Top Places and Travel Destinations in Kashmir
Kashmir is a beautiful region located in the northernmost part of India and is known for its stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and diverse landscapes.
The region is home to snow-capped mountains, serene lakes, lush green valleys, and picturesque meadows.
Tourists can enjoy a wide range of activities, such as skiing, trekking, river rafting, and fishing, as well as explore the region’s rich history and culture through its temples, palaces, and museums.
Despite some security issues, Kashmir remains a popular destination for domestic and international travellers.
Kashmir is worth visiting for many reasons. One of the main reasons is its breathtaking natural beauty.
The region is home to snow-capped mountains, serene lakes, lush green valleys, and picturesque meadows that offer visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature.
Additionally, the region is steeped in rich culture and history. Visitors can explore the region’s rich heritage through its temples, palaces, and museums and experience the local customs and traditions by visiting the colourful markets and trying local cuisine.
Kashmir is also an excellent destination for adventure enthusiasts, as it offers a wide range of activities such as skiing, trekking, river rafting, and fishing.
Furthermore, the hospitality of the locals is also a notable feature, as the people of Kashmir are known for their warmth and friendliness, making it an enjoyable experience for tourists.
It is worth noting that because of the security situation in the region, it is important to check your country’s travel advisories before planning a trip to Kashmir and to be aware of the current situation in the area.
This post will cover some of the most popular places to visit in Kashmir, including:
Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and known for its famous Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, and the Shankaracharya Temple.
Gulmarg is a popular hill station known for its beautiful landscapes and the Gulmarg Gondola and the Khilanmarg.
Pahalgam, a picturesque valley famous for its Betaab Valley and the Aru Valley
Sonmarg is a high-altitude mountain pass known for its Thajiwas Glacier and the Sindh Valley.
The post will provide detailed information on popular tourist attractions, activities and things to do in each of these places, as well as some tips on planning your trip to these destinations. It will also provide some insights into the local culture, history and the best time to visit these places.
Table of contents
Srinagar
Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is known for its natural beauty and rich culture. It is situated on the banks of the Jhelum River and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
How to reach Kashmir?
If you want to travel from any part of India to Kashmir, there is an airport in Srinagar where there are direct flights from any state of India to Kashmir. You can also travel by road to Kashmir by train and bus, but for that, you have to take into consideration the weather and the road conditions and then only accordingly plan your trip.
Also read: How to reach Kashmir?
How many days should you plan for a trip to Kashmir?
Planning a trip to Kashmir depends on factors like your time, curiosity to explore, weather conditions and budget. If you are travelling to Kashmir for the first time, you should plan your trip between 5-7 days. In these 5-7 days, you will get enough time to visit and explore the best places in Kashmir.
Also read: How to plan a trip to Kashmir?
List of places to visit in Kashmir.
Gulmarg
On the top, we have placed Gulmarg as the must place to visit in Kashmir. Since you will be staying in Srinagar, which is the closest to the airport for your departure flight, the most accessible tourist place to visit in terms of natural beauty, landscape, and lush greenery is Gulmarg.
Gulmarg is at the height of 8500 feet above sea level. You can reach Gulmarg by booking a cab directly from Srinagar. Gulmarg is 56 KM from Srinagar, and it will take you around 1.5-2 hours to Gulmarg from Srinagar. Once you get to Gulmarg, you should rest and explore the market and the surrounding areas.
Next, you must take a Gondola ride by cable car, which has two phases; phase one and phase two. In phase one, the cable car reaches up to half of the Affarwat mountain, and you will find snow there up to June. Phase two of the cable car reaches the peak of Affarwat mountain, and you will find snow throughout the year. From the top of Affarwat mountain, you will get mesmerising and Jaw-dropping views of the Himalayas.
The next activity you should do is to take a horse or an ATV for rent and ride to the viewpoint, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Maharaja Palace, Gulmarg temple, Church and other places, and it will take you around 5-6 hours.
Gulmarg is renowned for its golf course, so if you like golf, you should also explore it. The golf course in Gulmarg has been declared the world’s highest green golf course.
Lastly, the final place you must visit before leaving Gulmarg is Drung which is 11 Km from Gulmarg. Drung is famous for its waterfall; you can enjoy its view before giving adieu to Gulmarg.
Doodhpathri
Next on the list of places to visit in Kashmir is Doodhpathri; unknown to many tourists who visit Jammu and Kashmir, Doodhpathri is 43 km from the Srinagar city and 22 km from the district head quarters Budgam. Due to the hilly terrain and roads will take you around 2-2.5 hours from Srinagar. Doodthpathri is at an altitude of 8975 feet from sea level.
Doodthpathri has natural meadows covered with snow in winter and lush greenery in summers, and you will find the growth of wildflowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter cups.
You can book and hire a horse and visit and explore the nearby areas of Doodhpathri.
The other places that you can explore and see around the Doodthpathri are:
- Tangnar Mujpather.
- Dophkhal.
- Sochilpather.
- Palmaidan.
- Parihas.
Next on the list of places to visit in Kashmir is Doodhpathri; unknown to many tourists who visit Jammu and Kashmir, Doodhpathri is 43 km from the Srinagar city and 22 km from the district head quarters Budgam. Due to the hilly terrain and roads will take you around 2-2.5 hours from Srinagar. Doodthpathri is at an altitude of 8975 feet from sea level.
Doodthpathri has natural meadows covered with snow in winter and lush greenery in summers, and you will find the growth of wildflowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter cups.
You can book and hire a horse and visit and explore the nearby areas of Doodhpathri.
The other places that you can explore and see around the Doodthpathri are:
- Tangnar Mujpather.
- Dophkhal.
- Sochilpather.
- Palmaidan.
- Parihas.
On the west of Doodhpathri, you can also explore Tosamaidan, situated at 10385 feet above sea level. Tosamaidan is famous for its pasture and historical background.
Mughals used to go to Poonch from Tosamaidan, and they had also constructed a seven-story building here. The pastures of Tosamaidan are 4.8 km in length and 2.4 km in width. Dense forests there present a view of a green carpet in summer.
It would be best if you visited Doodhpathri on days other than weekends, the place will be less crowded, and you will enjoy the scenery at its best.
Sonamarg
Next on the list of must places to visit in Kashmir is Sonamarg. When we talk about the places to visit in Sonamarg, first of all, Sonamarg is a small town. Located at a distance of 84 km from Srinagar and at an altitude of 2,740 m above sea level.
It will take you around 2-3 hours to reach Sonamarg. To go to Sonamarg from Srinagar, you have to book a cab and fix the price by negotiating; you will get the best deal. Thousands of tourists visit Sonamarg every year; according to the official government data Sonamarg has received more than 3,033,00 in 2021.
The name Sonamarg means “Meadow of Gold” because, at sunrise, this place looks like gold. Glaciers and lakes surround Sonamarg. Even in Summers, you will find the snow-clad mountains, and during winters, the mountains have a thick layer of snow.
You can also plan trekking and hiking in Sonamarg. During summer, the locals organise activities like sledging on the steep patches of snow.
The significant treks that pass through various lakes such as Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, and Kishansar have their base at Sonamarg. Depending on your experience and curiosity, you can trek through these places that offer mild to most hard routes.
The other places to visit and explore in Sonamarg are:
- THAJIWAS GLACIER.
- ZOJILA
- BALTAL
- ZERO TOP
The next place you can visit in Sonamarg is Sarbal village, which is 2 km from the Sonamarg market and offers you some incredible natural scenery before leaving.
Also read: Places to visit in Sonamarg
