Kashmir, the “Paradise on Earth”, is known for its captivating beauty. It is encircled by three mountain ranges of the Himalayas – Karakoram, Zanaskar and Pir Panjal, running from northwest to northeast. Forming the backdrop of Kashmir, these snow-capped ranges makes Kashmir look like a picture of a fairytale. Dazzling rivers, serene lakes, splendid gardens, flowering meadows, etc are some other features of the landscape of the Kashmir valley. The breathtaking beauty of Kashmir has earned it the name of “Switzerland of East”. Nothing describes the beauty of Kashmir better than the following words of Mughal empror:

"gar firdous bar-ru-e-zamin ast; hamin ast, hamin ast, hamin ast."

It means that if there is paradise on this earth, this is it this is it and this is it.

The onset of autumn, perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards September, when green turns to gold and then to russet and red. The highest day temperatures in September are around 23 deg. C and night temperatures dip to 10 deg. C by about October, lower by November when heavy woollens are essential.