In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a small town but one of the most beautiful mountain towns in India. The name of this beautiful town is Pahalgam, situated in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. Pahalgam is the headquarters of one of the eleven tehsils of the Anantnag district. It attracts thousands and thousands of tourists from all over the world. With lush green meadows and pristine waters, Pahalgam is a traveler’s paradise.
It is also associated with India’s most sought, pilgrimage to the shrine of Amarnath, also known as the Amaranth Yatra. For those who don’t know about Amaranth, well Amarnath is actually a holy cave, a Hindu shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in Pahalgam. Another fact about Pahalgam is that in the early days it was known as Bail Gaon, meaning village of bull, it was called Bail Gaon because it is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva left his bull before entering the cave of Amarnath.
How to get here:
The town of Pahalgam is easily accessible by tourists because of it being an important tourist town in India. So , if you were to reach this place by plane , then you would have to get down at Sheikh – Ul – Alam airport in Srinagar , which is 90 kilometres away from the town . This town does not have an airport of its own . After getting down at Srinagar airport , you can take a cab and you will be in Pahalgam in less than two hours .
If you want to travel by train , then you have to get a ticket to Udhampur which is the nearest railway station to Pahalgam located at a distance of 217 kilometres away from the hill station . After reaching the station you have to hail a cab or a private vehicle to reach your dest .
But if you want to travel by bus then you can get many state owned buses traveling from various cities of India to Pahalgam . The best thing aboutbus rides is that you get to see beauty of the neighbourhood like the town of Sonamarg , Panchtarni and many others .
Things to do:
Pahalgam is a hill station located in the Himalayas and has a lot to offer . You can visit Chandanwari , Betaab Valley , Aru Valley , Lidder River , Sheshnag Lake and many more .
Located about 15 kilometres away from Pahalgam , Chandanwari is a beautiful place mostly known for snow sledging on a snow boat . It is also the starting point of Amarnath Yatra . This place offers scenic beauty of the mountains .
Betaab Valley is a breathtaking place with picturesque surrounding of tall deodar trees and pine forests . This place got its name after the Bollywood movie Betaab which was shot here .
Aru Valley is a famous tourist destination , well known for its beautiful meadows and fun filled activities like horse riding , hiking and trekking . It is located just beside the beautiful Aru river .
Lidder River is a glacial river that originates at the Kolahoi Glacier . It stretches for 75 kilometres and is known for its scenic beauty and picnic spots . While here you can indulge in white water rafting , angling , horse riding and fishing .
Sheshnag Lake is one of the most famous places to visit while in Pahalgam . It is the epitome of beauty , serenity and peace . Surrounded by snow capped mountain a breathtaking place , a total traveler’s paradise .
Nearby Places:
Being located among the Himalayas , there are a lot of beautiful places to visit near Pahalgam . Some of them are :-
Yousmarg , a surreal hill station , located far away from the hustle bustle of the town . The beautiful green meadows are the most striking feature of this place . The Sang – e – Safed valley which is 14 kilometres away from this place has a frozen lake that stays frozen even during the summers .
Kokernag is a small Kashmiri town , located in the heart of the Bereng Valley . The small stream with the blue mountains and lush green meadows make this place a serene and beautiful place .
Manasbal Lake located near Srinagar is so beautiful , inspired Nur Jahan to build a garden around this place . With lotus growing on the lakes and groves all rpund the lake makes this one of the most attractive lakes in India.
Places to Stay:
Being a very famous tourist destination not just in India but globally , there are many world class places to stay while you are in Pahalgam . Based on surveys and reviews and ratings the best places to stay in Pahalgam are :-
- Welcomhotel by ITC — ₹ 28,910 . ( per night )
- Hotel Outlook — ₹ 12,780 . ( per night )
- The Mansion Hotel — ₹ 11,151 . ( per night )
- Grand Mumtaz Resort — ₹ 10,511 . ( per night )
- Island Resort — ₹ 9,086 ( per night )
The town of Pahalgam is located in the Himalayas , so they are beautiful throughout the year . But still the best time to visit Pahalgam would be during the months of July to October . During this time the whole place is covered by beautiful colorful flowers and becomes vibrant and serene .
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