One of the most incredibly amazing places on earth, Kashmir is home to some of the most wonderful tourist destinations that epitomize beauty and make the state what they rightly call “Paradise on Earth.” Let us look at five such popular tourist spots across Jammu and Kashmir.
What is Kashmir Famous For? – 5 Tourist Places in Jammu and Kashmir!
Srinagar
Of course, we cannot forget Srinagar while talking about the top five tourist places in Kashmir. Srinagar, the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is situated on the banks of the river Jhelum. Rightly termed the “Venice of the East,” Srinagar is known for its tranquil lakes featuring the traditional shikaras and houseboats.
Additionally, the city is home to Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Shankaracharya Mandir, Jamia Masjid, Kheer Bhawani Temple, Chashma Shahi Garden, Naseem Bagh. Apart from the tourist spots, Srinagar also serves as a hub for skiing, fishing, trekking, and paragliding. All these factors contribute to the popularity of Srinagar among tourists.
Sonamarg
Sonamarg, which in Kashmiri means “Meadow of Gold,” is a charming hamlet located at around 2,730 meters above sea level and about 80 km away from Srinagar. The place, which is also one of the most romantic places in Kashmir, derives its romantic charm from the spectacular snowy mountains, glaciers, and the serene lakes it is surrounded by. It is also an excellent place for adventure lovers, as it offers sites for camping and trekking.
Gulmarg
If Sonamarg is the “Meadow of Gold,” Gulmarg is dubbed as the “Meadow of Flowers.” Nestled in the Pir Panjal Range of the Western Himalayas, Gulmarg is another tourist place in Kashmir that leaves you awestruck with its beauty that transcends words. This fascinating land of snow-capped peaks is situated only around 50 km away from Srinagar. And that also makes it the place that tourists first visit when they arrive in Kashmir.
Gulmarg offers the Gulmarg Gondola, which is Asia’s second longest cable car ride and the highest golf course in the world. Additionally, tourists can enjoy activities such as snowboarding, skiing, horse riding, sightseeing, heli-skiing, etc. The best time to visit Gulmarg is from October to June, as that’s precisely when the snow-capped mountains become a center to enjoy winter sports in Kashmir.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is situated at the confluence of the Liddar River and the stream from the Sheshnag Lake. What was originally a quaint shepherd’s village has now transformed into a bustling tourist place annually visited by thousands of tourists from various parts of the world. March to November is the best time to visit Pahalgam, as the weather is favorable to indulge in outdoor activities. Apart from its green pastures spread miles across the horizon, Pahalgam is also famous for its Snow Festival that promotes adventure sports like skiing, snow sledding, etc.
Vaishno Devi
Another highly popular tourist place in Kashmir is the Vaishno Devi Mandir, situated in Vaishno Devi, which is a temple town. It is popularly known as Mata Rani, Vaishnavi, and Trikuta; Vaishno Devi is the temple of Goddess Durga. It is located in Trikuta Hills, about 13 km from Katra. Vaishno Devi Mandir is famous across the globe. Annually, millions of devotees across the globe throng the place to seek the blessings of the goddess.
Although this one is a year-round destination, the best time to visit Vaishno Devi is from March to October. During this time, the weather is cool and pleasant. However, many devotees visit the place during the Navaratris as well.
Best Time to Visit Kashmir
Kashmir is famous for its extreme winters that run from November to February, wherein the temperatures range between two and eleven degrees Celsius. This is also the time when several tourist places and roads remain closed on account of bad weather or heavy snowfall. Hence, the best time to visit Kashmir is March through October. From March to May, the weather is pleasantly warm, and from June through September, it rains across the valley.
While these are the five most popular, remember, Kashmir offers scenic wonders across every inch of its land. So, when you visit Kashmir, you might not want to restrict yourself to the above places. You may visit Amarnath, Patnitop, Jammu, Nubra Valley, Sanasar, Anantnag, Khilanmarg, and many others to explore the beauty of this place on your own and in your unique way!