City of lakes
Srinagar spreads along the Jhelum and around Dal and Nigeen lakes, with the Zabarwan hills and the Mughal gardens on the eastern shore. The old city, known as Downtown or Shehr-e-Khaas, has narrow lanes, old wooden houses, shrines and markets; across the river, Lal Chowk, Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar form the commercial and residential centre. Newer colonies have spread out to Hyderpora, Bemina, Sanat Nagar, Nowgam and along the bypass.
When you ask for a quote, give the exact address, a map pin and whether a truck can reach the gate.
Winter
Kashmir's winter is harsh, especially during Chillai Kalan, the coldest forty days from late December to January. Snow can block roads, pipes freeze and power cuts are common. Moving in winter is possible but slow; keep spare days, protect electronics and liquids from freezing, and make sure the new home is heated before you arrive.
The highway and the railway
Most goods reach Srinagar by road on the Jammu–Srinagar highway, through the Banihal tunnels, and the road can close for hours or days because of landslides at Ramban, snow or traffic restrictions. The railway now links the valley with the rest of India through the mountains. Ask your mover to check the highway's status before setting a date.
Kashmiri homes
Many Kashmiri homes have carved walnut-wood furniture, wooden ceilings, heavy carpets and papier-mâché pieces. Ask for carvings to be wrapped in cloth before blankets, carpets rolled and covered, and fragile crafts packed individually in strong cartons.
Weather
Spring, from March to May, brings almond and tulip blossom; summers are warm and pleasant; autumn turns the chinar trees red. April to June and September to October are usually the best times to move.
Festivals and the yatra
Eid, Muharram and the Urs at the shrines bring the biggest crowds, and the Amarnath Yatra in July and August adds convoys and restrictions on the highway. The tourist season fills the city in summer. Check the calendar before you book.
Local moves
Many local moves go across the city or out to Ganderbal, Budgam, Pampore, Sonamarg road villages or the towns of north and south Kashmir. Share both exact addresses when you ask for a quote.
Common moves out of Srinagar
Common moves from Srinagar go south through the mountains to Jammu and on to Delhi NCR. Our route guides cover both.
Students
The University of Kashmir, NIT Srinagar, the medical colleges and many colleges draw students from across the valley. Many Kashmiri students also move to Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and elsewhere for study. A student's room usually goes as a few-items move; check the hostel's dates first.
Postings
Government, bank, army and paramilitary staff are posted to Srinagar and move in and out regularly. Service and government quarters need a vacating notice and an inspection, and some areas need passes for vehicles. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Checks on the road
Trucks are often checked on the highway and at city entry points. Keep the signed packing list, the mover's invoice and your ID in the truck, and list everything clearly.
Mobile connections
Mobile connections from outside Jammu and Kashmir may not work the same way inside the territory. If you're moving in from elsewhere, check with your operator before you travel so you can stay in touch with the mover.
First weeks in a Srinagar home
Ask how the water supply works and whether pipes are protected from freezing, check the heating and the power backup, and book internet early. Our guide to address changes after moving lists the official records to update.
Houseboats and lake areas
Homes around Dal and Nigeen lakes are often reached by narrow roads along the shore, and some by boat. Share a map pin and explain the access when you ask for a quote.
The tulip garden in April
Srinagar's tulip garden, below the Zabarwan hills, opens for a few weeks each spring and draws huge crowds of tourists, so the roads along the Dal Lake boulevard are jammed. Moves in that area in April should start early in the morning.
Lal Chowk
Lal Chowk, the city's commercial centre, is crowded with shops and traffic, and trucks can't stand there for long, so goods from homes nearby are carried to side roads.
SKIMS at Soura
SKIMS, the institute of medical sciences at Soura, draws patients from across the valley, and families staying for treatment rent rooms nearby.
Pampore's saffron
Pampore, south of Srinagar on the highway, is the heart of Kashmir's saffron country, and its fields bloom purple in October and November.
Ganderbal towards Sonamarg
Ganderbal, north of Srinagar on the road to Sonamarg, is a district town where staff are posted, and the road beyond it climbs into the mountains.
The 2014 flood
In September 2014, the Jhelum broke its banks and flooded large parts of Srinagar for weeks. If you're moving into a ground-floor home in a low-lying area, ask how high the water came, and keep valuables upstairs.
Downtown's lanes
Downtown Srinagar, the old city around the Jamia Masjid, has narrow lanes and tall old houses, and goods often have to be carried to the main road.
Hazratbal
The Hazratbal shrine, on the Dal's northern shore, draws huge crowds on special days, and the roads around it are jammed then.
Walnut wood furniture
Kashmiri walnut wood furniture is heavy and finely carved, so wrap it in blankets and keep carved panels from rubbing against each other.
Moving before winter
Many Srinagar families plan moves for September or October, before the cold sets in and the highway closes more often with snow. Winter moves are possible but need flexible dates.
Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar
Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar, on the Jhelum's bank, were among the worst-hit areas in the 2014 flood, so check how a ground floor there fared.