Lal Chowk is the city square of Srinagar and the commercial centre of the modern town, ringed by the markets where most visitors do their shopping. Goni Khan for textiles, the lanes off the square for shawls and dry fruit, and Amira Kadal bridge with its line of vendors. It is a working market rather than a monument, and it is busy all day.
Duke Kashmir Travels is a Srinagar travel agency, registered with the J&K Department of Tourism as JKTA00003978 since 2011. We keep an hour for the market on most itineraries; Kashmir packages start near ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- The commercial heart of Srinagar, north of the Jhelum crossing at Amira Kadal.
- Goni Khan lane is the textile and cloth end of the market.
- Pashmina, kani and other shawls are the classic purchase; dry fruit and saffron run a close second.
- The clock tower in the square is the city's usual meeting point.
- About 15 km from the airport, and minutes from the Boulevard hotels.
- Sunday is the quietest, and many shops close through the middle of the day in winter.
What can you buy at Lal Chowk?
Shawls above all: pashmina, kani weave and embroidered wool. Then saffron, dry fruit, walnut wood, papier-mache and carpets.
Prices vary widely with quality, and pashmina in particular is easy to get wrong. Ask for the shop's own certification on any expensive shawl, buy saffron in sealed packs from established dealers, and take your time. Our guides will point you to shops we have used for years without taking a commission.
What is around the square?
Goni Khan for cloth, Amira Kadal bridge with vendors on both sides, Residency Road for the bigger stores, and the Jhelum a short walk away.
It is a fifteen-minute walk from the square to the river, and from there the old city begins. Most guests do the market in the late afternoon after a day of sightseeing.
How do you get there, and when should you go?
It is about 15 km from Srinagar airport and only minutes from the Dal Lake hotels. Late morning to early evening is the trading day.
Traffic around the square is heavy, so drivers usually drop and collect rather than park. Winter afternoons close early. See the Srinagar list for the sights, and Kashmir tour ideas for itineraries that leave shopping time.
Booking this with us
The agency behind this guide, Duke Kashmir Travels, was registered with the J&K Department of Tourism in March 2011 (JKTA00003978) and joined IATO in 2016. More on the paperwork is on our About Us page.
Tell us when you are travelling and how many of you there are, and a costed itinerary follows. Reach us on +91 9018 44 0000, at info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or through the contact page.
About the founder
The agency was started in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who owns it to this day, helped found the JK Tourism Council, and reads every destination guide before it goes up. His LinkedIn profile is here.