Kashmir is known as “paradise on earth” and the top most tourist destination in India.
A valley between the Great Himalayan range and the Pir Panjal mountain range, intensifying the beauty of Himalayas in the northernmost part of India, Kashmir is painted with a unique culture that keeps you intrigued throughout your journey, The valley can be visited year round, but spring is the best time to really appreciate nature’s artistry. When Almond trees blossom and field of multicolored tulips bloom, Every year thousands of pilgrims visit holy shrine of Amarnath Yatra. Kashmir Valley is famous for the landscapes, Himalayas, nature, snow, greenery and cuisines.
Kashmir is popular destination for activities like fishing, camping, trekking, pilgrimage, horse-riding, gardens, Greenland, Skiing, Golfing and paradise for Honeymooners and Ladakh – it is also known as little Tibet of India and renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist Culture & monasteries.
Before your trip you should take advice from any local trip planner or tour operator/agency
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These are some of the most beautiful places in Kashmir you must visit.
1. Gulmarg
Located at an altitude of 2,730m, Gulmarg or the ‘Meadow of Gold’ is one of the most popular and highest visited skiing destinations in the entire country. It is also in this hill station, you can visit the highest golf course in the world! During your drive, the panoramic views of the Nanga Parbat and Tangmarg will behold all your attentions for sure! Arriving in Gulmarg, join a 3-4 hours trek to Khilangmarg and witness the magical beauty of the hill station.
2. Sonmarg
Fondly called the ‘Meadow of Gold’, Sonamarg is perched at a height of 9,000 ft. above the sea level and lies in the scenic Sindh Valley. Nestled amidst colourful and flowery meadows, your arrival in the hill station will be greeted by an exciting pony ride to the Thajiwas Glacier, which serves as one of the best Sonamarg attractions. Returning from the glacier.
3. Phalgam
Phalgam is known for its gorgeous natural beauty, Pahalgam is a feast to the eyes and senses. Submerged in lush greenery and alluring Himalayan ranges, it calls for some moments of requiescence at nature’s own home.
You will be wonderstruck by the sumptuousness of Pahalgam the moment you arrive at this pristine land. Little houses, green fields and farms of saffron, the valleys are green and very beautiful. You can go on fishing trips or trek on one of the plenty mountains that cover this place. The 18 hole golf course is set among the snowcapped surroundings of Pahalgam and can make a really worthy experience to remember for long time.
4. Dal Lake
Dal – A Lake Made Of Lakes
Dal Lake is, initially, one of the most confusing parts of Srinagar for it’s not really one lake at all, but three. Further more much of it is hardly what one would expect a lake to be like – it’s a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly moored they could almost be islands and hotels on islands which look like they could simply float away.
Houseboats
The largest group of houseboats lies along the western edge of the lake near the lakeside boulevard, towards Dal gate. They are lined in looping rows and around small islands. Several hotels can also be found on flat islands in the lake. Beyond the houseboats to the northwest are the floating gardens.
Shikara Ride
Shikara ride on Dal lake will take you to the unknown world of the lake. Ride over the calm water and in a pleasant silence of Dal Lake is an ultimate experience. Explore Dal lake by going on Shikara ride, Shikara Ride In Dal Lake top activities to do in Srinagar, There are a lot of places of interest you may miss, if you miss Shikara ride in Kashmir. One of these places are Char Chinar, Kabutar Khana, Bathing Boats in open Lake, Golden lake, Lotus lake and many more.
5. Mughal Gardens
There are Six Mughal Gardens in Kashmir.
Nishat Garden
Nishat Garden is also know as “The Garden of Bliss”. Nishat is a Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake, close to the Srinagar city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the second largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. The largest in size is the Shalimar Bagh, which is also located on the bank of the Dal Lake. Nishat Bagh is a Hindustani word, which means “Garden of Joy,” “Garden of Gladness” and “Garden of Delight. Nishat garden is the largest one of the Mughal gardens in Kashmir. It is situated on the banks of the picturesque Dal Lake. Also known as “the garden of bliss”, the Nishat gardens have the Zabarwan Mountains forming its backdrop.
Shalimar Garden
Shalimar Garden is set on the shores of the pristine Dal Lake, the Shalimar Bagh is the largest Mughal Garden in the Kashmir valley and one of the most famous tourist attractions near Srinagar. Covering an area of 31 acres, this exquisite Mughal marvel was built by Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan in 1619 A.D. Later, it served as the favourite summer destination of Emperor Jahangir and his court. This beautiful masterpiece also popularly known as the ‘house of love’ was originally called ‘Farah Baksh’, which literally translates to ‘delightful’.
Cheshma shahi Garden
Chashma Shahi or Chashma i Shahi (translation: the royal spring), also called Chashma Shahi, is one of the Mughal gardens built in 1632 AD around a spring by Ali Mardan Khan, a governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as per the orders of the Emperor, as a gift for his elder son Prince Dara Shikoh. The garden is located in the Zabarwan Range, near Raj Bhawan (Governor‘s house) overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Pari Mahal
Pari Mahal is a terraced garden situated to the southwest of Dal Lake, above the famous Chashme Shahi Garden. Alternatively known as Quntilon and Fairies’ Abode, it is counted amongst the star attractions of Srinagar. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s son Dara Shikoh built this garden in the memory of Mullah Shah Badakhshi – his tutor, who preached the Qadiri order of Sufi Islam. It was established in the mid 17th century on the remnants of an old Buddhist monastery. The monumental garden was used as an astronomical observatory and an important learning centre for astrological science.
This beautifully landscaped garden covers a sprawling area that is 122 metres in length and 62.5 metres in width. It comprises six terraces, which have separate water tanks that are filled through underground pipes. The verdant and well-manicured lawn with colourful flowers and fruit trees adds to the overall appeal of this green space. A water spring also forms a part of this beautiful garden.
Veeri Nag Garden
Waterfall at the end of Verinag Mughal Garden Mughal Garden of Verinag located about 61 km south of Srinagar at the foothill of Banihal Mountain ranges. Covering a total area of 5.30 hectares, the garden fascinates the tourists with its beautiful manicured lawns, flower beds, majestic chinar trees and gushing spring at the backdrop of lush and dense forest. This garden was originated from a gushing mountain spring of Verinag, which is the source of the River Jhelum. Mughal Emperor Jahangir was impressed by the beauty of the spring and its surrounding areas. Soon then, he built an octagonal water tank of sculptured stones in 1620 AD. Seven years later, his son Shah Jahan added some attractive features to the garden and constructed fountains and cascades in row lines in front of the spring. He also built hot and cold baths in the garden of which only ruins are now left and preserved.
Achbal Garden
Achabal Gardens, also referred as ‘the places of the princess’, is a small Mughal Garden located in Achabal, a town in Anantnag district of Kashmir valley. Lies at a distance of 58 km south of Srinagar, this garden is considered as one of the best Mughal Garden in India. It is believed to be built by Mughal Empress Nur Jahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir. Later, the garden was rebuilt on smaller scale by Dogra King Gulab Singh. The most attractive feature of the garden is that it is watered by one of the sacred mountain spring of the neighboring hill. The fountains in water springs of the garden represent a romantic history of the ancient era. Resting at a foot of a Himalayan hill, Achabal Gardens covers an area of 6.20 hectares. Rows of majestic Chinar trees offer captivating views of the garden. The stepped terraces, fountains, waterfalls, sparkling shrubs and flowers add to the beauty of the Garden.
6. Vaishnu Devi (Katra)
Vaishnu Devi is Situated in the hills of Katra and considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimages of our times. Popular the world over as Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata, which means, the Mother who fulfills whatever Her children wish for, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji resides in a Holy Cave located in the folds of the three peaked mountain named Trikuta (pronounced as Trikoot). The Holy Cave attracts millions of devotees every year. In fact, the number of Yatris visiting the Holy Shrine annually now exceeds one crore. This is due to the unflinching faith of the devotees who throng the Shrine from all parts of India and abroad.
The Holy Cave of the Mother is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. The Yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra. At the culmination of their pilgrimage, the yatries are blessed with the Darshans of the Mother Goddess inside the Sanctum Sanctorum- the Holy Cave. These Darshans are in the shape of three natural rock formations called the Pindies. There are no statues or idols inside the Cave.
7. Jammu
Steaming hot compared to the rest of the state, Jammu is J&K’s winter capital. Pre-Independence the city was the seat of the powerful Dogra dynasty, whose palaces remain the city’s most appealing sights. Religiously Hindu, Jammu dubs itself as the ‘city of temples’. Few of these temples are historically significant, and for foreign tourists there’s little pressing need to hang around after making transport connections to Amritsar, Srinagar or Dharamsala.
8. Bhaderwah
Bhaderwah is a town in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on the foothills of middle Himalaya at an elevation of 5,295 feet. It is predominately a mountainous region that offers excellent opportunities for adventure tourism.
The town is endowed with unmatched beauty of nature with picture perfect sceneries, keeping your camera busy! The mountain streams and green lush meadows are so inviting, which is why it is named as ‘Mini Kashmir’.
The town of Bhaderwah is dotted with temples and pilgrimages sites such as Vasuki Nag Temple, Kailash Kund making it a sacrosanct pilgrimage site among the devoted Hindu followers. Various colorful local fairs, festivals and unique mosaic culture add to the richness of this place. This unexplored paradise of the Jammu & Kashmir is yet to get global recognition for its immense tourism potentials.
Thanks to Internet, many tourists now know about Bhaderwah and ask to visit here by name. Almost everyone who visits even once, returns back satisfied.
9. Yousmarg
Yusmarg is approximately 47 km from the Srinagar and lies in the Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The two-hour drive to the place is an enjoyment in itself. Grassy pastures stretching to acres of land, the dense forests full of pine trees, with the backdrop of splendid snow capped mountains leave you almost speechless. Within commutable distance from Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, Yusmarg is the perfect place to go for a picnic. It is possible that after reaching this place, you may want to even stay for a few days. Specially, for the lovers of long walks in picturesque locales, Yusmarg is the place to be.
You may a laid-back stroll amongst flower-strewn meadows. Another venue for the walkers is a river, known by the name of Dudh Ganga. Frothing and crashing on its way over the rocks, the river makes a little white foam, which gives it this name. A little ahead, is a lake, Nilnag, embraced with hills. The hills comprise of a number of several peaks, namely Tatta Kutti, Sang Safed, etc. At a distance of about 13 km from Yusmarg in the Kashmir valley is the Charar-e-Sharief, the shrine of the saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund Reshi.Yousmarg mesmerizes tourists with its scenic meadows,a sparkling reservoir and mountains comparable to European Alps. Situated amidst Sang Safed valley, Yousmarg is reputed for having some unique spring flowers. It also has some of the highest peaks in Pir-Panjal range like Tatakoti 4725m, Romesh Thong 5000m and Sunset Peak 4746 m. The mighty river Doodh Ganga rises from these peaks and a dis-tributory of the same flows into the reservoir. Word ‘Yus’ is said to be a short form of Youza or Jesus PBUH and a marg means a meadow, according to a belief the Jesus is said to have passed through this valley while travelling into Kashmir.
10. Doodhpathri
Doodhpathri is a part of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, it is a staggering altitude of 8,957 feet above sea level. Doodhpathri means a ‘Valley of Milk’ and the reason why it’s called that is because the water flowing through the meadows here looks like milk from a distance. There’s also a story which goes back in time. It is believed that when the famous saint of Kashmir Sheikh-ul-Alam once prayed here, and pricked the ground with his stick to get some water, milk started oozing out instead, on the rocks. For more details about Kashmir tour packages call us at +91-7006116088
