and a soft light coming off the roofs. Hari Parbat turns white above the old city, kites circle over Dal Lake, and the shikarawallas sweep snow off their seats before the first passengers arrive. Families light the kangri, put harissa or noon chai on, and children run out before anyone can stop them. It is the one morning of the year when the whole city seems to agree to slow down.
Via Kashmir plans winter trips with verified hotels, houseboats on Dal and Nigeen, Kashmir packages and local cabs. Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly where snow is likely that week.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first snowfall in Kashmir in 2026?
The high reaches, including Apharwat above Gulmarg, Zojila, Razdan Pass and Sinthan Top, got the season's first snow around 13 October 2026. Gulmarg's meadow and Srinagar city usually get theirs later, from late November onwards.
Will there be snow in Gulmarg in November?
There is usually snow on Apharwat and the upper slopes, reachable by gondola Phase 2 when it runs. Snow on the Gulmarg meadow itself in November is possible but not certain; it is more reliable from December.
Does it snow in Srinagar in November?
Rarely. Srinagar had November snow in 2009, 2018 and 2019, but in most years the city's first snow falls in late December or January, during Chillai Kalan.
Is Sonamarg open after the first snowfall?
Since the Z-Morh tunnel opened in January 2025, Sonamarg town stays reachable from Srinagar in winter, though fresh snow can close the road for a day. The road beyond Sonamarg over Zojila closes for the winter.
What is the best month to see snow in Kashmir?
January and February give the most snow everywhere, including Srinagar. For a first-snow trip with fewer crowds, late November to mid-December in Gulmarg and Sonamarg is a good balance.
Planning a trip to Kashmir? Via Kashmir offers custom itineraries, verified hotels, and local cab services, planned by people who live here.
Planning more than this? Get a full itemised Kashmir quote