Charar-i-Sharief Kashmir Travel Guide

Charar-i-Sharief is a town in Budgam district, Kashmir Valley. Kashmir Travel Guide is an independent travel guide to Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, published at kashmirtravelguide.co.in, and this is its entry for Charar-i-Sharief.

This Charar-i-Sharief travel guide covers the hill town in Budgam district, about 30 to 40 km from Srinagar, that holds the shrine of Kashmir's patron saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani: who he was, how to visit with respect, when to come and how to pair the town with Yusmarg.

Published 20 September 2026Last reviewed 20 September 2026How this entry is checked

Things to do in Charar-i-Sharief

Charar-i-Sharief sits at about 1,900 m on a ridge above the Budgam plain, on the road that climbs on to Yusmarg. It is a market town of a few thousand people that exists around one building: the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, the fourteenth-century mystic whom Kashmiris of every faith call Nund Rishi and Alamdar-e-Kashmir, the flag-bearer of Kashmir.

The shrine and the saint

Sheikh Noor-ud-din was born in 1377 and died around 1438. He founded the Rishi order, a home-grown Sufi tradition of ascetic, vegetarian holy men who lived in the forests and villages of the valley, and his Kashmiri verses, the shrukhs, are still quoted in daily speech. Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin laid the foundation of a shrine over his grave in 1446, and the complex that grew around it, with its khanqah, or prayer lodge, became the most visited shrine in the valley outside Srinagar.

The old wooden shrine and much of the town were destroyed by fire on 11 May 1995 during an armed confrontation. What stands today is the rebuilt shrine: a square hall with a tiered roof and central spire in the traditional Kashmiri style, with khatamband ceilings of interlocking walnut panels inside. The grave of the saint lies within, and the rebuilt khanqah stands beside it.

Visiting with respect

The shrine is a place of worship first. Dress modestly, with arms and legs covered; women cover their heads. Shoes come off at the entrance, and there are attendants to leave them with. Men and women may have separate entrances or sections; follow the signs and the custodians. Photograph the exterior freely, but ask before photographing inside, and never photograph people at prayer. Keep voices low, do not step over anyone seated, and give way to pilgrims, many of whom have come a long way. There is no charge to enter; donations go in the marked boxes.

The town and its kangri

Charar-i-Sharief is known across Kashmir for the Tsrar kanger, an elaborately decorated version of the kangri, the wicker-cased clay fire pot that Kashmiris carry under their cloaks in winter. The decorated kangris made here are traditional wedding gifts, and the shops around the shrine sell them alongside prayer caps, rosaries and sweets. The market is at its liveliest on Fridays and during the urs.

Pair it with Yusmarg or Doodhpathri

The shrine takes an hour, the town another, which makes Charar-i-Sharief a natural first stop on a day to Yusmarg, the meadow at the end of the same road. Doodhpathri, the district's other meadow, is reached by a different road from Budgam town and does not combine as neatly; choose one.

Best time to visit Charar-i-Sharief

The shrine is open all year, and the town's ridge position means it catches snow from December to February and clear, cool air in spring and autumn.

• March to May: blossom in the orchards below the town and comfortable walking.
• June to September: warm days; the season for continuing to Yusmarg.
• October and November: saffron flowering in the Budgam fields on the way, chinar colour in the town.
• December to February: snow on the roofs and the road; the shrine stays open, and this is the season the kangri is made for.

The annual urs, the commemoration of the saint's death, falls on 21 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar, so it moves about eleven days earlier each year. It draws very large crowds for several days. Come then for the atmosphere and the night prayers; come another week for a quiet visit.

A stop or a night?

For almost everyone Charar-i-Sharief is a stop of one to two hours, alone or on the way to Yusmarg. Pilgrims attending the urs and travellers who want the shrine at dawn stay overnight. The state tourism corporation lists huts and a dormitory, and the town has a few guesthouses; confirm that a unit is operating before you rely on it. Srinagar is close enough to be the sensible base.

How do you get to Charar-i-Sharief?

Planning how to reach Charar-i-Sharief is simple: it is a short drive south-west from Srinagar through Budgam town, on the road that continues to Yusmarg.

Official sources give the distance as anywhere from 30 to 40 km depending on the route, and the drive takes 45 minutes to an hour in normal traffic. Leave Srinagar on the Budgam road, pass through the town and follow the signs for Charar-i-Sharief and Yusmarg; the road climbs onto the ridge in its last few kilometres.

By air: Srinagar Airport, about 25 km, which makes this one of the closest destinations in the valley to the airport. By rail: Budgam station at Ompora, on the Kashmir Valley line, is a few kilometres from the town; check current services and continue by road.

Buses and shared taxis run from Srinagar and Budgam to Charar-i-Sharief throughout the day, and there is frequent traffic during the urs. With a hired car, agree whether the fare covers a wait at the shrine and the onward run to Yusmarg. If you have not chosen a base, our Srinagar guide covers the options.

What should you know before visiting Charar-i-Sharief?

These Charar-i-Sharief travel tips are for a short visit to a working shrine in a small hill town.

• Carry a scarf or shawl, whatever the season. Women need one for the shrine and everyone is glad of one on the ridge.
• Wear shoes that slip off easily and carry socks; the courtyard stone is cold for most of the year.
• Keep small change for donations and for leaving shoes with the attendants.
• Eat in the town's simple restaurants or carry a picnic for Yusmarg; there is nothing on the road between the two.
• Buy a kangri as a gift, and ask the shopkeeper to show you how it is used.
• Take your litter away, and do not leave anything in the shrine precincts except at the donation boxes.