Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir

A pristine hill resort in the state of Jammu & Kashmir , Pahalgam is frequented for its forested mountains, twinkling streams and heart-stirring glaciers. Add to it some fine options of trekking, golfing, angling, sledging and pony riding. Pahalgam is positioned at an elevation of 2,240 m and is skirted by snow-clad mountains while a white-water river meanders through the bottom of the narrow valley. When exotic beauty is all around with many options of indulging in adventure sports, you can never refuse a destination. Pahalgam, however, will keep you coming back here over and again.

Fast Facts
State : Jammu & Kashmir
Population : 5,922 (2001)
Languages : Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri & English
Best Time to Visit : April to November
STD Code : 01936

Major Tourist Attractions in Pahalgam
Besides giving one a number of adventure sports options, Pahalgam also provides a number of places for sightseeing. Soak up the spectacular scenery at these sites.

Mamaleshwara
Moving downstream from Pahalgam around a kilometre, one comes across a small Shiva Temple which stands just opposite the Lidder River. The temple is believed to date back to the 12th century when King Jayasima reigned supreme.

Baisaran
The lush meadow is at a distance of 5 km from Pahalgam. From here, you can have captivating views of the town and the Lidder Valley. The place remains surrounded by pine forests and snow-crested peaks.

Tulian Lake
The lake, which is 11 km from Baisaran, lies at an altitude of 3,353 m. The lake stays frozen for most part of the year. It is surrounded by peaks that measure 300 m in height above the shores.

Aru
For those on trekking routes to Lidderwat and Kolahoi glacier, the Aru village (3 km from Pahalgam) is the foremost place they come across. The Gurjars of Aru are an interesting people to meet up with. The sight of log huts and the flock of sheep and goats is a wonderful sight indeed.

Chandanwari
This is the place from where the pilgrimage trip to Amarnath begins. Chandanwari is located at a distance of 16 km from Pahalgam. Moving 11 km further from Chandanwari, one can get to the mountain lake of Sheshnag (24 km from Pahalgam).

Activities to Do in Pahalgam
There are hordes of activities to keep you busy in Pahalgam. Trekking is a popular activity in Pahalgam for visitors. Apart from this, you can enjoy activities like Angling, sledging (with the assistance of locals), alpine skiing, river rafting (in Lidder River) etc.

Air/ Rail/ Road Links
Srinagar, 95 km from Pahalgam, serves as the closest airport from here. You can catch regular domestic flights from here to cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Jammu is the nearest railway station with connecting trains to all the key destinations of the country. By road, Pahalgam is a two and a half hours drive from Srinagar. Regular buses ply between Pahalgam and Srinagar.