01 SRINAGAR
Silk-sunset, certain shades of white, tar on the roads, gloom beyond the oil lamp floating over the lake, ripples in the water, fog on the mirror, garden of the spring, the palace of the fairies, subject of the poems, emptiness in the eyes, absence of words, forever in ordinary things and the old roses on a breeze, where love arrives in memories of forever to liberate us into life – Srinagar! The tourist places in Srinagar offer breathtaking views and mesmerising locations to die for.
Srinagar wakes up with Fajr (pre –dawn prayers) and zikr where life sings winter melodies on nine bridges, connecting the city that smells of heaven on both sides of Jhelum River, a river that passes through the city, meanders through the valley, deepening into the traveler’s paradise – Dal Lake.
The city takes on the morning light mirroring the mountains, when the moon still hangs pale over the tranquil Dal Lake, which ornaments an array of alluring houseboats where the lovers’ find home watching a promise of the snow filling up the woods. The lake’s less urbanized eastern shore is decorated with the Mughal gardens that speaks of history strung out for several kilometers. The subdued fortress and the familiar wooden mosques of the old times makes a mark at the center of the city in this era of remembering all that once existed. Easy wind, downy flake and the promises to keep between the woods and frozen lake, Srinagar awaits for you, to dream within a dream. So, come and explore the best tourist places in Srinagar.
02 Gulmarg
The nearest India can make to being a ski resort is via its pine-fringed Gulmarg. Situated at an elevation of 2730 meters above sea level, it well justifies the Meadow of Flowers tag that it has received. The meadow is given a visual highlight by the 1890s Anglican Church of St Mary’s that sits on a lonely hillock which can be accessed off the dead-end road that links the 1965 neo-colonial style Hotel Highlands Park to the historic Gulmarg Golf Club. However, the key reason to visit Gulmarg is just not the same.
You must visit Gulmarg to explore the backing stands of the splendid mature pines traversing you to the elevation of bald Mt Afarwat. To make it to mountain, you can either trek on foot or take help from ponies at a meagre amount of INR 300 per hour. However, the easiest way out is using the two-stage gondola cable car that flutters you to 3747m. The impressive clear day views from the top are worth the ride. During this ride, you’ll encompass Nanga Parbat which is the world’s ninth highest mountain peak located across Pakistan. Booking for this online can help save you from the long queues especially in the peak season of May and June. This service can however be cancelled either due to civil unrest or during bad weather and getting a refund from the organizers can get really annoying then. Base station of Gandola is situated about 1 km west of the bus stand.
Gulmarg endeavors you with more than 40 choices of accommodation each of them beautiful in their own very way. In the months of July, an average room fare (for a night) will be around INR 2000 for the old looking stays and INR 5000 for newer stays. Prices of the hotels see a drop of 20% in the winter season and a further dramatic drop when there is civil unrest in Srinagar or during the less popular months like September.
03 Sonamarg
Sonmarg is a tiny town of Kashmir situated 9,000 kms above sea level at the bank of the gushing Sindh river. This picturesque town is located in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and is just 70 km away from the Srinagar International Airport. The valley is the connecting point of a number of Himalayan peaks like Kolhoi peak, Amarnath peak, Sirbal Peak, and so on. The charming view of the place becomes more attractive with the wide varieties of flowers and alpine trees gracing this quaint town.
Here you can enjoy, meadows of gold, sun-kissed peaks, breathtaking lakes and towering glaciers, all in one place. This beautiful himalayan town is full of mountain ranges and valleys to explore through trekking. It is a base camp for trekkers going to Ladakh and for many trekking routes to different lakes of Kashmir, such as Krishnasar Lake, Gadsar Lake, Vishansar Lake, and so on. During winter the valley covered with snow offers an opportunity to the tourist to enjoy sledding or skiing or snow fighting.
The tourists can also enjoy fishing trout and other species in Vishansar Lake, Krishnasar Lake, Gangabal Lake, and so on. If you like water activities, Sonmarg provides you the opportunity to enjoy white water rafting. To enjoy the true natural beauty of Kashmir, the tourists can explore places like Nilagrad, Kheer Bhawani Temple, Nichnai Pass, Vishansar Lake, Zoji-La Pass, Gadsar Lake, Baltal Valley, and so on from Sonmarg. The place also has an ancient importance.
It was the gateway to the Silk Road connecting Kashmir with China. Except for the winter months (November to February), the climate of the place remains very pleasant for tourism. The month of April to October is the pick time to experience the beauty of flowery meadows, snow-covered peaks, frozen glaciers, waterfalls, and pristine lakes. But if you are interested in snow-related adventures like skiing, ice skating, and sledding on frozen glaciers, winter is the best time for you to visit Sonmarg.
04 Betaab Valley
In the year 1983, this little Kashmiri Valley formed the backdrop of the hit Bollywood flick Betaab. Since then, the former Hagan Valley has earned its name ‘Betaab’ Valley. With its backdrop dotted with coniferous forests, gushing streams and meadows, the beauty of Betaab beckons to all those looking to escape into the serenity of the natural world.
Although lacking in organized tourist spots, Betaab can be one of the best places to visit in Kashmir for day picnics or weekend getaways. One can also enjoy a number of trekking trails here.
Location: near Pahalgam, Baramulla, Hajan, Jammu and Kashmir 192126
Highlights: Photography, trekking, nature camping, ‘Bobby’ hut
05 Pahalgam
Amidst the Liddar Valley sits a picturesque destination in Kashmir – Pahalgam. It is located in the Anantnag district in Jammu at an elevation of 2740 metres above sea level. Popularly it is called the Valley of Shepherds. Also, it is one of the most sumptuous destinations in India and it must be on your bucket list when you chalk down the places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the middle of tranquillity, you will surely find many out-of-the-world destinations too. Some of the stunning lakes such as Sheshnag Lake will surely take your breath away and beauteous pine trees will follow you wherever you go. If you are waiting for an adrenaline pump, you have plenty to look forward to on your trip to Pahalgam. Initiate trekking on a hill or climbing the Himalayas from a suitable summit and unleash all the adrenaline. If you visit this place in the right season, you will have one of the most remarkable skiing experiences as well.
Apart from this, if you are looking to spend some quality time with your family on a holiday, you could not choose a better domestic destination than Pahalgam. It offers everything for all age groups, especially kids who have a gala time moving around this beautiful place a lot. You might want to indulge in various activities with them too by zorbing, sitting in various rides at famous amusements parks and what not! Traversing in and around Pahalgam is devoid of any fuss as you can easily find local transport means and not waste much time hovering around on your holiday.
The weather is quite chilly from November to February with plenty of snow around. In the later months until April, it gets a bit warmer, albeit the minimum temperature hovers around 2-3 Degrees Celsius. The monsoon stretches from July till September. The autumn stretches until November and is quite dry with strong winds.
06 Dal Lake
Known to be “The Jewel of Srinagar”, Dal Lake spreads across an area of around 26 square kilometers. Popular as one of the most spellbinding places to see in Srinagar, this hillside lake flaunts colorful Shikaras, traditional wooden houseboats, and floating markets. Tourists visiting Dal Lake love to take a ride in the beautiful Shikaras, which are basically wooden boats decorated beautifully with canopies overhead.
They also enjoy shopping authentic Kashmiri items from the floating market or lake market. These markets lay amidst the lake and sell a number of items like saffron and handicrafts. The houseboats on Dal Lake feature floral motifs and intricate carvings and offer breathtaking sights of the majestic lake. These boats are equipped with single rooms and luxury suites and offer comfortable accomodation to the visitors. During the winter season, the visitors also enjoy ice skating on the frozen lake.
Location: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
Timings: Anytime.
Best Time to Visit: May to November.
07 Vaishno Devi
One of the most popular religious places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir, Vaishno Devi draws in millions of devotees. Vaishno Devi is believed to be a trio of three Goddesses: Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali, in Hindu mythology.
The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Durga and has a holy cave where people come to pay their respects. It is a famous site to undertake a religious trek which involves an uphill climb of about 13 kms. The trek can be completed on foot in 6-9 hours or one can use helicopter services/ ride on a horse to reach the shrine on the top. The trail is filled with a number of shops that sell a variety of snacks and refreshments along with religious souvenirs here.
Highlights: Religious site, trekking, scenic views, photography etc.
08 Kupwara
Perched at an altitude of around 1,577 meters above sea level, Kupwara boasts dense trees, rugged mountains, rolling meadows, deep valleys, gushing streams, and shimmering lakes. Spread across an area of around 2,379 square kilometers, the town of Kupwara is also known for its bountiful wildlife.
Lying at an approximate distance of around 90 kilometers from the capital of Srinagar, Kupwara offers astounding views of nearby mountain ranges including Dajalongun, Bulbeer, and Feshiltong. Offering a number of amazing trekking routes, this place lets you enjoy excellent trekking opportunities.
Famous primarily for its valleys, Kupwara attracts tourists with its Bangus Valley, Lolab Valley, and Seemab Valley. Other top attractions of Kupwara town include Kheer Bhawani Temple, Badra Kali Temple, Jamia Masjid Handwara, and Gazi Masjid.
Highlights: Valleys, religious places, trekking, boating
09 Pulwama
Lying at a small distance of around 40 kilometers from Srinagar, Pulwama is known fondly as the “Rice Bowl of Kashmir”. This quaint scenic town is known famously for its aromatic saffron fields, pleasant weather, and picturesque apple orchards. Flaunting majestic waterfalls, verdant valleys, and mesmerizing natural springs,
Pulwama is also nicknamed as the “Anand of Kashmir”. Pulwama also offers a host of adrenaline-pumping options for the adventure junkies. During the summers, Pulwama becomes an excellent trekking and mountaineering destination, while in the winters it offers amazing snowboarding and skiing opportunities.
Highlights:Natural Springs, Apple Orchards, saffron fields, Mountaineering, trekking, skiing, snowboarding
10 Anantnag
Set around 53 kilometers from Srinagar, Anantnag happens to be the financial and commercial capital of Kashmir. Packed with mesmerizing freshwater springs, gushing streams, and breathtaking lush gardens, Anantnag is one of the most divine places to see in Kashmir. Right near Anantnag lies the meeting point of three streams, namely Brengi, Sandran, and Arapath.
Anantnag is packed with a number of religious destinations, such as Martand Sun Temple, Kheer Bhawani Asthapan, Ishmuqam Shrine, Ziarat Baba Hyder Reshi, and Masjid Baba Dawood Khaki. Other attractions of Anantnag include Kishtwar National Park, Verinag, and Achabal.
Highlights: Religious places, sightseeing, nature walks