Places To Visit In Pahalgam

Pahalgam, the valley of Shepherds, is a fascinating hill station and yes a very popular tourist attraction. Nestled on the banks of the Lidder river this fantabulous destination is quite famous for offering adventure activities- trekking, fishing, hiking, and rafting. Have a look at some amazing places to visit in Pahalgam and get the unmatchable experience on your next vacation in Pahalgam-

Best Places To Visit In Pahalgam

1. Betaab Valley

2. Chandanwari

3. Aru Valley

4. Baisaran

5. Tulian Lake

6. Sheshnag Lake

7. Marsar Lake

8. Tarsar Lake

9. Kolahoi Glacier

10. Mamleshwar Temple

11. Lidder River

1. Betaab Valley

Known for serene nature and photography, Betaab valley is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Pahalgam. Betaab valley is located around 15kms away from Pahalgam in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from its scenic beauty, this place is renowned as a popular trekking base and camping site for travellers who want to witness the nearby regions or set out for the Amarnath yatra.

Best time to visit - October to April

Entry fee - INR 100 per person

Things to do - trekking, camping, sightseeing, visit the Bobby hut where the Bobby movie was shot.

Nearby attractions - Baisaran, and Tulian lake

2. Chandanwari

The serene Chandanwari is renowned for being the starting point for the very popular Amarnath Yatra that commences in June and ends in August. Chandanwari is nestled at an elevation of 2895m and is around 16kms away from Pahalgam. This destination is blessed with serene beauty with the pristine Lidder river flowing close by. Chandanwari remains covered with snow from November till May and gives a very awe-inspiring sight of glaciers melting in the Lidder river.

Best time to visit - March to April, and June to August.

Things to do-  Hiking, sledging, photography, grab some souvenirs from the local shops.

3. Aru Valley

Located almost 12kms from Pahalgam, Aru valley is one of the major attractions in Jammu and Kashmir. The lush meadows, pretty lakes, and majestic mountains make Aru valley one of the loved destinations. This valley serves as a base camp for trekking to the Kolahoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake.

Best time to visit - July to September

Entry fee - INR 25 per head

Things to do - enjoy horse rides, picnics, skiing and heli-skiing, Photography, and fishing in the Aru river.

4. Baisaran

A fantastic place, known for nature, serenity and photography, Baisaran is situated just 6kms away from Pahalgam. This idyllic place beautifully features its stunning meadows, pretty lakes, and spectacular setting. One can go for picnics, pony rides, and zorbing.

Best time to visit - the best time depends on the kind of experience one wants. If one wants to enjoy snow then visit from January to March. To enjoy its greenery and pleasant weather visit from April to June.

Things to do - enjoy horse rides, pony rides, ziplining, and zorbing.

Famous tourist points to explore en route to Baisaran - Dabyan, Deon valley point, Kanimarg, Pahalgam Old village, and Kashmir Valley point.

5. Tulian Lake

A very popular tourist attraction, Tulian lake in Pahalgam is located between the Pir Panjal and the Zanskar range. It is a sparkling blue lake and is nestled at 3353m. Tulian Lake is around 16kms from Pahalgam and is renowned for its serene environs, bluish-green waters and wondrous sightseeing. To reach Tulian lake one needs to trek and the trek is completed in 2 days, but one can even complete it in one day by hiring ponies.

Best time to visit - April to August

Things to do - enjoy photography, capture the spectacular views, and indulge in trekking.

6. Sheshnag Lake

Located around 17kms from Pahalgam, Sheshnag lake is situated at an altitude of 3590m. This greenish water lake is home to a variety of fish including brown trout. Known for nature, photography and adventure, this pristine lake is beautifully surrounded by the snow-capped mountains. The trekking routes towards this lake are fantabulous and offer enchanting views of the surrounding mountain terrain and huge grassland terrains. There are a lot of mythological stories associated with it one of which is that it belongs to the Sheshnag, Lord of snakes.

Best time to visit - April to September

Things to do - carry your camera and capture some gorgeous views with your lens.

7. Marsar Lake

Beautifully located in Aru in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, Marsar Lake is renowned for its breathtaking beauty. Marsar Lake is separated by another popular lake, Tarsar lake by an enormous mountain of 4000m. The blue colour of the water and the rocky terrains surrounding it makes this lake a surreal place. One can reach here by trekking. The trek starts from Aru valley, continues to Lidderwat valley and crosses dense green Shekhawas mountain before finally reaching the Marsar lake.

Best time to visit - July to September

Things to do - Enjoy and capture the scenic sights, and do not forget to carry your cameras to click some beautiful pictures.

8. Tarsar Lake

Located in Aru in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, this pristine Tarsar lake is beautifully surrounded by the pretty meadows, dotted with conifer trees, and marvellous mountains, and enchanting views of the snow-capped peaks. One can reach here by trekking that starts from Aru Valley and continues to Lidderwat valley and crosses Shekhawas mountains before coming to an end at the lake.

There is an interesting fact about Tarsar Lake that it changes its colour throughout the day, depending upon the sun’s angle during sunrise and sunset. Tarsar lake can only be visited during the summer season. It is indeed a great season to spot a numerous variety of birds- black bulbul, bar-headed geese, high-flying coughs and Himalayan golden eagles.

Best time to visit -  July to September

Things to do - Indulge in photography, set your camps and spend some time in tranquillity, spot a variety of birds and indulge in trekking.

9. Kolahoi Glacier

Kolahoi Glacier is situated over the Lidder river. It is a hanging glacier and is quite famous among tourists for its idyllic views. The only way to reach this glacier is trekking. One can even hire ponies or horses for some part of the journey. The terrain to reach the glacier is quite challenging and thus it is advised to be undertaken by experienced trekkers only.

Best time - March to October.

10. Mamleshwar Temple

Mamal or Mamleshwar temple is a very famous temple in the beautiful Pahalgam and is devoted to lord shiva. Mamleshwar temple is one of few temples built purely of stone by the then king Jayasima. As per the legends, the site of this temple is where Lord Ganesha sat at the door guard for goddess Parvati to prevent the entry of Lord shiva. The temple is known for its Spirituality and history.

Best time to visit - March to June

11. Lidder River

Lidder river is a 73kms long glacial river that originates from the Kolhoi glacier. It is indeed a perfect picnic spot. Lidder river is considered to be one of the major tributaries of the Indus and is the main water source for the nearby Anantnag region.

Best time to visit - April to August

Things to do - enjoy white water rafting, angling, horse riding and fishing.