| Around Srinagar |
| Sonmarg Situated 87 km from Srinagar at an altitude of 2743 m the name "Sonmarg" means "Meadow of Gold", from the bloom of yellow crocuses that fill this valley in the spring. 20 kms east of Sonamarg lies the gateway to the Ladakh plateau, the Zoji-La Pass at 3,540 m. From Sonamarg, trekking routes lead to the Himalayan lakes of Vishansar (4084 m), Krishnasar (3810 m) and Gangabal (3658 m). A popular short walk from Sonamarg and a major attraction during the summer months is the 4 km route to Thajiwas, a small valley at the foot of the Sonamarg glacier. At Nilagrad, 6 km away from Sonamarg, a mountain river meets the Indus and the water of the river becomes a strange reddish colour. The Baltic people believe the water has curative power of many diseases, they visit this place every Sunday to bath in the river. Another close by excursion is to Baltal, 15 km north of Sonamarg. This little valley lies at the foot of the Zoji La pass, only a day's journey away from the sacred cave of Amarnath. The village is used as a base camp for pilgrims starting the holy Amarnath yatra. Sonmarg has good number of hotels of all kinds ranging from basic to luxury. the Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Comittee provides tourist huts for Rs 150 for a dormitory and Rs 500 for a room. Pahalgam Long before this little village, 96 Km east from Srinagar at an altitude of 2400 m, became a popular tourist destination it was the preserve of nomadic shepherds. The town spreads along the banks of the Lidder river, which is famous for its trout fishing. The Lidder is divided into three fishing beats between Mattan and Phalgham, and the trout are so thick that even the first time fisherman can land a good catch. Pahalgam is perhaps best known as the take off point for trek into the surrounding mountains. The town is well prepared to meet the demands of trekkers and camping equipment is readily available, as well as ponies and porters. One of the most popular treks from Pahalgam is to the Amarnath cave, 48 km away. There are a large number of hotels and guesthouses available at Pahalgam and internet is available. One local bus runs daily to Srinagar (Rs 150, 2 hours). Check with the locals for the times. Gulmarg 56 kms from Srinagar and 2690 m above sea level, the name Gulmarg means “Meadow of flowers”. In summer it is popular for trekking, golfing and pony rides. Gulmarg has the world’s highest green golf course. In the winter Gulmarg is popular for skiing and snowboarding. There are cable cars that ferry the skiers up to a height of 3950 m. There are plenty of hotels in Gulmarg but most are fairly expensive. Ask for discounts outside the high season (June to August and December to April). There is an ATM in Gulmarg. One bus a day travels between Srinagar and Gulmarg. The journey takes 2.5 hours and costs around Rs 200. Aprivate taxi from Srinagar costs Rs 1500 return. |
| Amarnath Cave The Amarnath caves are one of the most famous shrines in Hinduism. Dedicated to the god Shiva, the shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old. Inside the main cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its peak height during the summer festival. According to Hindu mythology, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati. There are two other ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva's son, Ganesha. The cave is a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus. Every year about 500,000 people visit during the 45-day yatra around the festival of Shravani Mela in July and August. Devotees generally take the 42 km pilgrimage on foot from the town of Pahalgam and cover the journey in four to five days. Some devotees, particularly the elderly, also ride on horseback to make the journey. |