Bakshi Stadium Srinagar: Location, Capacity, Facilities

Football, not cricket, has always been Bakshi Stadium’s first identity, and Srinagar fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Sitting in the heart of Kashmir’s summer capital, this ground has survived floods, hosted Real Kashmir FC’s biggest nights in the I-League, and recently opened its doors to international cricket stars for the first time in its history. For anyone researching Jammu and Kashmir’s sporting infrastructure, here’s everything worth knowing about this venue.

Where Is Bakshi Stadium Located?

The stadium sits in Wazir Bagh, a Srinagar neighbourhood barely a kilometre from Lal Chowk, the city’s central commercial hub. That proximity to the heart of Srinagar makes it one of the more accessible major sporting venues in the region, unlike stadiums built on city outskirts elsewhere in India.

Getting there is fairly straightforward given its central positioning:

• By air: Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport is roughly 10 km away, with a typical drive time of 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.
• By road: Airport Road links directly to National Highway 44, connecting the stadium to the wider Kashmir Valley road network.
• By public transport: A smart bus service runs from Panthachowk to Bakshi Stadium via several neighbourhoods, and the Haft Chinar bus stop sits directly adjacent to the venue.

How Many Spectators Can It Hold?

Most sources put the stadium’s capacity at around 30,000, though some listings cite figures as high as 45,000 — a discrepancy worth flagging if you’re relying on exact numbers. The 30,000 figure appears most consistently across football and cricket event coverage, including its recent selection for Legends League Cricket over the smaller Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium.

A few things worth knowing about its scale and history:

• Major football fixtures here have drawn crowds exceeding 25,000, approaching full capacity and reflecting genuinely deep local passion for the sport.
• The stadium was submerged during Srinagar’s devastating 2014 floods and has since been restored, making it something of a symbol of recovery for the region.
• It was chosen over Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium (13,000 capacity) specifically because its larger size could accommodate bigger crowds for the Legends League Cricket final.

Facilities at the Stadium

Bakshi Stadium has been undergoing FIFA-standard redevelopment, with a ₹44 crore budget aimed at bringing it up to world-class football infrastructure while retaining flexibility for other sports.

• Grass playing surface maintained to support high-level football, including I-League fixtures for Real Kashmir FC
• Curators have worked specifically to adapt the pitch for cricket use during Legends League matches while preserving its football functionality
• Standard visitor amenities including changing rooms, first aid, drinking water points, and flood lighting for evening events
• Parking facilities and general transportation access designed to handle large event-day crowds
• Wheelchair accessibility and facilities for physically challenged visitors

From Football Ground to Cricket Venue

What makes Bakshi Stadium genuinely notable in recent years is its shift toward hosting cricket, a role it wasn’t originally built for. In 2024, it staged Kashmir’s first-ever Legends League Cricket matches, bringing international names to Srinagar for the first time. Security for these events has been substantial, with metal detectors, drone surveillance, and additional personnel deployed to manage the historic crowds. That said, the venue’s foray into cricket hasn’t been without controversy — a private tournament held here in 2025 collapsed amid allegations of financial mismanagement, sparking debate over whether football should remain the ground’s clear priority.

A Symbol Beyond Sport

For Srinagar, Bakshi Stadium carries weight that goes past match results. Having weathered the 2014 floods and years of regional uncertainty, the ground now functions as something of a community anchor — a space for youth sports development, grassroots talent scouting, and, increasingly, moments of normalcy that matter to the wider Kashmir Valley. Hosting international cricket stars for the first time in its history added another layer to that story, signalling renewed confidence in the region’s ability to host major sporting events safely.

FAQs

Q1. Is Bakshi Stadium a cricket or football stadium?

It’s primarily a football venue and home to Real Kashmir FC, though it has recently hosted cricket events like Legends League Cricket matches.

Q2. Why does the stadium’s capacity vary between sources?

Most reports cite 30,000 as the standard figure, though a few list up to 45,000; the 30,000 number appears most consistently across recent event coverage.

Q3. How do I reach Bakshi Stadium from Srinagar Airport?

It’s about 10 km from Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, roughly a 20-30 minute drive via Airport Road connecting to National Highway 44.