Among other reasons, Kashmir is renowned worldwide for unparalleled natural beauty. Between Baramulla and Kishtwar, this land of tin-roofed hamlets and scenic hill stations shelters an abundance of places to visit in Kashmir Valley. In Kashmir, one can never run out of places to explore. While Srinagar remains the kernel of bowl-shaped Kashmir Valley, smaller towns like Anantnag, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Patnitop are also finding their place among top 10 tourist places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Blankets of colourful flower beds, riverside fronts facing the Himalayan glaciers on Jhelum river, vendors selling flowers and vegetables on Dal Lake, Pashmina shawls and Shikara houseboats - Srinagar is feisty, cold and grand - all at once. The largest city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is called the summer capital for its lush green grasslands, rich flower beds and handicraft. It is rightly called The Venice of the East.
Breathtaking valleys, deep gorges, stunning hills and flocks of sheep - Aru valley looks like a dream. Located at the Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir, Aru is only 11 km away from Pahalgam and is a base camp for trekking to Kolahoi glacier and Tarsar lake. Sleepily nestled on the banks of Aru river, a tributary to Lidder river, Aru village is everything we have seen in movies.
A meadow of flowers - that’s what Gulmarg means in Urdu. Gulmarg turns into a white paradise in winter and becomes one of the world’s best skiing spots. Named as Asia’s 7th best ski destination and the “heartland of winter sports in India”, Gulmarg dons the beauty of a Mughal queen. Colourful with its flower beds, pristine for its golfing courts and picturesque pasturelands, Gulmarg has a rich history of Mughal rule and Kashmiri pandits cohabiting the town.
Marble pavements whose shadows fall on the water bodies, systematically planted trees on all the sides, water fountains and beautiful flowers spread across the campus, Shalimar Bagh is a Mughal garden in Srinagar. Also known as Farah Baksh and Faiz Baksh, the garden was built by Mughal emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan in 1619. It is also known as the Crown of Srinagar because of its beautiful artwork. Shalimar Bagh is spread across 31 acres of land with three terraces and several species of plants and flowers.
What once was the gateway to the ancient Silk Route that connected the valley of Jammy and Kashmir with Tibet, Sonmarg today stands as a historical testimony to an era. This stunning hill station sits at the foothills of some of the highest Himalayan peaks including Machoi Glacier, Sirbal Peak, Kolahoi Peak, Amarnath Peak and Machoi Peak. Be it the alpine meadows that bloom in the summer or the lakes and rivers that fill up with aquatic life every year, Sonmarg, meaning meadow of gold, bears the proverbial charm of a paradise.
Jammu has an old-world charm, a huge city located on the banks of Tawi river and at the foothills of the lower Himalayas. Named after its founder Raja Jambulochan, Jammu is home to some of the most ornate Hindu temples and Mughal palaces. The magnificent Jammu valley is surrounded by the Shivalik range to the north and the Trikuta range in the northwest.
On the banks of the pristine Lidder River lies Pahalgam - a quaint little town blessed by a pleasant sunlight. Pahalgam wakes up in the cold winds of Kashmir when shepherds bring their flocks to pasture in the vast grasslands. Pahalgam is also known as the ‘valley of the shepherds’ because of a vast majority of shepherds' community adding several cultural flavours to the region.
Important: Nathu La is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it needs a Protected Area Permit from the Sikkim State and Covid-19 Negative RT PCR report or a vaccination certification.
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