When to Come Jammu and Kashmir

India is a vast country, stretching across varied climatic zones. The plains of north and central India, for instance, experience extremes of climate, and the south is more equatorial.The country’s northernmost state of Jammu & Kashmir is divided into three distinct regions: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The weather pattern in the three regions is vastly different and should be kept in mind while planning a trip. While higher altitude destinations like, for example, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Patnitop, have the same climate as the mountainous regions of Jammu, the plains of Jammu resemble the north Indian plains. The summers here are extremely hot with the temperature rising up to 45 Degree Celsius, and the best season to visit is in winters, from November to February. Kashmir valley is extremely pleasant between April and October with maximum temperatures never exceeding 27° C and minimum keeping to around 14° C. Winters are harsh, with the minimum temperature frequently dipping to 0° C and below! There is heavy snowfall in winter, but rainfall is scant. The other-worldly landscape of Ladakh remains chilly through the year. Since the high-altitude desert of Ladakh lies in the rain-shadow area of the Great Himalayas, there is no rainfall here. The roads to Ladakh, both from Srinagar and Manali, are open from June to October. However, the closing of roads is subject to weather and timings can vary.