Royal Springs Golf Course

Few golf settings anywhere in the world match what Royal Springs offers. Laid out along the shores of Dal Lake with the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas rising behind, this course is widely considered one of the most dramatically beautiful in Asia. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1999, it was developed partly to bring international sporting attention to Kashmir during a troubled period, and the ambition of that project shows in every hole. The layout winds through chinars — the broad, flame-leafed maples that are emblematic of the Kashmir Valley — and the combination of mountain light, autumn color, and still lake water creates an atmosphere unlike any other course on earth.

Jones Jr. shaped a course that rewards precision over power, with tree-lined fairways and subtle elevation changes that make local knowledge valuable. The greens are known to be firm and quick by regional standards.

Srinagar sits at roughly 1,585 meters above sea level in the Vale of Kashmir, which means the ball flies noticeably farther than at sea level — a pleasant surprise for visiting players adjusting to the altitude and the sheer spectacle around them.