Kashmir Valley town on the Jhelum River, set between Srinagar and the road to Uri.
Baramulla sits on the Jhelum River in the western part of the Kashmir Valley, about 60 km from Srinagar. For centuries it was the gateway to Kashmir, the point where the old Mughal road from the plains entered the valley, and it retains something of that crossroads character. The old town along the river has wooden houses with carved balconies in the traditional Kashmiri style, though many have suffered from decades of neglect and conflict.
The town itself is not a major destination, but it serves as a useful base for exploring the western valley. Gulmarg, one of India's premier ski resorts and a spectacular meadow in summer, is about 50 km to the south. The road from Baramulla to Gulmarg climbs through pine forests with views across the Pir Panjal range. To the north, the road continues toward Uri and the Line of Control; east lies Wular Lake, one of South Asia's largest freshwater lakes and a fine spot for birdwatching.
The town's religious mix is unusual for the valley — the historic St Joseph's Catholic Church on the hill, the Khanqah of Sheikh Janbaz Wali in the old town, and a Sikh gurudwara on the riverbank all stand within a few hundred metres of each other. Baramulla has a railway station on the Srinagar–Baramulla line and regular bus connections. The security situation in the Kashmir Valley can change rapidly — check conditions before travelling and be prepared for checkpoints on the roads. When things are calm, this is a beautiful stretch of country, with the river winding through orchards of apple and walnut trees below snow-capped peaks.
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Eating Out
Baramulla's food is the Kashmiri food of the rest of the valley: rich Wazwan-influenced lamb dishes, lots of dried apricot and saffron, mutton kebabs, rajma-chawal, and the local fast food staple, the kanti (mutton chunks with onions and chillies served with naan).
There are no destination restaurants in town, but the bazaars near the river have several reliable bakeries turning out hot kashmiri naan, lavasa and kulcha in clay tandoors. A handful of plain dhabas on the main road do mutton rogan josh, yakhni and dal — order them with the local short-grain rice. For a sit-down meal, the small restaurants attached to the better hotels along the bypass road are the safest bet.
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Getting There
Baramulla is 60 km west of Srinagar, about 90 minutes by road. Shared sumos (jeeps) run regularly from Srinagar's main stand throughout daylight hours and are the fastest option. Buses are cheaper and slower. Taxis are easy to hire by the day or for the one-way trip.
The Baramulla railway station, 5 km north-east of the town, is the western terminus of the Kashmir Valley line and since 2025 has been linked to the rest of the Indian rail network via the Chenab Bridge. Several daily trains run east to Srinagar, Anantnag and Banihal, and direct services from Delhi and Katra are gradually being introduced. The nearest commercial airport is at Srinagar.
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When to Go
Baramulla has the classic four-season Kashmiri climate. April to early June is spring — apple blossom, mustard fields, the meadows of Gulmarg waking up. July to September is warm and pleasant in the valley itself but the high pastures and treks are at their best. October and November are dry and brilliantly clear, with chinar leaves turning crimson — many travellers find this the most beautiful time. December to February is properly cold, often snowy, and the moment to come if you want to ski at Gulmarg.
Check the security situation before travelling. The Kashmir Valley can close to outsiders with little warning during periods of unrest, and roads to Gulmarg, Uri or further west are sometimes restricted.
