Pahalgam Sightseeing

Fast Facts
State: Jammu and Kashmir
District: Anantnag
Famous for/as: Hill Station
Languages: Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri
Best Season: March - Nov
Weather: Summer 11 to 25°C, Winter -5 to 14°C
Altitude: 2740 m
Pincode: 192126
STD code: 01936

Pahalgam is situated 95 kms east of Srinagar. It is a beautiful resort at confluence of Lidder river and the Sheshnag lake. The landscape is marked by steep hills, lush forests and the cascading Lidder river. Extremely popular with tourists, it is an important trekking base. One can trek or hire a pony to some of the most exotic locations -like, the vast meadow of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly wooded pine forests and scenic picnic spots like Hajan and Chandanwari.
Chandanwari, is also the starting point of the journey to the Amarnath Shrine which takes place every year in the month of July/August. 11 kms. from Chandanwari is the mountain lake of Sheshnag. Pahalgam is located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India. It is located at an altitude of 2130 m above sea level amidst the great Himalayan range. It is positioned beside the Liddar River, in the Liddar valley.

Pahalgam is 95 km east of Srinagar. The weather in Pahalgam is alpine. Summers (April–June) are mild while winters (November–February) are cold. It experiences rains between July and September. It experiences heavy snowfall from December to February.

Attraction
Aru Valley is a small yet self-sufficient scenic village located 12 km from Pahalgam. The drive up to the village is alluring too. The location of the village among the grasslands, make this place a tourist delight. It is reachable by walking along a mountain path. The village also serves as the start point for trekking to Kolahoi glacier. Another long trek for the serious trekker is to Sonmarg, which can be covered in 3 days! Besides, the valley is also known to be a good site for camping. Instead of taking the regular pony ride it is recommended that tourists explore the surrounding valley on foot to get a full sense of its beauty.

Betaab Valley
Located on the way to Chandanwari, the valley was named Betaab after the Bollywood movie by the same name! Earlier known as Hajan Valley, after the release of the movie, it was renamed as major part of the movie was shot here.
Set amid picture perfect environs complete with snowcapped mountains, gurgling streams, colorful willow trees & the warm sun; making it an ideal for an artist’s canvas! The valley is a walk-able distance from Pahalgam.
The crystal clear & chilly water of the stream bubbling down from the snowy hills is a delight; locals here drink this water too. Baisaran and Tulian Lake are few nearby attractions that can be visited.

Amarnath yatra via Pahalgam - Chandanwari
The famous Amarnath Yatra which takes place every year during the month of Sawan (July to August) commence from both the routes, of Pahalgam and Baltal. Chandanwari which is around 15 km from Pahalgam is the starting point for Amarnath Yatra.

Pahalgam to Chandanwari is easily accessible by taxi. From Chandanwari, pilgrims need to continue their Yatra on foot or pony, which will take at least 2 days to reach the cave and back, with an overnight stay in either Shishnag or Panchtarni.