Pahalgam Valley, One of the Finest Tourist Destinations in Kashmir

Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination
situated at the confluence of Lidder River and the streams which commences from tranquil Sheshnag Lake.
This scenic valley is situated at a distance of about 96 km from Anantnag district and is placed at a height of about 2,130 m above sea level. The lush green surroundings and its picturesque landscapes make it one of the top tourist destinations in India.

The place provides awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan Ranges that attracts tourists from across the world. Pahalgam is also renowned as the base camp for one of the most famed pilgrimage centre in India, which is Amarnath. The place is also well known among the tourists for shopping of woolen products.

Apart from the scenic views and picturesque landscapes, tourists visit Pahalgam for various adventure activities like horse riding, trekking, golf and several kinds of water sports. Earlier the place was also a favorite place for shooting of Bollywood movies.

You can have a honeymoon trip to this place and also enjoy the recreational facilities of this place. Paha Pahalgam is also a perfect destination for picnic. The beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate and the captivating rivulets add up to make it an ideal picnic spot. You can also choose to wonder around the shops of this place and buy the striking as well as skillful items of Kashmiri handicraft.

Attractions 

Aru Valley- Aru Valley is one of the top tourist attractions of Pahalgam. It is a quaint but still a wonderful village located at a distance of about 12 km from Pahalgam. Visitors find this village quite an amusing one as it is located amid the alluring grasslands. The village can be reached by walking through a mountain path. It is reachable by walking along a mountain path. The route to this village from Pahalgam is a captivating one. It also stands as the starting point for trekking to Kolahoi glacier. Another long trek to Sonmarg, which is quite a strenuous one and lasts for 3 days, can also be done from this village. The village also provides a perfect site for camping. It is advisable that instead of opting for the regular pony rides, one should opt to walk to this village in order to experience the picturesque surroundings of the valley.

Amarnath Yatra- Amarnath, which is one of the most renowned pilgrimage center initiates from both the routes, of Pahalgam and Baltal. The popular Amarnath Yatra takes place annually during the month of Sawan, which is from July to August. Chandanwari which is the one of the starting point of the yatra, is located at a distance of about 15 km from Pahalgam. The place is easily accessible from Pahalgam through taxi.

Trekking- The valley of Pahalgam offers many adventurous trekking routes. The snow covered hilly terrains and the pleasant climate of this region during the time of spring and summer make it a perfect destination for trekking. The towering mountain ranges, marvelous valleys and plateaus of this region provides from easy to demanding trekking routes. Best time to trek in the Pahalgam region is from April to June.  

Accommodation 

 As for accommodation in this valley, JKTDC Huts and Tourist Bungalow are the most favored ones among the foreign tourists. The huts and the bungalow provide excellent quality of accommodation that makes your stay at this place a comfortable one. All the huts include well equipped kitchens.

How to Reach 

By Air: The nearest airport to this valley is Srinagar International Airport.

By Train: The nearest railway head to this place is at Udhampur.

By Road: Pahalgam has a well established road network that links the place with Srinagar.