The study explores the historical movement of Gujjar-Bakarwal pastoral communities across the Pir Panjal and into the Kashmir region. It focuses on the routes they followed, the mountain passes they crossed, the seasonal grazing areas they used and the customary practices through which access to pastures was maintained. The study draws on historical writings, census records, administrative documents and ethnographic studies and uses a qualitative historical and descriptive approach. The available evidence does not allow a precise date to be assigned to the arrival of Gujjars and Bakarwals in Kashmir. Historical records and community traditions instead point to different phases of migration from areas such as Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Kishtwar towards the Kashmir Valley and the higher grazing areas of the Pir Panjal. Their annual movement generally followed a seasonal cycle, beginning in the lower winter pastures and passing through intermediate areas before reaching the higher summer pastures. This movement was shaped by knowledge of local environmental conditions, customary access to grazing land, community organisation and dealings with administrative authorities. Over time, forest regulations, changes in land use, tourism, territorial changes, armed conflict and restrictions on pasture access disrupted established migration routes and contributed to the adoption of more settled ways of life among some pastoral families. The study also considers the difficulties involved in formally recognising and recording the rights of communities whose livelihoods depend on seasonal movement across different areas.