From Manipur's Loktak Lake to Kashmir's Dal Lake: an honest, longer route via Delhi or Kolkata, real prices, and a lake-to-lake comparison worth making.
In This Article
Imphal travellers already know a famous lake, Loktak, with its floating phumdi islands unlike anything else in India, so a Kashmir trip built around Dal Lake is not introducing the idea of a lake destination, it is offering a different scale and culture around the same concept, houseboats, Mughal gardens and a valley economy built on the water itself.
Quick Answer: A Kashmir package from Imphal typically runs 6D/5N, starting around ₹9,999 per person for a budget double-sharing trip, up to premium houseboat-and-private-cab packages. Most travellers from Imphal route via Delhi or a connecting metro to reach Srinagar.
How to reach Kashmir from Imphal
Imphal Airport runs scheduled flights to Delhi and Kolkata. From either, take a connecting flight to Srinagar (SXR). Total flying time across both legs runs roughly 5.5 to 6.5 hours, with the realistic door-to-door journey, including layover, taking most of a day.
Book your Kashmir package with an airport pickup included rather than arranging your own taxi on arrival, Srinagar airport can get busy around midday when several Delhi connections land close together. A pre-arranged pickup also means your driver is already briefed on the itinerary, which saves time on day one.
Kashmir package pricing from Imphal
Kashmir package pricing for Imphal travellers matches the standard bands:
- ✓For a no-frills 5N/6D trip in double-sharing standard hotels, budget ₹9,999 to ₹18,000 per person.
- ✓Most families land in the ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 per person mid-range band - a houseboat night, 3-star+ hotels.
- ✓At the top end, + per person buys a luxury houseboat, 4-5 star hotels, and a private cab for the whole trip.
Prices vary by season, hotel category and how far ahead you book, but these bands hold across the year for the standard Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg circuit.
A sample itinerary
A 6 night, 7 day itinerary that gives the lake comparison its due:
- Day 1: Land in Srinagar, houseboat check-in, evening free to settle in.
- Day 2: Sonamarg day trip straight from Srinagar.
- Day 3: Gulmarg, gondola ride and time in the meadow.
- Day 4: Pahalgam and Aru Valley.
- Day 5: Srinagar city sightseeing, Mughal gardens and old city bazaars.
- Day 6: Airport drop from Srinagar.
How the sightseeing circuit connects
Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg each sit roughly 2 to 2.5 hours from Srinagar by road, close enough to visit as day trips without constantly repacking. Many travellers keep Srinagar as a base for the whole trip and add one or two nights in Gulmarg or Pahalgam only if the pace of daily back-and-forth driving starts to feel like too much. Either way, a private cab included in the package makes the logistics straightforward.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October are the strongest windows, tulip season and green valleys in spring, chinar-red autumn colour later on. Given the distance from Imphal, plan around a longer holiday period to make full use of the journey.
If Loktak Lake's floating islands fascinated you, ask about Dal Lake's floating vegetable market at dawn, a similarly unusual, working use of a lake that few first-time visitors know to plan for.
FAQs
Does Imphal have flights toward Kashmir?
Imphal Airport connects to Delhi and Kolkata, from either of which you take a connecting flight to Srinagar. There is no direct Imphal-Srinagar route.
How does Dal Lake compare to Loktak Lake?
Both are working lakes central to local life, but Dal Lake supports houseboats and a floating market rather than Loktak's distinctive phumdi islands, a different but equally striking lake culture.
What does a Kashmir package cost from Imphal?
Land package pricing follows the standard bands, Rs 9,999 to Rs 18,000 for budget, up to Rs 35,000 for mid-range, and Rs 40,000 plus for premium.
Is Kashmir safe for tourists right now?
The standard tourist circuit of Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg sees heavy year-round domestic and international tourist traffic and is well set up for visitors, with hotels, guides and transport used to handling travellers daily.
ViaKashmir plans Imphal to Kashmir trips around your Delhi or Kolkata connection, reach out to our Srinagar team with your dates and group size.
Kashmir Pulse Editorial
Travel Desk
Via Kashmir is a Srinagar-based travel company built around one goal: giving travellers the best possible Kashmir experience. Our team puts together the best-priced hotels, cabs, Kashmir tour packages, and adventure packages with real sports activities, drawing on daily, on-the-ground knowledge of Kashmir's roads, weather, and seasons.
Ready to Experience Kashmir?
Let our local experts craft a personalised trip for you - hotels, houseboats, cabs, and experiences handpicked for your travel style.