Situated at an altitude of 2730 m, Sonamarg (‘The meadow of gold’) has, as its backdrop, snowy mountains against a cerulean sky. The Sindh River that meanders through the valley abounds with trout and mahaseer. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier, which is a major local attraction during the summer months.

Sonamarg is the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain lakes -Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. Sonamarg is also the take off station for the drive to Ladakh across the Zojila, a major pass in the Great Himalayan Range, through which the Srinagar-Leh Road passes.

Sonamarg is also a base for undertaking the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawan Purnima. For details about the yatra, refer to the Amaranathji Yatra Link. The drive to Sonamarg is through the Sindh Valley which presents yet another spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir.

Fishing

Kashmir is often dubbed the angler’s paradise. The glacial and snow-fed streams offer great options for fishing in Kashmir. The best time for fishing is between April and October; however, on the basis of the prevailing conditions when you visit, the duration might be extended or shortened. On one side Lidder, Erin, Ferozpur, Sindh Doodh Ganga, Daksum, Noobug, Aharbal, Krishen Ganga, and Hirpur are large snow-fed rivers and on the other side Kokernag, Verinag and Sukhnag are spring-fed streams.

Golfing

Golf in Kashmir was introduced first by the Britishers and thenceforth, it is enjoyed by most of the tourists.

Enriching the wealth of golf tourism in Kashmir, there is various golf venues located all across the region. The golf courses in Kashmir not only reflect the natural allure of the place but are also outfitted with modern infrastructure and facilities. Travelers can enjoy this sport during summers from April to November.

golf-in-kashmirAmong the various courses, Kashmir Golf Club is the oldest golf course sprawling over an area of 52 acres. It is an 18-hole course and provides fantastic views of famous Shankaracharya Temple and Suleiman Hills. Visitors can even enjoy golf in Pahalgam and Gulmarg as each destination has its own beautifully crafted golf course. Besides these, Royal Spring Golf Course in Srinagar is a notable name among golf lovers in India. Spread over an area of around 300 acres, this 18-hole golf course provides wonderful and challenging landscapes to enjoy the game at all levels.

Hiking

Hiking is the preferred term, in Canada and the United States, for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails (footpaths), in the countryside, while the word walking is used for shorter, particularly urban walks. On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, the word “walking” is acceptable to describe all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a slightly old-fashioned term), hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England). The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia, having been adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers club in 1927. In New Zealand a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping.It is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits.

In the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and United Kingdom, hiking means walking outdoors on a trail, or off trail, for recreational purposes. A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a single day. However, in the United Kingdom, the word walking is also used, as well as rambling, while walking in mountainous areas is called hillwalking. In Northern England, Including the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, fellwalking describes hill or mountain walks, as fell is the common word for both features there.

Honeymoon

The Vale of Kashmir epitomizes romance – the surreal settings, breathtaking views and resplendent nature are conducive to a perfect honeymoon in Kashmir. The valley, that purely breathes romance, allures honeymooners to spend some of the most crucial moments of their lives amidst nature’s most prized possession. Unlike any honeymoon destination, Kashmir honeymoon packages are quite affordable and by no means compromise on providing splendid hospitality.

With serene ambiance and swathing love, a perfect blend of hospitality welcomes the newlyweds to Kashmir. The evergreen beauty of Srinagar provides enough moments to capture. The houseboats in Srinagar, floating on the sparkling Dal Lake makes up a perfect spot to bask and the canopied boats popularly called as Shikaras takes great pride in carrying honeymoon couples a step closer to nature. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Srinagar, the Mughal gardens namely, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi doubles the grace that this city is famed for. Expect great hospitality, constricting hustle and bustle and cozy environ to accompany all along the honeymoon.

gulmargThe benign beauty of Pahalgam charms not only honeymoon couples but anyone who gets a chance to encounter it. Located in Anantnag district, Pahalgam boasts of scenic landscape and tranquility that goes beyond words. A picture perfect location blessed with the best of nature, Pahalgam conjures and mesmerizes like no other destination in the region. Another gem in the glittering crown of Kashmir is Gulmarg. The resplendent beauty of snow-clad mountains and lush green meadows is simply breathtaking. Expect a cozy honeymoon at places where smell of rustic Kashmir resides and each feature aspires to meet every need for a perfect honeymoon in Kashmir.

Needless to say that honeymoon is a vital time for both the partners to make more intimate adjustments. Learning about the likes and dislikes of the partner and most importantly it is a time to connect fervently with each other in a bond of love. A Kashmir honeymoon tour has it all, what it takes to make this precious time memorable for lifetime. Affordable hotels, perfect surroundings, hospitable people and the impeccable time, which obviously will never return makes Kashmir a superb honeymoon destination in India.

Peak Climbing

A climbing peak may refer to a mountain or hill peak or a rock formation that has to be ascended by climbing. The term is common in Germany where it is specifically used of free-standing rock formations in the climbing regions of Saxon Switzerland, Zittau Mountains and other nearby ranges in the German Central Uplands that can only be summitted via climbing routes of at least grade I on the UIAA scale or by jumping from nearby rocks or massifs. As a general rule, they must have a topographic prominence of at least 10 metres to qualify. In Saxon Switzerland the Saxon Climbing Regulations do not require any minimum height, but define climbing peaks as

Another requirement is its recognition by the responsible sub-committee of the Saxon Climbers’ Federation (SBB) and the responsible conservation authorities. For hikers these authorized summits may often be recognised by the presence of a summit register and abseiling anchor points.

In other climbing areas, such as those in Bohemian Switzerland, there are other exceptions. There, climbing peaks only need to have a significant rock face – the lowest side of which has to be less than 10 m high, but at least 6 m high.

Pilgrimage

Depicting a breathtaking diorama of natural beauty, Jammu and Kashmir boasts of several interesting places to visit. And in between this majestic allure lies a heavenly world. The religious richness of the state is very well represented by its several sacred shrines that make it an ideal pilgrim destination in India. From temples to mosques to Gurudwara, there is a spiritual house for people of all faith which in turn make Kashmir pilgrimage tour quite popular among devotees and general tourists.

There are several religious places in Kashmir that adorn the landscape of the valley with their heavenly presence. From the mighty presence of Amarnath Temple on Mount Amarnath to the shining white marble structure of Hazratbal Shrine at the shores of Dal Lake, most of the pilgrimages in Kashmir feature picturesque locations, making them a wonderful treat for the eyes.

Kashmir pilgrimage tour also provides an insight in the historical grandeur of the region through its architecturally rich shrines. Though there are several noteworthy sacred sites but the harmony depicted by Hari Parbat is a talk of admiration. Located on the outskirts of Srinagar city, Hari Parbat is a hill that houses one Hindu shrine, a Gurudwara and two mosques standing side by side. The other popular and sacred pilgrimage centres in Kashmir are Jama Masjid and Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar; Charar-e-Sharief situated en route to Yusmarg; Martand located about 5 miles from Anantnag; and Baba Reshi Shrine at a distance of about 5 km from Gulmarg.

Rafting

An adventure is an exciting or unusual experience. It may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome.Adventures may be activities with some potential for physical danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting or participating in extreme sports.

The term also broadly refers to any enterprise that is potentially fraught with physical, financial or psychological risk, such as a business venture, or other major life undertakings.

Sightseeing

A visit to Kashmir wouldn’t be complete without taking a few side trips out into the glorious Kashmiri countryside (after all, Kashmir isn’t called the “Switzerland of India” for nothing!). It’s filled with flowers in spring and snow in winter. Pretty Kashmiri villages with traditional wooden houses and colorful rooftops can be seen along the way. These popular tourist places in Kashmir are good starting points.

Skiing

Skiing in Kashmir over the years has gained such popularity that even the leisure travellers come here today to glide down the thick bed of snow and spend their leisure holiday in the valley farther framing some thrilling moments.

skiing-in-kashmirGulmarg, which has some of the best slopes in the world, is one such pick during the winters that transforms into the world’s best skiing resort. It receives some of the heaviest snowfalls in the Indian Himalaya that has helped it earn its title. From the month of January till the mid of February, Gulmarg is packed with global skiers. It has a vertical descent of over 2,200 meters in the lap of Mt. Apharwat and the venue is ideal for intermediate to expert level skiers and snowboarders. Access from the resort to the venue is possible via the Gondola, which was installed in the year 2,005 making Gulmarg one of the highest lift-served resorts in the world.

Trekking

Coming onto the gossip of intrepid trekkers about the Kashmir Great Lake Trek, which is a popular one commencing from Sonmarg. It is one of the most beautiful treks in the Kashmir Valley that covers the lakes of Gangabal, Vishansar, Kishansar, and goes close to the Harrnukh peak. Further, adding on to their list, the Aru-Kolahoi Glacier Trek is yet another challenging one that commences from Pahalgam.

Trekking in Kashmir is also a mapquesting task for several explorers who delve into new destinations beyond the reach of tourism. Winding up to the hem of towering peaks in the Pir Panjal and Karakoram Range is an excellent way to acquaint with the lofty peaks more closely. Further, the notable Amarnath Yatra that commences from the valley of Pahalgam is one of the spiritual treks in Kashmir. The trek passes through Domial, Barari, and Sangam combating steady climbs and takes approximately 4-5 days to cover the distance.

Water Rafting

River rafting in Kashmir is one such activity that fills the itinerary with some slashing moments.

River rafting in Kashmir mostly combats against rapids ranging from Grade I to III but it also runs down through Grade IV rapids in some stretches.

river-rafting-in-kashmirRiver rafting in Kashmir is popular in the River Lider that stretches from Langabal to Ganeshpora covering approximately 12 kilometers and having rapids ranging from Grade I to Grade IV. The stretch is further divided into three lengths. The Lider Joy Ride, which is approximately 2.5 kilometers, from Varganpal to Yaneer Bridge and having rapids ranging up to III, is ideal for beginners and amateurs. The Lider Long Ride, which is approximately 5 kilometers, from Varganpal to Ganeshpora and having rapids ranging up to III, is also ideal for beginners. Whereas the Lider Xtra Long Ride, which is approximately 12 kilometers, from Langabal to Ganeshpora and having rapids ranging up to IV, is perfect for experts.