Numerous poets and travelers have described the beauty of Kashmir in many references as ‘heaven on earth’. Here is a list of the “must see” places in the Kashmir valley.
Srinagar: The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and an international airport. Well connected by land and air with the capital of the country, New Delhi. It has the world famous Mughal Gardens, Dal Lake with houseboats and shopping markets where you can buy the famous ‘pashmina shawls’, dried fruits and Kashmiri handicrafts. It should be the base for the rest of your tour as it is the largest city in Kashmir with maximum facilities. More information about Srinagar can be found on Wikipedia.org.
Pahalgam: Called “the valley of the shepherds”, it is famous for its cold climate, green meadows with streams of water running through the middle of the valleys. It’s an angler’s paradise, where even hobbyists can get a fair catch of silver stream rainbow trout. With facilities like trekking and river rafting, it is the place to be in Kashmir. You can get good hotels in Pahalgam with a variety of hotels and hostels for all budgets. However, it is better to take a taxi from Srinagar.
Gulmarg: Gulmarg is the world famous ski resort which is about an hour and a half drive from Srinagar. Gulmarg boasts of the highest and longest cable car project in Asia – The Gulmarg Gondola. Gulmarg also has hotels of all ranges and for all tastes. Skiing can be done from mid-December to April or May.
aharbal: A spectacular picnic spot with a waterfall in the background and lush green valleys with conifers everywhere. This place is perfect for an “escape” from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Around 2.5 hours from Srinagar by road.
Other lovely places to visit are yusmarg, Kokernag, Verinag and sonamarg. It is best to be in Kashmir in summers i.e. May to September. For snow lovers, mid-December to April is the time to be here. Since the area was classified as a disturbed zone, the influx of tourists had decreased in the last 20 years, but with the situation changing very fast, tourism has gained momentum in recent years.
