Tag: Vacations in Srinagar

A Complete IHPL Srinagar 2025 Guide: Tickets, Schedule, Best Stays & Travel Guide

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Welcome to the valley where cricket meets Kashmir’s calm. The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) in Srinagar is the region’s first-ever franchise T20 cricket tournament, taking place at the iconic Bakshi Stadium Srinagar. Having begun on 25 October 2025, this event isn’t just about boundaries and wickets, it’s about blending Kashmir’s scenic charm with world-class cricket. Whether you’re a die-hard fan looking for IHPL Srinagar 2025 tickets or a traveller seeking the best staycation near Bakshi Stadium, this guide will help you plan the ultimate itinerary—where to stay, what to see, and how to make your Kashmir trip unforgettable.

What is the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL)

The IHPL Srinagar 2025 is the first T20 cricket tournament of its kind in Jammu & Kashmir, held at Bakshi Stadium in the heart of Srinagar city. The season runs from 25 October to early November 2025, featuring eight teams competing across multiple match days.

It’s a unique initiative designed to merge local Kashmiri talent with national and international cricket stars, turning Srinagar into a new hub for sports and tourism. Fans can now enjoy Kashmir’s cricket tournament while exploring the region’s landscapes, cuisine, and culture.

Why You Should Visit as a Cricket and Travel Enthusiast

  • Watch live T20 cricket matches in Srinagar at a newly refurbished stadium surrounded by mountains.
  • Combine your match schedule with Srinagar sightseeing and Dal Lake experiences.
  • Stay at SaffronStays villas and houseboats near Bakshi Stadium for the perfect cricket travel experience.
  • Use this IHPL Srinagar travel guide to find the best villas, houseboats, and cottages for your stay.

IHPL Teams and International Players to Watch

The IHPL 2025 players list includes an exciting mix of stars:

  • Chris Gayle (West Indies) – Pulwama Titans
  • Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – Uri Panthers
  • Shaun Marsh, Richard Levi, Peter Trego, Owais Shah, Thisara Perera, Devon Smith, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chris Mpofu
  • Indian domestic pros: Rishi Dhawan, Saurabh Tiwary, Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Whether you’re searching for the IHPL international players list 2025 or the IHPL schedule and tickets, this guide links your passion for cricket with your love for travel.

Where to Stay Near Bakshi Stadium Srinagar

Looking for where to stay near Bakshi Stadium for IHPL matches? Here are the best villas, houseboats, and cottages, all mapped by drive time from the venue.

1. Badakshan Bliss – 16 mins away
 Located in Rawalpora, Srinagar, this 5-bedroom villa blends modern comfort with traditional Kashmiri design. Just 10 minutes from the airport and 16 minutes from Bakshi Stadium, it’s perfect for cricket fans attending IHPL 2025 who want quick access and quiet luxury.

2. Awakening – 18 mins away
 A heritage villa in Srinagar built in 1938, featuring Khattamband ceilings and cedarwood interiors. Enjoy tranquil mornings near the Jhelum River before heading to match day. Ideal for those seeking a Srinagar villa near Bakshi Stadium with cultural charm.

3. Prince Of Kashmir – 21 mins away
 A luxury Dal Lake houseboat offering lake views, carved walnut interiors, and shikara rides from your doorstep. It’s the best choice for visitors searching for Dal Lake houseboat stays near cricket stadium Srinagar.

4. Kingori Houseboat – 22 mins away
 Anchored at Ghat 14, Dal Lake, this houseboat offers peace and privacy for couples and small families. Ideal for travellers looking for a houseboat near IHPL Bakshi Stadium with premium comfort.

5. King Mahal – 32 mins away
 A 7-bedroom luxury villa near Dal Lake Srinagar, known for being a shooting location for the series Pashminna – Dhaage Mohabbat Ke. Perfect for large groups and families combining IHPL matches with a longer Srinagar staycation.

6. Cheese Cottage, Tangmarg – 70 mins away
 Located in Tangmarg, this boutique 2-bedroom cottage offers Himalayan views and riverside picnics. Perfect for fans wanting an offbeat Kashmir experience after attending IHPL matches in Srinagar.

3-Day Quick Itinerary: Match + Stay + Explore

Day 1

  • Arrive at Srinagar Airport and check in at Badakshan Bliss or SaffronStays Awakening.
  • Explore nearby cafés and take a calm evening walk by the Jhelum River.
  • Dinner and rest before your IHPL match day.

Day 2

  • Morning: Visit Shalimar Bagh or Chashme Shahi Mughal Gardens.
  • Afternoon: Reach Bakshi Stadium Srinagar one hour before match time.
  • Evening: Return to your villa or enjoy dinner at Ahdoos Restaurant for authentic Wazwan cuisine.

Day 3

  • Move to a Dal Lake houseboat stay (Prince of Kashmir or Kingori) for a relaxed morning.
  • Take a shikara ride at sunset, sip Kashmiri Kahwa, and plan the next leg of your Kashmir travel itinerary.

5-Day Powerplay Itinerary: Full Kashmir Experience

Day 1: Arrive and check-in to your SaffronStays villa in Srinagar
 Day 2: Watch IHPL matches at Bakshi Stadium
 Day 3: Second game or city exploration – Spend your day watching another match or explore the city
 Day 4: Shift to a SaffronStays houseboat on Dal Lake for a relaxing stay
Day 5: Drive to Tangmarg and check-in to SaffronStays Cheese Cottage to experience offbeat Kashmir.
Day 6: Departure from Srinagar Airport

Stadium 101: Match-Day Tips for Visitors

  • Venue: Bakshi Stadium, Wazir Bagh Srinagar
  • Arrive 60 minutes early for easy entry
  • IHPL tickets available online (official booking portals)
  • Carry light bags and IDs
  • Use your villa’s driver or local taxi service for stadium transfer
  • Bring a light jacket for evening matches

5 Must-Visit Spots in Srinagar (Tour + Food Mix)

  1. Dal Lake and Shikara Ride – Ideal for sunrise or sunset.
  2. Mughal Gardens – Visit Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, and Pari Mahal.
  3. Shankaracharya Temple – Offers panoramic city and lake views.
  4. Hazratbal Mosque and Market – Perfect for Kashmiri handicrafts and local culture.
  5. Ahdoos Restaurant – Enjoy authentic Wazwan food in Srinagar.


Practical Travel Tips for IHPL Visitors

  • Best time to visit: Late October to early November (matches + fall scenery)
  • Airport: 10–20 minutes from most IHPL Srinagar villas
  • Payments: UPI and cards accepted; carry small cash
  • Clothing: Layer up, evenings are cool
  • Book early: IHPL hotels and houseboats fill fast during the league
  • Respect culture: Dress modestly, be courteous

FAQs: IHPL Srinagar 2025

1. What is IHPL?
 The Indian Heaven Premier League is Kashmir’s first T20 cricket tournament, hosted at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar starting 25 October 2025.

2. Where is Bakshi Stadium?
 In Wazir Bagh, near Iqbal Park Srinagar, surrounded by hotels and villas within 15–30 minutes.

3. How do I get IHPL tickets?
 Buy IHPL Srinagar tickets online via the official league portal.

4. Which are the best stays near Bakshi Stadium?
 Badakshan Bliss, SaffronStays Awakening, Prince of Kashmir Houseboat, and King Mahal are top-rated.

5. What else to do in Srinagar during IHPL?
 Take a shikara ride on Dal Lake, visit Mughal Gardens, and explore Tangmarg Cheese Cottage post-match.

Your IHPL × Kashmir Travel Game Plan

The IHPL Srinagar 2025 is your ticket to explore Kashmir, experience Kashmiri hospitality, and stay at the best villas and houseboats near Bakshi Stadium. Whether you’re traveling for the IHPL schedule and matches or for Kashmir’s scenic beauty, plan your stay smart—villa for match days, houseboat for relaxation, and Tangmarg cottage for your grand finale.

Experience 48 Hours in Srinagar: A Journey Through Kashmir’s Heart

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The first thing you notice in Srinagar isn’t the lake. It’s the stillness. A kind of hush that lingers in the air like early morning mist. Even the shikaras, those hand-carved wooden boats, seem to glide across Dal Lake without making a sound.

In July, the skies are mostly clear with a soft breeze that carries the scent of pine, fresh bread from a kandur’s oven, and the sharp warmth of saffron from a steaming cup of kahwa. This is a city that doesn’t ask to be rushed. You don’t come here to tick off a list. You come here to slow down.

This is your 48-hour journey through Srinagar. A place of water, light, and quiet moments that stay with you long after you’ve left.

Where Water Meets the Sky

The best way to begin is with a view of the lake. Not from the road, but from a wooden houseboat anchored quietly away from the crowds. Morning light spills across the water, and your first cup of kahwa arrives in a copper kettle, fragrant with cardamom and almonds.

A shikara ride is not just a way to see the city. It is the city. You float past lotus-covered patches, floating gardens, and houses built entirely on water. The boatman rows slowly. Occasionally, he stops to show you something. A heron nesting in reeds. A vendor selling tomatoes from his canoe. The perfect reflection of the sky in the lake’s still surface.

Around dawn, the floating vegetable market comes alive. Traders gather silently on their boats, exchanging goods with quiet efficiency. It’s a rhythm the lake has known for generations. You watch, silently, before drifting on.

Dal Lake isn’t just a postcard. It’s how Srinagar breathes.

Old Walls and Wooden Windows

As the morning lifts, the city reveals another side. Leave the lake behind and step into the old town around Zaina Kadal. Here, wooden homes with intricately carved balconies lean slightly forward, watching over narrow lanes where the smell of baking bread fills the air.

Pause at a local kandur’s shop for fresh girda: a traditional Kashmiri bread, still warm from the clay oven. Step inside the Shah-e-Hamdan shrine. Its papier-mâché interiors glow in the morning light, covered in floral patterns that feel like they belong to another century.

Not far from here stands the Jamia Masjid of Nowhatta. Built in the 14th century, it is spacious and solemn, with more than 350 deodar wood pillars holding up its roof. Even when the mosque is busy, there’s a quiet that never lifts. It’s the kind of place you enter slowly and leave even slower.

This part of Srinagar moves at its own pace. It is not polished for tourists. It is lived-in and layered with stories. The beauty lies in watching them unfold, one wooden doorway at a time.

Gardens That Bloom After the Rain

Srinagar’s gardens aren’t just beautiful. They are deliberate. The Mughal emperors built them as escapes. Terraced spaces with flowing water, framed by the Zabarwan Hills. In summer, they bloom. And after a drizzle, they come alive.

Nishat Bagh is larger, with wide lawns and long fountains. Shalimar Bagh is quieter, more structured. Both face the lake. Both make you pause. The Chinar trees here are older than memory. Their leaves shift colour in the breeze, even in July.

For a higher view, drive up to Pari Mahal. The old observatory sits above the city. From here, the lake looks like a sheet of glass and the sky feels close enough to touch. There is silence, even when it’s crowded. The kind that makes you listen without realising.

Flavours That Stay With You

Srinagar feeds you with warmth. Meals here are not rushed. They are layered, just like the city.

Start at Ahdoos. The wood-paneled dining room has seen decades of guests. The rogan josh is slow-cooked and full of spice, the yakhni is tangy and light, and the nadru yakhni — made from lotus stem — is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere.

For something simpler, walk into Krishna Vaishno Dhaba. The food is vegetarian, comforting, and always served hot. Another stop worth making is Stream Restaurant near Boulevard Road. Known for its grilled trout, it balances local flavour with familiar comfort.

End a meal with phirni or just another cup of kahwa. Not because you’re cold, but because it feels right.

Things You’ll Want to Take Home

A man rows a colorful shikara on Dal Lake, with reflections of clouds in the still water and a backdrop of shops along the shoreline.

Leave time for Polo View Market. It’s where Srinagar’s craftsmanship gathers — handwoven pashmina shawls, walnut wood carvings, papier-mâché boxes painted with gold and cobalt blue. These aren’t souvenirs. They are keepsakes, made to last.

For spices, head to Zaina Kadal or Badshah Chowk. Saffron, dried morels, and noon chai leaves. You’ll find them neatly packed in small shops that smell of cardamom and pepper.

You won’t leave with just things. You’ll leave with the way this city moves. With the reflection of clouds on water. With the sound of rain on carved wood. With the slow warmth of a place that never really hurries.

Even with just 48 hours, Srinagar leaves a lasting imprint.

Not because of how much you saw, but because of how the city made you feel. Calm. Unhurried. Grounded. You may come here for the views, the food, or the cool July breeze, but you leave with something quieter. A memory stitched in still water and soft light, waiting to pull you back again.

9 Gorgeous Srinagar homestays to experience true Kashmiri hospitality

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Homestay in Srinagar

By Aatreya Bhat

A highly under-rated destination, Srinagar is paradise on Earth. Changing hues during different seasons, there is a lot to see here.It is flanked by the Himalayas to the north and the Pir Panjal to the south, which are the source of many rivers that flow downhill and are adorned by forests and orchards throughout their course. Situated on both the sides of the Jhelum river, the 9 old bridges that connect the two banks are very famous. If you’re a foodie, then you definitely should not miss the “Wazwaan”, or the 36-course meal followed by local “kahwa” or green tea. The ‘Nishat Baag’ is a favourite among tourists- it consists of 12 terraces and an innumerable number of flower species. The Dal Lake is without doubt the strongest tourist magnet, and if you’re lucky, in the winter you can also witness the lake freezing up.

At SaffronStays, we bring to you a host of homestays in Srinagar where you can set base at and enjoy a memorable vacation!

 

#1. Villa in the heart of Srinagar.

Located in the heart of Srinagar, this colourful villa fits all the criteria that you may want in a home. It is an ancestral property and the history of the place is depicted through the myriad pictures and paintings that adorn the walls of the house. The rooms are comfortable and have a private seating outside. It is close to the market and about 4 kms away from the Dal Lake. In the evenings, you can enjoy a tasty dinner in the garden.

Villa in the heart of Srinagar

Homestay in the heart of Srinagar

Click here to know more and book.

 

#2. Royal villa overlooking Dal Lake.

Experience the imperial life by choosing this homestay whose owners are the descendants of the last ruling Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh. Set against the jaw-dropping backdrop of Zabarwan range and overlooking the Dal Lake, this homestay is the epitome of beauty. The estate is dotted with plum, apple and cherry orchards and the home-made jam, which is also for sale, is a favourite among guests.

Royal villa overlooking Dal lake

Royal villa overlooking the Dal Lake

Click here to know more and book.

 

#3. Heritage houseboat stay

Considered to be one of the only two heritage houseboats in India, your stay here is replete with luxuries. Artistically decorated with heritage paintings and cedar wood furniture, walk back the history lane looking at the pre-independence letters and paintings. The deck on top overlooks the Dal Lake and the Himalayas: a sight you don’t want to miss!

Heritage houseboat stay in Srinagar

 

heritage houseboat stay

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#4. Homestay on a hill

This homestay overlooks the Nishat Baag, thus a superb view is promised. A cosy, comfortable bungalow in the prime locality of Srinagar, it is close to all popular tourist spots. You can relax in the garden and enjoy a peaceful evening with your family, munching on some delicious home-cooked Kashmiri food.

homestay on a hill

homestay on a hilltop

Click here to know more and book.

 

#5. Villa overlooking Nageen lake

Designed in the traditional Royal Kashmiri way, you can feel the regality in this homestay. Beautiful paintings adorn every wall of the house. It is nestled between cherry, plum, pear and apple trees and the major tourist attractions like Dal Lake, Hazratbal shrine and Mughal Gardens are easily accessible. The Nageen area is perfect for scenic walks, after which you can retire for the day with a cup of steaming coffee by the hearth and forge fond, unforgettable memories.

Villa overlooking Nageen lake

Villa overlooking Nageen Lake

Click here to know more and book.

 

#6. Quaint cottage in Srinagar

Set in the seclusion of a private estate, this cottage is a nature-lover’s delight. Dotted with cherry, plum and apple orchards and set against the Zabarwan range, a lot of trekking awaits you! Oh, and there’s also a pond nearby, which is home to a number of migratory birds. Photographers, this is just the place for you!

Cottage in Srinagar

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#7. Luxury guesthouse in Srinagar

Situated in the posh neighbourhood of Rajbagh, this house is nothing short of a dream house. The French windows that open into the lush garden, decorated with flowers are a highlight. Book lovers can sit down and get drowned in the collection of books here. Pets are welcome too and there is also a special kennel for dogs. There is a restaurant in the garden, which will take you back into Kashmiri history with it’s mud-plastered walls and lattice work windows.

Luxury guesthouse in Srinagar

Luxury guesthouse in Srinagar

Click here to know more and book.

 

#8. Boutique homestay in Srinagar

All you floriculturists out there, this is just the place for you! An awesome combination of comfort, greenery and colour is sure to enrich your experience. Constructed at the foothills of the Himalayas, you can go on early morning runs along the nearby stream. It is close to the Mughal gardens.

Boutique homestay

Boutique homestay

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#9. Guesthouse stay

This stylish, luxury guesthouse in the posh Rajbagh area of Srinagar is nothing short of a 5-star hotel. Plush interiors, brilliant gardens, flawless hospitality and delicious food, they have it all. Local conveyance can be looked after by the host if requested.

Guesthouse in Srinagar

Guesthouse in Srinagar

Click here to know more and book.

Click here to check more options in Srinagar

SaffronStays.com brings you over 1200 homestays across India. Experience true Indian hospitality, the warmth of your local hosts and home-cooked authentic local food, in these homes.

About the Author:

Aatreya Bhat spends a major part of the day reading, writing and jamming. The rest of the day, he spends explaining his name to others. He loves reading political books and is a big fan of the caped crusader. Skydiving and experiencing a Manchester derby at the Trafford will always top his bucket list.