Kashmir Strawberry Harvest Tour

The Strawberry Valley, one of Gulmarg's less popular tourist destinations, has kept much of its untouched beauty, with sweeping green meadows covered in vivid red strawberry farms. When the fruits are at their ripest and it is almost time for a harvest, the summer is the greatest time to visit the plantations.

This sight straight out of a picture book, the luscious green meadows with vivid red fruits dotting the entire area and clear blue skies above, is one you would most definitely not want to miss. As most locals would tell you, the Strawberry Valley in Gulmarg is a little off the beaten path and is located "right behind a hill." This largely explains the location's pristine beauty, which is still unaffected by a heavy influx of tourists.

Due to the harvest season, the valley is busiest in the summer. Visitors are welcome to stroll among rows of strawberry plantations to take in the area's vibrant beauty. Carry a basket with you if you choose, and after a stroll among nature's abundance, take a peaceful lunch under a tree. The sheer charisma and vitality of the place made it one of the most sought-after settings for Bollywood filming in the past.

How to reach: Gulmarg is around 50 kilometres from Srinagar by road and is accessible by car, though the winding high-altitude road takes a while. Buses also run on this route. Trains now run to Srinagar and Baramulla, and from there you can take a taxi to Gulmarg. Gulmarg is a small hill town, so most visitors walk around it; you can also book a cab.

In the village of Gaasu, Khimber, on the outskirts of Srinagar, the sight of the Kashmiri strawberry harvest is beautiful. Gaasu is popularly known as the Strawberry Bowl of Kashmir due to the abundance and quality of its strawberries.

Tangmarg is a fruit-bowl town in the Baramulla district, an hour's drive west of Srinagar, about 13 kilometres short of Gulmarg on the Narbal–Tangmarg Road and 39 km from Srinagar. It is a well-known rest stop on the route to Gulmarg, on the lower slope of the Pir Panjal range, and visitors can also make the 5 km hike from here to Gulmarg. Rolling hills, lush woods, snow-capped peaks, and clear springs are a few of the area's standout features.

Tangmarg encompasses the well-known tourist destinations of Zandpal, Drung, Gogaldara, Ningle Nallah, Babareshi, and Baderkoot. The area is also well known for its indigenous artwork and crafts, so visitors can indulge in some shopping while they're there.

How to reach: Srinagar's Sheikh-ul-Alam Airport is the closest airport, connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Leh, and Jammu by Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. Trains now run all the way to Srinagar. By road, take the Srinagar bypass (NH 44) from Pantha Chowk through Nowgam, Hyderpora Chowk, Bemina, Parimpora and Lawaypora to the Narbal crossing, then turn left onto the Narbal–Tangmarg Road (the Srinagar–Gulmarg Road) via Magam, Dhobiwan, Kunzer and Druroo, and cross the Hokersar Nala bridge to reach Tangmarg. If you miss the bypass and arrive in Srinagar city, turn onto MA Road, cross the Budshah Bridge and take the Qamarwari–Batmaloo flyover, which joins NH 44 at Parimpora. Tangmarg is a stop on the Srinagar–Gulmarg bus route, and you can also take cabs or Sumos.