Seasons and Weather Phenomena
Kashmir's four seasons
| Season | Kashmiri name | Months | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Sonth | March to May | Almond and cherry blossoms; tulip garden |
| Summer | Retkal | June to August | Pleasant. Peak tourist season |
| Autumn | Harud | September to November | Golden chinar leaves, apple harvest |
| Winter | Wandh | December to February | Snow; Gulmarg skiing |
Chillai Kalan
Chillai Kalan (the "great cold") is the 40-day harshest part of winter in Kashmir, from 21 December to 29 January.
| Period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Chillai Kalan | 21 Dec to 29 Jan | 40 days |
| Chillai Khurd (small cold) | 30 Jan to 18 Feb | 20 days |
| Chillai Bachha (baby cold) | 19 Feb to 28 Feb | 10 days |
- Pherans (long woollen robes) and Kangri (a clay pot with coals in a wicker basket) are used to keep warm.
- Frozen Dal Lake and frozen taps are common. Water pipes freeze.
Other phenomena
- Cloudbursts: short, very intense rain, which causes flash floods. Ladakh (2010), Amarnath (2022), Kishtwar (2025).
- Snowfall at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg is the basis of winter sports.
- Fog and cold waves are common in Jammu in winter.
- Loo (hot wind) affects the Jammu plains in June.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.