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Kashmir Tourist Places and Kashmir Sightseeing
Tourist Places of Kashmir
Kashmir is truly called the Paradise on Earth. Many say that it is so beautiful that in no language you can describe its beauty. Kashmir is one of the most visited places in India because of its eye catching beauty and charm. There are a lot of places to be seen in Kashmir, which are on the hot list of the tourists that visit the place. In our previous post, we have discussed in Detailed about the Kashmir Tourism and Effects of Militancy on the Tourism Industry of Kashmir. Today, we are going to some of the most visited Kashmir Tourist Places and Kashmir Sightseeing.
Kashmir Tourist places
There are a lot of places to be discovered in Kashmir. These are the ones which are the favorite of almost all of them – be it adventure lovers, honeymoon couples or the families that visit the place. Here’s the list.
1. Gulmarg (Srinagar) :-
Gulmarg lies in the Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. The word actually means Meadows of Flowers. It is 52 Km from Srinagar. The peak season of visiting Gulmarg begins with the snowfall in December and lasts till March.
Taking besides its beauty, Gulmarg is also called the Heartland of India. Because of the geographical conditions and its terrain , it is considered to be the best snow destination in the world.
2. Wullar Lake ( Pahalgam) :-
Wullar lake is India’s largest fresh water lake. Not only this, but also one of the largest in Asia. The background of the formation of the lake is pretty interesting. Tectonic activities inside the earth led to the formation of the lake. The lake is fed by the river Jhelum. Water sports have been introduced by the state government to attract tourists on a large scale.
3. Dal Lake (Kashmir) :-
The Dal lake without a second doubt is the most beautiful in the country. Everbody is familiar with this name whether they have visited the place or not. The lake remains frozen for many months when the place experiences heavy snowfall. House boats attract lot of tourists across the country to the place.
Kashmir Sightseeing
1. Shalimar Bagh:-
The bagh was built by the Mughal emperor Jehangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. The gardens are very famous across the country and are visited by tourists on a large scale. The garden has got four terraces which run one above the other. The dimensions of the garden is 539 m by 182 m .
2. Shankaracharaya Temple:-
This is considered to one of the sacred place and is believed to be built in 250 B.C. According to the local people saint Shankaracharaya stayed in this place when he visited the place some 10 centuries ago. It is considered to be one of the most famous locations if you happen to visit Kashmir. Interestingly, all the main government official buildings are situated on the road just below the hill.
3. Pahalgam:-
It is another popular location and hill station. This place cannot be missed by any chance. Many of the Bollywood filmshave been shot at the place. The place is situated on the banks of Lidar river. The place lies in the Anantnag district of the state. The place is mostly famous amongst the people as it is associated with the famous Amarnath Yatra
How to reach Kashmir ?
There are various ways in which you can reach your destination, Kashmir- Heaven on the Earth. The place is well connected with various parts of the country via roads. There are other viable options too.
By Air:-
The summer capital of the state Srinagar is approximately 14 Km from Jammu city. There are flights on a regular basis from various cities across the country to Kashmir.
By Rail:-
This is believed to be the most convenient of all. Trains from almost all parts of the country are connected to the Jammu Tawi railway station, from where reaching the destination is pretty easy.
By Road:-
National Highway-1 is the main highway that operates between Jammu and Srinagar.There are a lot of busses that commute constantly between the places.
Kashmir Tourism - Have you seen the Paradise on Earth ?
Kashmir is rightly said the paradise on the earth and the Kashmir Tourismindustry is the Fastest growing industry of J&K.In our previous post, we have discussed about the Kashmir Tourism and the Top 5 Places to visit in Kashmir.The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation(JKTDC) looks after the Tourism industry in Kashmir and is offering Online Booking of Hotel's Huts and several other facilities to Tourists who visit the Kashmir.So if you are planning to visit Kashmir, then it is must read article as it introduces you with the popular Kashmir Tourism attractions.Militancy and its Effect on Kashmir Tourism !
Cross Border Terrorism and Militant activities began to rise in 1989 and the Kashmir Tourism falls under the grip of Terrorism.Before 1989, the Tourism Industry is the major source of Income for the Thousands of Kashmiris.There were harsh orders by the Kashmiri extremists to the Tourists to the follow their Rules and Regulations.Prior to Militancy, Kashmir is Favourite Destination for Bollywood Films and Sight Seeing for Travellers.
A Recent Bollywood Make " Lamha " starring Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu picturizes the Current situation in Kashmir and its effects on the Kashmir Tourism.
Effects on Amarnath Yatra
The worst effect of Militancy was seen in 1991, when Amaranth Yatra was banned from 1991 to 1995 following the threat by Militants.But in 1996, the militants had given the assurance that they would not target Pilgrims who wish to perform the Amarnath Yatra.
2000 Massacre
In 2000, 30 Innocent Amaranth Pilgrims were killed by Militants in Pahalgam when they were on their way to Amarnath Holy cave.The attack was led by Laskhar-e-Toiaba (LET).The killings were widely condemned by all sections of society
Normalcy Returns and its effects on Kashmir Tourism
A question is always asked, Who lose the most in the Militancy era since 1989, the answer is neither India nor Pakistan, but only Kashmir and Kashmirs.Kashmir Tourism Industry is worst hit by Pakistan Sponsored Cross Border Terrorism.But Since 2004, the Ministerial Level Talks between India and Pakistan had shown some good results and normalcy again return to Kashmir
The effect of Normalcy in Kashmir begin to show and in 2009, the Kashmir became one of the top tourist destinations in India.In 2012, close to 7.5 lakh tourists including 23,000 foreigners had visited the Kashmir and taking into account the same trend, it is expected that 10 Lakh to 12 lakh tourists are likely visit Kashmir in 2012.These growing number of Tourist really rejuvenates Kashmir Tourism.
Top Kashmir Tourism Destinations
Kashmir itself is a paradise on earth, and the place has been blessed with Charming and euending Beauty and Glory.The Mughual Emperorer, Shah Jahan said in the the prasie of Kashmir that "Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast". means If there exists a heaven on earth, it is here (Kashmir).
Some of the Popular Kashmir Tourism attractions are:
- Dal Lake: The World Famous Lake with Houseboats and Shikaras sailing over it
- Mughual Gardens: Famous Gardens bulit at the time of Mughuals.
- Chashma Shahi:
- Pari Mahal
- Sharnkracharaya Temple
- Khir Bhawaini
- Gulmarg
- Pahalgam
- Sonmarg
- Yusmarg
The List is endless and these are only the most traversed Tourist Destinations in Kashmir.
Top 10 Places to visit in Kashmir During Amarnath Yatra 2014.
Top 10 places that you visit in Kashmir during the Amarnath Yatra 2013
In this post, we are going to share the 10 Top Most Popular and Must visit Places in Kashmir.
1. Dal Lake:-
2. Pahalgam:-
Pahalgam is another famous destination. The place is located on the banks of Lidar river. The place remains a hot spot as it is the base camp of the Amarnath yatra. Pahalgam is located in the Anantnag district. It is associated with the Amarnath Yatra ji. Pahalgam is mostly associated with the annual Amarnath yatra as it is the starting point of the yatra.3. Shalimar:-
The garden was built by the Mughals in the Islamic nature. The place is a hit with the tourists because of the feature it includes- pool, fountains and canals. The bagh was actualy built by the famous Mughal emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. Tourists visit the place across the year to witness the beauty of nature. It is a very famous picnic spot, otherwise too.
4. Nishat Bagh:-
5. Shankracahrya Shrine:-
6. Sonmarg:-
7. Sheshnag Lake:-
8. Chashmashahi Bagh:-
9. Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve:-
The reserve is 49 Km from Srinagar. The reserve is very vast. It can be understood from the fact that it covers an area of around 180 sq-km. The main attraction of the reserve is the Musk deer, as it is considered to be one of the endangered species. A lot of other flora and fauna species can be found like fox, brown bear etc. The place generally attracts students.
10. Roza Bal:-
Roza Bal is the name of the shrine located in the city of Kashmir. The place is visited by people from all sects- Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. The tomb is a rectangular building made on a low height surrounded by the high railings in the front. Many people believe the sage buried there with Yuz Asaf, whom they believe visited Kashmir after surviving the crucifixion. The tomb was looked after by the local descendents. It is a must visit place if you happen to visit Kashmir.
5 Unexplored Places in Kashmir
With the summer heat in full blast and plans to head to the hills, here are some places lesser known in Kashmir worth every dime and effort.
“Gar firdaus bar ru e zamin ast, hami asto hami asto hami ast ”
More than 400 years and Kashmir can’t be well described than Jehangir’s own words – If heaven exists on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here!
Kashmir has always caught the fancy of travelers across the world. Undoubtedly distinct from all the other hill stations in India primarily being discovered by the Mughals and not by British (as a hill station, Kashmir itself has a history of being the homeland of Rishi Kashyap dating 5000 years ago) and due to special status, no entry of real estate sharks has preserved the original beauty of this surreal valley.
Sri Nagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg are known as good as the four metro cities in India and can be described as the commercial circuit of Kashmir.
On the backdrop of the huge inflow of tourists in recent years and subsequent commercialization of these places, these spots are yet relatively untouched and retain the authenticity of Kashmir’s beauty and hospitality.
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Gurez
Situated in the North Eastern region of Kashmir and about 140 odd kilometers from Sri Nagar, Gurez is considered to be one of the most picturesque valleys of Kashmir. Gateway of the ancient ‘Silk Route’, Gurez also incorporates the famous pyramid shaped ‘Habba Khatoon’ peak named after the Kashmiri poetess. Although the tourist related infrastructure is yet to be developed in this area, the accommodation facility is available in the main town of Dawar and the nearby villages.
The beautiful Kishen Ganga river flows through Gurez valley with its clear blue waters and rafting can be done here. However, except for the residents of Bandipore district, travellers need to take a special permission from the Director – Tourism Enforcement, Kashmir which includes verification from local police station. It is advisable to apply a month prior to your scheduled journey to Gurez.
Warwan Valley
The efforts to reach this heavenly valley are worth it as you have to cross the tricky Margan Top (from where the famous Nun Kun peak can be seen on a clear day). Another gem in the unexplored Kashmir, Warwan valley in Kishtwar district situated at an altitude of approx 7000 feet from sea level offers breathtaking vistas of greenery, waterfalls and clear skies.
A popular destination with foreign nationals in the 80’s, the Warwan valley is sandwiched between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Lack of electricity in this valley takes your soul closer to nature. On a moonlit night, one is enthralled by the sheer beauty of the snow peaks of Zanskar range and the shimmering Dariya-E-Chinab flowing through the valley with distant echoes of shepherds getting their ships back home.
The Inshaan village has couple of accommodation facilities – a dak bunglow under construction and a Forest Rest House. As with Gurez, you have to communicate your plan to the DFO, Marwah, a month in advance. Uncertainties prevail as FRH being the only accommodation for all VIPs visiting Warwan.
Here, the Kashmiri hospitality comes to act and any of the locals will accommodate you. The recently opened Vailoo-Inshan Road makes life easy as you can drive a vehicle (4X4 preferred) in the Warwan valley. Generally cut from the rest of the world for 7 months, best time to visit Warwan Valley is between May and October
Bangus/ Reshwari
Located in the sensitive Kupwara district, Bangus (or Bungus) valley can humble the best of the European meadows. There are two elliptical bowl shaped valleys with name of Bodh Bungus (Big Bungus) and Lakut Bangus (Small Bungus).
Generally tourists are allowed access to Big Bungus only. Situated inside a dense forest of the marvelous pines, the Bungus meadows are probably the most beautiful in Kashmir and an ideal place for camping (though it is not allowed and one is requested to be back to Reshwari before evening).
The green carpet becomes a captivating array of beautiful colours in Summer (especially in May) which is the recommended time to visit. The Bangus valley certainly epitomizes Kashmir’s heavenly beauty in the original way.
The only accommodation near Bangus Valley is the beautiful guest house situated on the banks of Mawar river in the Reshwari Village falling in the Handwara sub-division.
As they say, “Good things never come easy” If you happen to visit Bangus, you will not stop thanking your stars. Being a disturbed territory, you need to acquire a primary permission from the SP of Kishtwar to go to Bangus but the 17th Infantry Brigade reserves the right to allow the entry to Bangus. Once allowed, you won’t feel like coming back.
Doodhpathari
Probably the simplest to approach out of all the destinations described, Doodpathari (or Dodhpathir in local dialect) is situated at a distance of 40 odd kilometers from Sri Nagar. The name is derived from the abundance of milk in this area due to lush green meadows for the cattle. The shephards from the nearby villages get their cattle to graze here so that good quality milk can be procured.
Doodhpathri is a bowl shaped green valley with Shali Ganga river flowing through the meadows and makes a beautiful day trip destination from Sri Nagar. The JKTDC has also built a wonderful resort here. If not staying on a house boat at Dal Lake or Nagin Lake in Sri Nagar, it is advisable to stay at Doodhpathari tourist guest houses.
Are there any other lesser known destinations in Kashmir that you’ve been to? Do share in the comments section how your experiences have been with respect to access, security and the sheer beauty of travelling in Kashmir.
Lamayuru, Ladakh.
Location : Lamayuru, Ladakh.
According to the local legends, present day Lamayuru valley was once a lake, which was magically dried up by renowned Buddhist yogi Mahasiddha Naropa.
Before us, three local, traditionally dressed women, with spinning, prayer wheels in hand, did the same. A rough cut sheep skin with long, white fur, hanging off their shoulders caught our eye. They smiled at us warmly and even agreed to let us take their pictures!
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Best Places to visit in Kashmir.
Kashmir
A land of anomalies, Kashmir is most definitely a paradise on earth with its snow-capped mountains and scenic landscape. Despite the politically-induced territorial division, Kashmir sees a healthy influx of tourists from all over the world. With an eclectic mix of tourist attractions comprising of beautiful gardens, lakes, valleys, and much more, Kashmir remain one of the most celebrated tourist spots in the world – and as Led Zeppelin quotes- it still remains the Shangri-la for most Kashmiris.
Best places to visit in Kashmir
Srinagar
The city best known for its lush gardens, serene lakes, and chameleonic landscape, Srinagar is best visited during the summer season. Relish a shikhara ride on Dal or Nagin Lake, or snap to your heart’s delight with the snow-clad Hari parbat hill in the backdrop.
Things to see and do : Dal & Nageen Lakes, Mughal Gardens, Shankaracharya Hill, Old City monumnents (Dastgir Sahib, Jama Masjid, Khanqah, and Rozabal Shrine).
When to go : June through October, December & January for snow.
Our 2 cents :
- Stay in a houseboat to get the true Srinagar experience.
- Evening Shikhara rides are very romantic.
Pahalgam
The undulated hilly area of Pahalgam is famous for its fertile region and rich vegetation, of which conifer forests make for a large part. Engage in various adventure sports like horseback riding, trekking, canoeing, water rafting, etc. The placid surrounding of Pahalgam with its breathtaking meadows and natural landscape is the perfect tourist destination for anyone looking to get away from the bustles of the city.
Things to see and do : Baisarn & Tulian lakes, Betab & Aru valleys.
When to go : June through October, December & January for snow.
Our 2 cents :
- If you are driving up from Jammu to Srinagar, then Pahalgam is a good place to take a break for a couple of days.
- Don’t forget your trekking shoes. Pahalgam offers excellent trekking opportunities.
Gulmarg
Literally translated ‘Meadow of Flowers’, Gulmarg is a picturesque hill station with vibrant flowers contrasted against the backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks. A popular picnic spot, Gulmarg has much to offer in terms of beautiful natural beauty, and is also renowned for the highest and longest cable car system in the entire Asian continent.
Things to see and do : Gondola rides up the mountain, leisure walks through the meadows, and skiing.
When to go : June through October, December & January for snow.
Our 2 cents :
- It is better to purchase the Gondola (cable car) tickets from Srinagar so that you don’t have to wait in line once you get to Gulmarg.
- Avoid going to Gulmarg as part of a day trip from Srinagar. One needs to stay there for at least one night.
Sonmarg
Sonmarg or ‘Meadow of Gold’ is situated a few kms before the Zoji La pass, and is also a popular route to traverse to Ladakh. Abundant with beautiful flowers in an array of colors, Sonmarg is famous for its undulated and far-reaching trekking routes, which pass through many other tourist spots such as Vishansar and Gangabal lakes. A number of lakes and rivers have their confluence at Sonmarg, Nilagard where a small stream meets with River Sind is another major attraction. Vishansar Lake, located at an altitude of 4048 meters above sea level is the most popular of all the lakes in Sonmarg, and is one of the breathtaking views from the very top of the meadow.
Things to see and do : Thajiwas glacier, leisure walks through the meadows, trekking.
When to go : June through October, December & January for snow.
Our 2 cents :
- Try the local cuisine at the small eateries along the highway.
- Always take a guide along while trekking in snow. Some sections have very thin ice.
