Delhi to Srinagar Guide 2024: How to Reach Srinagar by Train, Bus, or Flight

Are you looking for options on how to reach Srinagar? Still confused about whether you should take a flight or a train from Delhi to Srinagar?

If the above-mentioned questions plague you, then you have come to the right place. As someone who has traveled to Srinagar multiple times now, I can definitely help you with your query.

So, in this article, I will be sharing with you multiple ways of reaching Srinagar not just from Delhi but all over India.

Whether you are looking for a budget trip or a comfortable one, this post lists down all the possible ways of reaching Srinagar.

Well, what are you waiting for? Read on to know more about how to reach Srinagar from Delhi and other parts of India!

How to Reach Srinagar by Train

There is one major railway station in Srinagar – Srinagar Railway Station, a station on the Jammu-Baramulla line. It is located 13 km from the city center but sadly it is not connected to any place outside Kashmir.

Srinagar Railway Station is connected to Banihal Railway Station, which is a 4-hour drive from Jammu.

While work is in progress to connect this railway station with Jammu Tawi station, it will take some time before tourists can get a direct train to Srinagar from Delhi or other parts of India.

So, currently, the closest train stations to Srinagar that can be reached by other cities in India are Udhampur Station and Jammu Tawi Station.

Since Jammu is a major destination, especially for pilgrims, the railway station is well-connected to major cities in India. From Delhi, you get several overnight and day trains to Jammu that cost anywhere between 200 – 2500 INR, depending on the coach you choose.

Note: Do book your train tickets well in advance on IRCTC since the seats fill up quickly.

Delhi to Srinagar by Train

If you are also traveling from Delhi to Srinagar like me, then the train is a really good option to consider. Delhi to Srinagar distance is approximately 798 km, part of which you can cover by train.

You will first need to reach Jammu from Delhi by train which can take anywhere between 12 – 15 hours. There are around 10 trains available daily that ply on this route and can cost you anywhere between 400 – 3000 INR, depending on the train class you select.

Note: If you are planning to take AC coaches from Delhi to Jammu, then you might as well book a flight. Generally, Delhi to Srinagar flights can cost you anywhere between 2000 – 3000 INR for one side.

Jammu to Srinagar

Once you reach Jammu, you can take a bus or a shared taxi to Srinagar. From the railway station, take a local bus to the Jammu Main Bus Station from where you can get buses and shared taxis for Banihal, Srinagar, and other destinations.

A journey from Jammu to Srinagar can take you anywhere between 6 – 12 hours, depending on the road. If they take you via Banihal, you can easily reach it in 7-8 hours.

However, if the Banihal route is closed due to landslides (which generally happen in the monsoon months), you will have to take the Mughal Road route. This generally takes you to Srinagar via Rajouri and Shopian villages and can take close to 12 hours.

A bus from Jammu to Srinagar will charge you approximately 530 INR while a shared taxi will charge you 1000 INR. You can also take a tempo traveler that will charge you 700-800 INR for this journey.

Alternative Route: Another option is to take a bus or shared taxi to Banihal. From here, you can take the passenger train to Srinagar. From Jammu to Banihal, you will pay around 250 INR for the bus or 500 INR for a shared taxi.

From Banihal, the cost of the passenger train is 50 INR only for Srinagar. The train takes approximately 2 hours to reach so, you will be able to cover Jammu to Srinagar distance in just 6 hours.  

Leh to Srinagar by Train

If you are traveling from Leh, then let me tell you that there is no train option available. There are now railway stations in the Ladakh region so, you can travel from Leh to Srinagar by flight or bus only.

Other Cities to Srinagar by Train

As I mentioned above, Jammu is well-connected by railway network so you will be easily able to find train options from other cities.

If you live at a destination where there are no direct trains to Jammu, then you can choose to take a flight.

For budget travelers, taking a train to a nearby railway station is also a good option. You can look for trains to Delhi, Pathankot, Ludhiana, etc. From here, you will easily get trains to Jammu.

Once you have reached Jammu, you can use the above-mentioned route to reach Srinagar from Jammu.

Srinagar Railway Station to Other Parts of Srinagar

If you choose to reach Srinagar Railway Station from Banihal, then you will have to reach the city center which is 25 minutes from the station.

From here, you will have to hire a cab or taxi that will charge you around 350 – 400 INR to drop you at the city center.

How to Reach Srinagar by Flight

Srinagar has one international airport – Sheikh ul Alam International Airport, which is well-connected to all the big cities in India.

The airport is located around 10-15 km from the city and is a great way to reach Srinagar if you are short on time. Since this is the defense airport, they perform strict checking when you land or depart using this airport.

This is why it is crucial that you leave early for your departure flight from Srinagar as they check at two different points here. So, if there is a long queue, it can easily take you an hour to reach the airport itself.

Delhi to Srinagar by Flight

Are you thinking about booking a Delhi to Srinagar flight? Well, if you don’t have a lot of time, then this is definitely a good option.

If you book well in advance, then a flight will actually cost you less than what you will spend on traveling from Delhi to Srinagar by bus.

For my last-minute bookings, my round-trip flights from Delhi to Srinagar cost me approximately 5,000 INR. So, if you plan and book in advance, I am sure you could get a better deal.

Of course, the flight price can increase or decrease depending on the month that you are traveling. So, keep an eye on the price fluctuations when planning your trip here.

From Delhi, there are several flights to Srinagar throughout the day from Spicejet, GoFirst, Indigo, Air Asia, Vistara, and more. This makes it easier to find a flight that suits your budget and timing.

Leh to Srinagar by Flight

For those who are traveling from Leh to Srinagar, taking a flight is an excellent option. The flight takes barely 45 minutes to reach and will cost you anywhere around 3500 – 5000 INR for one side, depending on when you book the flight.

The only problem is that since Leh Airport – Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is a military base, there are only morning flights available.

As of now, there are only 2 flights operating the Leh to Srinagar route so, you will need to plan your trip in advance.

Other Cities to Srinagar by Flight

Although only domestic flights are allowed to Srinagar, there are flights available from most major cities in India to Srinagar.

You can easily get flights to Srinagar from Chandigarh, Jammu, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Mumbai, and more. However, the frequency of these flights is once or twice a day so, your best option is to reach Delhi and then take a flight to Srinagar.

Srinagar Airport to TRC

From Srinagar Airport, you will find several taxis going to different parts of the city.

If you wish to travel from Srinagar Airport to Dal Lake, then you can take the airport shuttle to TRC which costs around 100 INR. There is a shuttle bus available once every hour and takes around 40-45 minutes to reach TRC.

From TRC, Dal Gate is only 1.5 km that you can walk or take a shared taxi to reach.

A direct taxi/cab from Srinagar Airport to Dal Lake will easily cost you around 1000 – 1500 INR. You can also take a shared taxi to Lal Chowk or TRC which will cost you around 150 INR.

How to Reach Srinagar by Bus

Finally, as mentioned, Srinagar is connected to other locations in India via road. So, you can easily reach here using buses.

Delhi to Srinagar Bus

You can take a Delhi to Srinagar bus by JKSRTC that operates between 12:30 and 5 PM. The bus leaves from Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmiri Gate and drops you off directly at Srinagar’s TRC bus stand.

The bus can cost you anywhere between 1500 and 2500 INR, depending on whether you choose the A.C bus or not. It takes close to 18 hours to cover this route so it is not recommended.

Moreover, quite often the direct buses are not operational so you will need to check with the bus operators or at the bus station before you can book your tickets for this journey.

Please Note: Currently, it is not possible to book these buses online so, passengers need to check at the bus stations for tickets.

Delhi to Jammu to Srinagar Bus

If you cannot find a direct bus from Delhi to Srinagar, then another great option is to reach Jammu first. There are several overnight buses from Delhi to Jammu.

You can easily book a bus for Delhi to Jammu online or get a bus directly from Majnu ka Tilla or RK Ashram. The cost of the bus can be anywhere between 650 – 1,000 INR and it will take around 10-12 hours to reach.

From Jammu, you can get a bus, a tempo traveler, or a shared taxi to Srinagar that will charge you anywhere between 500 – 1,000 INR.

If you are in a hurry, then a shared taxi is a great option but it will be expensive. For those who are on a budget trip to Srinagar, the best option is taking the JKSRTC bus to Srinagar which will cost you around 400 – 500 INR.

Please Note: Sometimes the buses aren’t operational between Jammu and Srinagar due to the possibility of a landslide in the monsoon season. However, you can book a shared taxi or tempo traveler in such a situation.

Leh to Srinagar Bus

For those traveling from Leh to Srinagar, a bus is also a good option for backpackers and budget travelers. There are two types of buses available for traveling from Leh to Srinagar – JKSRTC and Private buses.

JKSRTC offers luxury, semi-deluxe, and ordinary bus options and the journey generally takes around 18 hours passing through Zojila Pass. As a result, these buses are available only from May onwards, once the snow has been cleared from Zojila Pass.

The cost of a bus from Leh to Srinagar can range between 500 and 1400 INR, depending on the bus type you choose. It starts from Leh main bus stand at 2 PM and reaches Srinagar the next day at 7:30 AM.

Note: There is no option for online booking of the ticket so, you will need to buy your tickets one day in advance or early morning.

Other Cities

Well, it should be no surprise that there are no direct buses to Srinagar from anywhere farther than Jammu or Leh. So, if you are traveling from other cities such as Pathankot, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, etc., you will need to reach Jammu first.

From Jammu, you can take a bus or shared taxi to reach Srinagar.

How to Reach Srinagar by Road Trip

Delhi to Srinagar Road Trip

Let’s be real, if you are planning a trip to Srinagar by road, then you are likely starting your journey from Delhi. Delhi is at a distance of 800 km from Srinagar and one can cover this journey in approximately 17-18 hours.

However, a direct road trip is not advisable as it can be quite tiring. So, I would recommend you divide this journey into 2 days.

On Day 1, you can start early from Delhi and reach Jammu by evening after a 12 – 14 hour drive. Rest for the night and complete your drive to Srinagar on day 2.

On Day 2, you can take the NH4 route which will take you around 8 hours, or the Mughal Road which will take around 12 hours to reach Srinagar.

Leh to Srinagar Road Trip

Of course, if you are traveling in Leh using your vehicle or a cab, then you can plan a road trip to Srinagar as well.

Leh to Srinagar distance is around 418 km and can be covered in 12-14 hours easily. This is the route that you will have to follow to reach Srinagar from Leh:

Leh – Lamayuru – Namika La – Kargil – Dras – Zoji La – Songmarg – Srinagar

Another great idea is to explore Kargil on the way and divide the journey into two days. On day 1, you can reach Kargil from Leh and explore this strategic village.

On day 2, you can drive from Kargil to Srinagar and reach Kashmir by evening.

Reaching Srinagar on a Small Budget (1000 – 5000 INR)

If you are a budget traveler or a backpacker, then you might want to travel in the least amount of money possible.

It is possible but you will need to have sufficient time at hand. Read on to know more about how you can travel to and fro from Srinagar on a tight budget.

From Nearby Cities (Delhi, Leh, etc.)

One of the best things about living in a city near Srinagar such as Leh, Delhi, Jammu, etc. is that you have several modes of transportation for reaching Srinagar on a budget.

You can take a train or a bus from these cities and can easily travel to Srinagar in under 1500 INR. From cities such as Pathankot, Ludhiana, etc., you can even take a general ticket for Jammu Tawi for 80-100 INR and further reduce the traveling cost.

Also, make sure to take a local bus wherever possible as it will reduce half the traveling costs.

From Other Cities

If you are traveling to Srinagar from far-off cities such as Mumbai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, etc., it might be difficult to travel to Srinagar on a shoestring budget, but it is not impossible.

As these journeys can travel close to 2-3 days, you will have to take a train first to Jammu Tawi Station or Delhi Station.

So, the cheapest way to reach is by taking a sleeper class ticket that will cost you around 800 – 1000 INR to reach Jammu/Delhi. From Jammu, you can take a bus to Banihal for 250 INR and then a train to Srinagar Railway Station.

The entire trip won’t cost you more than 1300 – 1500 INR.

But if you are looking for comfort, then you can take a 3AC coach, but the price will increase by 1000 INR, allowing you to reach Srinagar in 2500 – 3500 INR.

Reaching Srinagar on a Luxury Trip (7000 – 15000 INR)

For those whose primary focus is comfort and time, then flights are the best options for you. They will be a little expensive but you will save a lot of time on your vacation as well.

From Nearby Cities (Delhi, Leh, etc.)

Is money not an issue for you? If so, then you can take a flight to Srinagar to save time and energy.

From Delhi, you can get a round-trip flight to Srinagar for anywhere between 5,000 – 10,000 INR. On the other hand, a round-trip flight from Leh to Srinagar will easily cost you 7,000 – 12,000 INR.

Also, it will barely take you 45 – 90 minutes to reach Srinagar.

Another good option is to plan a road trip from Delhi to Srinagar with a few friends. The petrol for this journey would cost you around 6,000 INR which can easily be divided among your friends.

From Leh as well, a road trip makes sense as it will barely take 14-15 hours to reach and won’t cost you more than 3,000 INR in petrol.

From Other Cities

If you are traveling from other cities such as Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc., then your only option is to book a flight.

In a few cases, you might not even get a direct flight and might have to spend close to 35,000 INR for your round-trip flight tickets.

For example, there are no direct flights from Bangalore so, it will easily take you 7-8 hours to reach Srinagar. If you book your tickets beforehand, then you will pay around 15,000 INR for round-trip tickets to Srinagar from Bangalore.

But if you don’t book it in advance, then be ready to spend close to 25,000 – 30,000 INR.

How Much It Cost Me to Reach Srinagar

To date, I have traveled to Srinagar twice and have used different modes of transportation both times. Here is a breakdown of how much it cost me to travel to Srinagar on each trip:

Train + Tempo Traveler – The first time I traveled to Srinagar from Delhi, I booked a train to Jammu Tawi Station. From there, I took a bus to the main bus stand and then took a tempo to Srinagar as NH4 was closed due to landslides.

The entire trip took me around 40 hours(I was stuck in a landslide for 12 hours too) and cost me approximately 1,150 INR.

The Tempo Travel dropped me at TRC from where I took an auto to Nishat to my hotel.

Flight – When I traveled from Delhi to Srinagar the second time, I booked a flight for 2,290 INR. It took me around 1.5 hours on the flight, excluding the check-in process and reaching the airport.

Summary

Finally, you have all the information on how much time it takes to reach Srinagar and how much it will cost you. You can now select your desired mode of transportation based on your budget and time constraint.

For cheap traveling, trains and buses are the best way to reach Srinagar but they can easily take 2 days time.

If you are on a short vacation to Kashmir, then you can book a flight and save time on the travel. Overall, it is simple to reach Srinagar and there won’t be any issue in finding a suitable mode of travel.

Have you ever been to Kashmir? Let us know how you find this amazing place in the comments below!