At a distance of more than 95 kilometers from Srinagar, Pahalgam is one of the most exquisite tourist destinations of Jammu & Kashmir. This famous hill resort rests majestically amidst the Kashmir Valley. Though the valley lies even lower than Gulmarg, the temperatures at night does not drop too much and the tourists have an extra advantage of exploring the region till late in the evening. In addition to it, the mesmerizing views provided by the charmingly beautiful Lidder River are worth the admiration.
Set in a magical valley beside the Lidder River Pahalgam is trekker’s paradise. Pahalgam is serene and exciting and perfect for a lazy holiday, angling in the river or just lazing in the sun, surrounded by fir clad hills. It is a perfect vacation place where you can do variety of activities like trekking, golf, angling and pony rides. Here is list of some popular places to visit in Pahalgam.
Pahalgam Attractions
Rivers
Pahalgam is known for the presence of rivers like Sheshnag and Aru. Sheshnag flows out from Himalayan glaciers while the source of Aru is Kolahoi glacier.
Kolahoi Glacier
This glacier is the gem of the Lidder Valley. It is of a hanging type. In order to reach here, you will have to trek some of the most difficult terrains that are part of Himalayas. The sceneries are enchanting and will make you forget about everything else.
Wildlife
Apart from the natural beauty, Pahalgam is also popular as a wide variety of wildlife forms part of the glacial region. Here you will see a number of wild bears roaming in the area near the village. You will have to be careful while arriving here as the wild animals can also attack you. You will see varieties of fish like trout strolling in the water bodies. Monkeys have also inhabited this area from a long time. Apart from fauna, there are breathtaking numbers of wild trees and plants that can be seen growing here.
Mamleshwar
Built in the 11th century on the west bank of the river Lidder, this Shiva temple is the most revered as well as popular temple in the region. It is believed that the temple is the oldest existing temple in Kashmir. There is stone lined tank about 1.1 sq.mt in dimension.
Chandanwari
It is located 16km from Pahalgam, Chandanwari is the starting point of Amarnath trek. The place is also famous for snow sledging on a snow bridge. Chandanwari can be reached from Pahalgam. A round trip on taxi takes about four to five hours. The journey is beautiful where one side glittering Lidder river flows and on the other side lofty, snow capped mountains follow you throughout the journey. Some over enthusiast travelers prefer a trek from Pahalgam. Take a snacks and tea at near by dhabas before engage in “snow fight”. Hajan a place near Sheeshnag river is also a ideal place for picnic. It captured many scenes of Bollywood flicks.
Baisaran
Visit this extremely beautiful meadow of Pahalgam that offers picturesque views of the entire Lidder Valley. Pine forests cover a large part of the area and the snow covered mountainous peaks add to the charm.
Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Jammu & Kashmir
Sheshnag Lake
The bluish green waters of this lake remain ice laden till the month of June. The lake sits at a whopping height of 11330 feet from sea level. The place got its name from the 7 peaks that together look like a serpent’s head.
Aru
Yet another attraction that offers eye catchy views to the tourists is Aru. Walk along the mountainous path in order to reach here. Here you will see the Lidder River disappearing at Gur and again appearing after covering about 27 meters. To reach here, start the walk from Pahalgam and follow the path taken by Lidder River. After reaching the destination, you will see Gujar tribes that live in a hut made up of logs. They rear cattle like sheep, goat etc. and take these to pasturelands for letting them graze.
Amarnath
Starting from Chandanwari, as you reach the place, you will notice the famous Amaranth Cave that is believed to be the place of Shiva. This journey can be done on a vehicle, but as you go further, the terrain becomes more difficult due to a steep slope. At 11 kilometers from Chandanwari is Sheshnag Lake; Amaranth lies at only six kilometers from here. Every year, the Indian Government makes arrangement for more than one lakh pilgrims who want to visit this sacred place.
Site Walks
You can pursue short walks to and from the destination. If looking forward to trekking, this is a fine place for you. The site of shepherds rearing their cattle is a very common site here. Pahalgam can also be chosen as the starting point for trekking to other regions.
Excursions Places
Numerous excursions are possible from the destination and will allow you to explore the nearby areas. The road that takes you to Pahalgam branches at Anantnag district. You will happen to see a large number of Mughal gardens while going through the route.
Avantipur
Another famous excursion tour is to Avantipur that has the twin Hindu temples to its credit. You can visit these ruined structures and get to know about the Pahalgam architecture that belongs to the period of the ninth century. Built by the ruler named Avantivarman, the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The larger one of these two temples has a shrine that is surrounded by four other shrines. The second one, named Avantisvara, is located at a distance of one kilometers from the bigger temple; it has a huge stonewall along with a gateway that lies in the western direction.
Pampore
A major attraction of Srinagar is Pampore; it is world famous for the saffron production which is a highly prized possession that is exported throughout the world.
Anantnag
A place abounding in lakes and other water bodies, Anantnag is a known for the presence of historic sites. Having experienced several upheavals of time, some of the very old monuments of the state can be seen here. Though most of these monuments are in ruins, Martand Temple can still be explored for its architectural beauty. This sun temple is the witness of the glorious era and speaks a lot about the magnificent history of Jammu &Kashmir. The structure is enough to catch the fancy of the tourists. Other architectural splendors that are worth visiting include temples built by the ruler Lalitaditya and Avantivarman. A popular festival that is celebrated here in the months of September and October involves offering milk and rice to goldfish.
Sangam
Here you will see the huge cricket bat market that are kept on display on the roadside. If interested in the sport, you can also buy one here.
Achabal
No words can describe the natural beauty of the Mughal gardens that were built by Nur Jahan and Jahanara. Notice the design used to construct these fantastic pieces and you will be enamored by their loveliness. Most of the gardens resemble each other in their design and style with streams of water running through them and cascading over the terraces. Achabal is a must-see site to visit.
Daksum
Walking past the magnificence of Achabal, you will have the pleasure of exploring the picturesque beauty of Daksum. Kokarnag springs enhance the charm of the place. You will have to traverse an altitude of about 2438 meters to reach here. Walking past the peaceful nature will be a treat for you. Walk over the hills that are framed by dense coniferous forests. The mesmerizing landscape, invigorating ambience and the serenity are enough to capture your heart and soul.
Mattan
This pilgrimage center can be reached by taking the road going to Pahalgam. The place abounds in natural springs that are supposed to be built by Shiva. As per a story, Shiva once found an unusual egg here; the egg was, in fact, the cursed form of a lad. As he broke the egg, a number of springs were formed at the place.
Verinag
The large springs of Verinag can be accessed as go past a pass on J&K highway. Built in circular shape, the spring’s shape was later modified into an octagonal one by Mughal Emperor Jehangir. The diameter of this water body has perimeters of about 80 meters. The waters here are so crystal clear that you can even mirror the pristine surroundings in it. The manicured lawns that are situated near springs are no less in magnificence.
Things to Do
Recreational Activities
Wonderful trekking options are available to the tourists who seek adventurous activities. If you too are a trekking enthusiast, you can choose Pahalgam as one of your tourist destinations. Besides trekking, you can also enjoy long walks through the dense jungles.
Fishing
Fishing is the most common activity one can do in Pahalgam. The tempting Lidder river with plenty of rainbow trout from the rushing stream is anybody’s delight. The fishing season stretches from April to September. You need to take permit and it is for maximum of three days, on a first come first served basis. Either you can carry your own fishing equipment’s or rent it from organizers. You have to take permit from the Directorate of Fisheries, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar.
Horse Riding
Pahalgam is an excellent place for hiking, walking, trekking and if you don’t like exertion go for horse riding. Pahalgam is long and roughly Y shaped. You can stroll across the busiest stretch extends down the mains street and then left towards Heevan hotel. Places to see include Baisaran, a stiff 2 hours walk up a hill, to a high-altitude meadow and the Mamal temple in the village of Mamleshwar. Horses can be hired directly or from the tourist office.
Trekking
There are ample opportunities to trek from Pahalgam. The most popular one is to Sonmarg via Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panchtarni, Amarnath Cave Temple. There is another trek to spectacular Kolahoi Glacier through pine forests and via Aru village.
Shopping
Pahalgam is famous for wool products. The two products Gabbas and Namdas can be purchased from local shops.
Other Information
In order to have more information, just visit the tourist office; here you will also be able to hire ponies that will take you to higher altitudes. Trekking from here will take you through a number of food-selling stores. In order to make it easy to cover the arduous journey, the authorities have arranged courts of tennis, badminton and golf course to ease out a bit.
Hospitable Services
People here will receive you with warmth and hospitability. Though they are quiet shy by nature, yet they will treat you in the best possible way. The tourist administration will answer all your queries. Being polite to the local villagers, you can win their hearts, and if lucky, you will be invited to their houses for staying. Hence, apart from being treated well, you will also be able to save money spend on accommodation.
Cities Nearby
Here is a short list of some of the cities that lie at short distance from Pahalgam.
Pampore (16 kilometers), Srinagar (95 kilometers), Sangam (35 kilometers), Daksum (77 kilometers), Mattan (61 kilometers), Anantnag (56 kilometers), and Kokernag (77 kilometers)
Pahalgam is a must-see tourist destination that is considered among the most sought after ones of Jammu & Kashmir.
How To Reach
The nearest airport is in Badgam district. The airport is connected with Delhi, Chandigarh, and other major north Indian states. There is no railhead, the nearest one is in Jammu (256km) . The road to Pahalgam takes from Khanabal or alternatively from Bijbehara towns from this National Highway 1A. Bus services are available from Srinagar and Anantnag. Taxis can be hired also at prefixed rate.
Where To Stay
Pahalgam has number of hotels and lodges but most of them open only in summer.