Harud - The Quiet Favourite
Ask a Kashmiri their favourite season and many will say Harud, the autumn. For a few short weeks the valley’s chinar trees - huge, centuries-old - turn from green to amber to deep crimson, and the light goes soft and golden. The summer crowds have gone home, and the valley exhales.
When to Come
Peak colour lands late October to mid-November, though it shifts a little each year. The first two weeks of November are usually the safest window. Come too early and the leaves are still green; too late and they’ve fallen.
Where to See It
Naseem Bagh, a historic grove of hundreds of chinars near the Dal, is the classic spot. The Mughal gardens frame the colour beautifully, and the roads around Pahalgam turn into tunnels of red and gold.
Why Autumn Wins
Beyond the colour, autumn is practical: cooler days, thinner crowds, and lower prices on stays and taxis than the summer peak. Pack a warm layer for the evenings and bring a camera - the chinars don’t wait.
