Mughal Road is open for the 2026 season, but it's a fair-weather road. In summer, traffic runs from both sides between 7 AM and 6 PM. The first snow at Peer Ki Gali, usually from November, can shut it overnight, and a winter reopening comes with much tighter hours. Here's how the timings work, from the district orders and J&K Traffic Police advisories, checked on 14 October 2026.
Quick Summary:
- Status: Open for the season. The Shopian–Peer Ki Gali stretch reopened on 27 February 2026 after snow clearance, unusually early.
- Summer timings: Traffic allowed from both sides, 7 AM to 6 PM, subject to clearance by the road agencies (J&K Traffic Police advisory, 3 August 2026).
- Early-season timings: When it reopened in February, light vehicles were allowed only 11 AM to 3 PM, with nothing moving before or after.
- Closures: Snow at Peer Ki Gali shuts the road without notice. In winter 2025–26 it closed after snowfall in November and on 21 December.
- Bikes: Advisories name light motor vehicles and don't mention two-wheelers separately. Ride within the light-vehicle window and confirm on the day.
Verified by MileMarked · Last verified: October 2026
Sources: Kashmir Observer on the 27 February 2026 reopening order; Daily Excelsior on the Traffic Police advisory for LMVs (27 Feb 2026); Kashmir Images on the summer advisory (3 Aug 2026); Kashmir Vision on the December 2025 snow closure. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
Is Mughal Road open today?
It's open for the 2026 season, but check on the day. Mughal Road (NH-701A) links Shopian in the Kashmir valley with Bufliaz in Poonch, over Peer Ki Gali at about 3,500 m. Its status is set by two things: the Traffic Police's daily advisory, and the weather at the top.
The road has closed temporarily after fresh snow even in late May, as it did on 31 May 2025. If it's snowing or raining hard at Peer Ki Gali, assume the road is shut until the Traffic Police say otherwise.
How to check: J&K Traffic Police issue a daily advisory for the national highways, Mughal Road and the Sinthan road. Kashmir newspapers, including Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Images and Daily Excelsior, regularly carry it. Read the latest one the night before you ride.
Mughal Road timings
| Period | Who can go | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (typical) | Traffic from both sides | 7 AM to 6 PM | Traffic Police advisory, 3 Aug 2026 |
| Early season, after reopening | Light motor vehicles | 11 AM to 3 PM only | Traffic Police advisory, 27 Feb 2026 |
| Winter | Closed whenever snow at Peer Ki Gali makes it unsafe | None | District orders |
The early-season hours exist because the road is still lined with snow and avalanche-prone in places. The February 2026 advisory was blunt: no vehicle before 11:00 or after 15:00. It also told drivers not to stop at landslide, shooting-stone or avalanche-prone spots.
Summer hours are wider, but they still end at 6 PM. There's no night driving on Mughal Road. If you're late, wait at Shopian or Bufliaz and cross the next morning.
What about bikes?
The advisories we found are written for "LMVs", light motor vehicles, and none of them mention two-wheelers separately. In practice, ride inside the light-vehicle window. In the early season, ask at the police check point before you climb. That's the one point in this guide we'd like a rider's confirmation on, so if you've crossed on a bike in 2026, tell us.
When does Mughal Road close for winter?
Whenever Peer Ki Gali gets serious snow, usually from November. There's no fixed date. In winter 2025–26:
- November 2025: temporarily closed after fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali.
- 21 December 2025: closed again as a precaution after snowfall in the upper reaches.
- 11 January 2026: vehicle movement resumed after the weather closure.
- 27 February 2026: Shopian's District Magistrate ordered the Shopian–Peer Ki Gali stretch reopened, subject to fair weather and Traffic Police advisories.
Winter openings are short windows between snowfalls, not a season. If you're riding between November and March, have a plan B: the Jammu–Srinagar national highway (NH-44) through the Banihal tunnels is the main all-weather route, though it too closes for landslides.
Riding Mughal Road on a bike
- Start early, finish by mid-afternoon. The summer window ends at 6 PM, and weather at the top turns after lunch.
- Fuel up in Shopian on the Kashmir side, or in Poonch on the Jammu side. Don't count on fuel near Peer Ki Gali.
- Don't stop in the danger stretches. The advisory specifically warns against stopping at landslide, shooting-stone and avalanche-prone spots, however good the view.
- Carry warm layers and a rain shell. It's cold at 3,500 m even in July.
- Expect army and police check points. This is a border district. Carry your licence, RC and ID where you can reach them.
MileMarked routes over Mughal Road: Jammu to Srinagar via Mughal Road and Srinagar to Poonch. If the road is shut, our Jammu to Srinagar route on the national highway is the fallback. Heading on to Ladakh? Read our Zojila Pass status guide and our best bike trips in Jammu and Kashmir.
📋 Complete Jammu to Srinagar via Mughal Road Itinerary on MileMarked This route has a verified day-by-day plan, fuel stops and a packing checklist for the climb to Peer Ki Gali. Visit the Jammu to Srinagar via Mughal Road trip page on MileMarked to download the complete planning kit.
Mughal Road timings change with the season and the weather. If something on this page is out of date, tell us. We re-check it every 90 days, and more often in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mughal Road open today?
Mughal Road is open for the 2026 season, but it closes without notice when snow falls at Peer Ki Gali. Check the latest J&K Traffic Police advisory, carried by Kashmir newspapers, before you ride.
What are the Mughal Road timings?
In summer, traffic is allowed from both sides between 7 AM and 6 PM, subject to road clearance (advisory of 3 August 2026). When the road reopens after winter, the hours are tighter: in February 2026, light vehicles were allowed only between 11 AM and 3 PM.
When does Mughal Road close?
There's no fixed date. It closes whenever snow at Peer Ki Gali makes it unsafe, usually from November. In winter 2025–26 it closed after snowfall in November and on 21 December, resumed briefly in January, and reopened on 27 February 2026.
Can bikes go on Mughal Road?
Traffic advisories are written for light motor vehicles and don't mention two-wheelers separately. Ride within the light-vehicle window, and in the early season confirm at the police check point before you climb.
Is there a night ban on Mughal Road?
Yes. Traffic runs only in the advised daytime window, which was 7 AM to 6 PM in summer 2026. If you miss it, stay at Shopian or Bufliaz and cross the next morning.
