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PAHALGAM
SIGHTSEEING
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Pahalgam is located at
an altitude of 2130 m at
the confluence of a
stream from Sheshnag
Lake and the River
Lidder in Kashmir. Once
a shepherd’s village,
Pahalgam is now a fully
developed hill resort
and has some good hotels
and tourist amenities.
The hill station is also
the base camp for the
pilgrimage to the
Amarnath Caves. It is a
popular tourist
destination. Pahalgam is
not a mere hill-station.
It’s a recreation
resort. It’s like going
into the lap of nature
to do many things – one
of the best – that
“do-nothing”. You want
to have a romantic trip
with your beloved, want
to get together with you
family, and have what
they call a ‘quality’
family time, you want to
do those little
interesting things with
the family and kids,
like take a pony ride,
just picnic next to a
beautiful river, just
lie down under the sun
next to your ‘hut’ with
fresh breeze blowing,
and read a book, or have
a game of cards. Go to a
cosy market and have a
cup of coffee, or eat
normal
not-cooked-at-home food.
Attractions at Pahalgam
Aru Valley:
This small village, 48
km from Pahalgam, is the
starting point of the
trek route to Lidderwat
and the Kolahoi glacier.
It lies on the left bank
of the Aru river. Aru is
a beautiful village
inhabited by Gujars.
People live in log huts
with their flocks of
sheep and goats. The
village offers
outstanding views of the
hills.In Aru, one can
either experience Pony
ride in this charming
place or enjoy the
thrilling experience of
camping amidst
outstanding nature. .
Betaab Valley:
Betaab Valley is located
near Chandanwari and it
is a popular tourist
spot. The name is given
after the release of a
Bollywood movie “Betaab
Valley” and it is named
so as most of the
shooting of the films
was done in this area.
The mountains are
snowcapped with rushing
streams and beautiful
colored willow trees.
The warmth of the sun
along with the perfect
sightseeing environment
makes it an ideal spot
for the canvas artist.
It is also the best
place to spend the
vacations and during the
tourist seasons lots of
tourists visit in this
place. From Pahalgam, it
is a walk-able distance.
The water is pure and
crystal clear as well as
chilly. There are
several streams that
flow down from the snow
covered hills to the
valleys below. This
water is drinkable and
the locals prefer to use
it for their household
activities. There are
few spots of attractions
that lie nearby like the
Tulian and Baisaran
lakes.
Trout fishing is famous
in Betaab valley. You
can see lots of
waterfalls and streams
of water flowing from
here and there. This is
a perfect visiting spot
for the nature lovers
and you can also capture
beautiful sceneries in
your camera here.
Chandanwari:
Chandanwari, lying 16 km
from Pahalgam, is the
starting point of the
Amarnath Yatra. Mostly
people trek this route
in the months of Sawan
according to the Hindu
calender (July to
September). Chandanwari
is the mountain lake of
Sheshnag. Amarnath Cave
is just 6 km from
Chandanwari. The cave
and holy shrine at
Amarnath is devoted to
Lord Shiva. Its main
attraction is the
natural Shivalinga
formed by an ice
stalagmite
Mamaleshwara-Temple
Located at a walking
distance from Pahalgam,
Mamaleshwara Temple is
devoted to Lord Shiva.
This small temple has a
square shaped tank made
of stone. The temple is
believed to have been
built in the 12th
century or even
earlier..
Sheshnag Lake:
This greenish blue lake
remains covered with
snow till June. Located
at a distance of about
13 km from Chandanwari,
the lake is 11,330 ft
above sea level. The
place has seven peaks
which together look like
the head of Sheshnag
(the sacred snake in the
Hindu mythology). The
lake is known for
various sports
activities.
Baisaran:
Baisaran is situated in
Pahalgam in the state of
Jammu & Kashmir. It is
located at 5 km away
from Pahalgam. Baisaran
has great scenic view of
the city along with the
Lidder valley. The place
is nearly 150 m over the
sea level and streams
flow over the grazing
lands and the view of
pine trees are simply
superb.
If you want to visit
this place, you can hire
ponies to trek away from
market, close to the
Pahalgam bus stand. The
weather is pleasant
enough and as a tourist
you can enjoy the
climatic condition to a
supreme degree.
The main event or you
can say festival of this
place is Amarnath Yatra.
So you can go to
Baisaran whenever you
would like to visit
Amarnath. From the month
of July to October is
the right time when you
can choose Baisaran as
your destination for
spending vacation.
Verinag :
Verinag is situated at a
distance of
approximately 80 km from
Srinagar. Reached
through the link road,
it is located at a
height of 1,876 m. It is
believed that the
Verinag spring in
Kashmir is the chief
source of the river
Jhelum. There is an
octagonal base at the
spring, surrounded by a
covered passage. The
Mughal Emperor Jehangir
started the construction
work on both the base as
well as the arcade. It
was during the reign of
Emperor Shah Jahan that
the work got completed.
There are remains of
Mughal pavilion and
baths in Verinag, down
the stream to the east.
From Martand Temple just
another 10kmr road
through apple orchards
and awesome scenery en
route, take us to
Achabal Garden with the
famous spring located on
a hillside in the town
of Achabal town, about
69 kilometres southeast
of Srinagar. A summer
retreat for the Mughals,
the garden is the work
of Nur Jahan, wife of
the Mughal Emperor
Jahangir. Built c. 1620,
and later remodelled,
between 1634-1640 by
Shah Jahan's daughter
Jahanara Achabal ("the
places of the princes")
is also called "Begamabad"
The spring gushes out of
the earth, as if it is
issued from the bottom
of some well with
tremendous force. The
water is so abundant
that it ought rather to
be called a river than a
fountain. It is
excellent water, and as
cold as ice. The garden
is very handsome, laid
out in regular walks,
and full of fruit trees
apple, pear, plum,
apricot, and cherry.
There are trout fish
ponds nearby taken care
of by Fisheries
Department of J&K
Government. There is a
lofty cascade which in
its fall takes the form
and colour of a large
sheet. The garden is
segmented into three
terraces, with a central
water stream along the
north-south axis that
features three fountain
basins. There are two
walkways on either side
of the axial water
stream. Smaller side
water channels to the
east and west parallel
the principal axial
stream, and receive
water from a stream
running east-west on the
third terrace.
Kokernag
Achabal the road winds
up and slowly takes to
higher altitude to
famous Kokernag spring.
This is at a distance of
21 km form Achabal. The
Kokernag is spring is
actually 5 small springs
water coming underneath
the hill like form 5
toes of a Chicken (hence
Kokernag)The water is
highly medicinal and has
digestive properties
.There are lawns
bedecked with flowers
and also wild flowers
growing in the periphery
of the spring area.
Government Huts and
eateries can be availed
and even for styling
overnight if one wishes
so .Some private
accommodation has also
come up and can be
checked using the local
tourist office .
Mattan :
Mattan is famous for
sun temple at a distance
of 32 Kms form Pahalgam,
the Mattan water gushes
out underneath the
Mattan Temple and goes
in to the two springs
which have fish which is
treated as Holy Fish by
Hindus hence not eaten.
Opposite it the Mattan
springs is the Shai
Hamdhan Park with huge
Chinar trees (sort of
Maple trees) and other
spring built by Mogul
Emperor adding to the
beauty of this is of
Mattan
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