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960 metres of climb. Three hours on the half.
The Kashmir Marathon route, explained properly. What it does, where it hurts, and what it means for your finishing time.
- Total climb
- ≈ 960 m
- Half distance
- 21.0975 km
- Full distance
- 42.195 km
- Race day
- Sun 25 Oct 2026
The two numbers that decide your race.
Approximately 960 metres of total elevation gain, and a three-hour cut-off on the half marathon that applies to every age band, including veterans.
Those two facts together are why the Kashmir Marathon is a harder proposition than its distance suggests. A flat city half of 2:35 does not translate to a comfortable 3:00 finish here.
For context, most flat Indian city marathons have a fraction of this climb.
Plan for a slower time than your flat course and you will have a wonderful race. Ignore it and the last ten kilometres will be very long.
The official numbers
- Full
- 42.195 km · ₹2,200 · 7-hour cut-off — the more forgiving of the two on the clock.
- Half
- 21.0975 km · ₹1,800 · 3-hour cut-off — counter-intuitively the tougher call.
- Age
- 18 and over on both distances. Cut-offs do not relax by age band.
- Timing
- Chip timed. Net time is official.
- Status
- AIMS-registered for 2026. Third edition, organised by the Department of Tourism, J&K.
- Entry
- Non-refundable and non-transferable. Bibs are non-transferable.
Where the course takes it out of you.
- KM 0–8
- Polo View → Zero Bridge → the Boulevard. Flat, cold, fast and dark at the start. This section lies to you — run it at target effort, not target pace.
- KM 8–16
- SKICC → Royal Springs Golf Course → Pari Mahal → Chashma Shahi. The road tilts up, and then it stays up.
- KM 16–24
- Tulip Garden → Zabarwan foothills. The hardest sustained section of the course, and where the three-hour cut-off is won or lost.
- KM 24–32
- Nishat → Dal Lake shoreline → Hazratbal. Exposed and windy. The descents cost your quadriceps more than the climbs cost your lungs.
- KM 32–42
- Naseem Bagh → Shalimar Garden → finish. Chinar canopy at full autumn colour, and the kindest stretch of the day.
Cold at the start, close to perfect once you are moving.
| Factor | What to expect |
|---|---|
| FactorDaytime | What to expect15–23°C, sunny and dry. |
| FactorRace morning | What to expect5–10°C at the start line. |
| FactorRain | What to expectOctober is one of the driest months of the year. |
| FactorSun | What to expectStrong at altitude. Sunscreen is not optional. |
| FactorWhat to wear | What to expectA throwaway warm layer, light gloves, a thin beanie. |
| FactorNothing new | What to expectRace week is not the time to try new gear. |
The fit check is free and it is willing to tell you no.