Cashmere in India is a piece of heaven on earth, period! This former princely state is being claimed by both India and Pakistan – who wants to give up a paradise? Read on to know about the most beautiful places to visit in Indian controlled Kashmir.
India is so big and diverse, every part of it offers something different, it has a scenic road trip, pristine beaches, historical monumentsen busy cities. If we take all these things into account, we can say that Kashmir is not only the most beautiful place in India but one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. There is a conspiracy theory that Jesus Christ came to Kashmir and got the idea of ​​heaven. Later he painted it in the Holy Bible. The heavenly Kashmir has been a target of the governments of India and Pakistan for centuries and for various reasons the people of Kashmir have also sought its independence. As a result, the area sometimes becomes a war zone. So do not delay visiting Kashmir before it is too late. Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Kashmir along with their photos.
If there’s a paradise on earth, it’s it, it’s it, it’s it.
Amir Khasru, famous poet of the subcontinent in the 13th century
Mr. Khasru was absolutely right and you have to go there to believe it.
Gulmarg
In Kashmir, your base should be in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. From Srinagar you can go to the most beautiful places of Kashmir mentioned here as a day trip. Your first destination should be Gulmarg which is about 50 kilometers from Srinagar. It is also one of the few places in Kashmir where you can go all year round.
During autumn, Gulmarg is called the meadow of flowers because of the many colorful flowers. During the winter, however, this popular hill station turns into absolutely white with the thick snow.
During the winter, Gulmarg receives more than 13 inches of fresh snow. Due to the slopes and nature of snow, Gulmarg has become the most popular destination in India for skiing and it is also one of the best in all of Asia (CNN international ranking is seventh in Asia).
Gulmarg is so beautiful, you do not have to join any activities to enjoy. Even if you can not ski, it’s okay! Just go for a walk or sit down somewhere. However, do not miss the famous gondola ride in Gulmarg. This cable car offers panoramic views of the Pir Pranjal mountain range and surroundings. Located at 4200 meters, it is one of the tallest cable cars in the world.
Book a guided full day Niagara Exploration Tour
Pahelgam
Pahalgam is known as the Valley of Shepherds and one of the best places to visit in Kashmir. Unlike most other destinations in Kashmir, Pahalgam is not covered with snow and more on the greener side. It is surrounded by dense pine forests. Due to its beautiful natural surroundings, Pahalgam was the filming of many Hindi movies.
As Pahalgam is located near the Lidder River, you will often hear the thundering sound of the river flowing. One of the most popular activities here is to rent guided ponies and explore different areas. You will be taken to Baisaran, also known as mini-Switzerland. It is a wonderful green valley surrounded by mountains. If you explore on foot, you will encounter numerous sources of water flow along with giant rocks. Also, do not miss Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari once you are in Pahalgam. Whitewater rafting is also a popular thing to do in Pahalgam.
Sonamarg
Sonamarg – the whey of gold is one of the best places to visit in Kashmir. The road to Sonamarg from Srinagar is enchantingly beautiful. It is an ancient gateway to the Silk Road that connects Kashmir with Tibet. This hill station is closer to some of the highest peaks in Kashmir.
Sonamarg is located at an altitude of 2730 meters. When the sun shines on the snow-capped mountains of Sonamarg with the deepest blue sky as a backdrop, it creates an incredible atmosphere. Some of the most important treks of Kashmir start from here. You can also move from here to Ladakh through the famous Zojila Pass.
When I went to Sonamarg, I was literally attacked by the locals for renting sleds and hiking boots. They bothered me so much that it gave me a headache. Although this is understandable as they are poor and live exclusively on tourism, I did not like the atmosphere. But as soon as you can remove it from your head, heaven is waiting for you. Sonamarg is truly beautiful!
Padritte
Kashmir has no vibrant nightlife. It has no skyscrapers or beautiful architecture. People visit Kashmir to fully experience nature. Although I wrote above about some of the best places to visit in Kashmir, I loved the road trips through Kashmir no less than the destinations themselves. The roads are full of surprises, you will see thick snow at one point, green valleys in another, rivers flowing with you, and even ponies to walk around. Get your camera ready on the highways of Kashmir, you may be your best photo of the trip that way.
Explore Srinagar
Srinagar is the capital of Kashmir and serves as the base of a trip to Kashmir. Since the airport is in this town, many people land here and stay here. From Srinagar, tourists go to different places as a day trip. However, there are also many interesting things to explore in Srinagar.
Dal lake
Dal Lake is the main attraction of Srinagar. With a view of Pir Panjal mountains in the background, this 18 square kilometer is nothing more than an amazing gem! Nothing can beat a sunrise or sunset in Dal Lake. You will be amazed to see it in the winter when the whole lake sometimes turns into ice!
The best way to enjoy Dal Lake is to rent a shikara – the beautifully painted wooden boat. It has throne-like chairs to make you feel like a king. You will eventually be taken to the floating market where dresses, ornaments, Scarf or Saffron are sold. I would not recommend buying from there as the prices are higher than the mainland. Ask your manager politely not to waste time in the markets rather to take you to a quiet place of the lake.
You will find numerous giant boats in the Dal Lake. These are houseboats and work as accommodation in Kashmir. A houseboat contains most of the amenities of a hotel – such as comfortable beds, toilets, restaurants and balconies. The only difference is that the balconies or windows will give you a wonderful tranquil view of the water. It will be a different experience for most of the people to stay in the middle of the water in a houseboat.
However, I would not suggest staying in a houseboat during your entire stay in Kashmir. To experience this, one or two nights is good. If you fall in love with the accommodation, it’s different. However, the ever-growing number of houseboats is polluting Lake Dal and causing environmental issues. You may experience bad little of the lake if you do not get a good houseboat.
Street Shop Kebab
When you will be tired of enjoying the beauty of Kashmir (it will never happen, I can promise), sit back and grab some delicious food. The king of them all is the kebab. For the tastiest Kebabs, do not go to any expensive restaurants. Find or ask your driver to take you to a street shop. The carts in the street serve the best Kebabs in Kashmir.
Beautiful Tulip Garden
Dare I say it, Kashmir has the most beautiful tulip garden in Asia? The tulip garden in Srinagar is known as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Garden. Plan your visit to Srinagar during the beginning of spring – between March and May. The garden hosts a tulip festival during that time and it is unmatched.
When you enter the garden, you will already be enchanted by the surrounding mountains. The tulip garden adds color to it and it looks fascinatingly beautiful like a rainbow! The size of the garden is about 30 hectares, with 1.5 million tulips of more than 45 species. Apart from the tulip, this garden also has roses, daffodils and iris.
Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden
When the Mughals ruled the Indian subcontinent, they built some fantastic gardens, the Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden aka the Crown of Srinagar is one of them. Interestingly, you will find a garden of the same name in Lahore, Pakistan. The great emperor Jahangir built this garden for her wife Noorjahan in 1619. Like many other Mughal gardens, it followed Charbagh architecture. The garden is divided into three terraces, each serving a unique purpose. Shalimar Bagh finally channels to a part of the Dal Lake.
Inside the garden there are two large architectures. At the edge of the public garden you will find Diwan-e-Aam. It was the audience for the audience where the kings listened to the masses. The slightly larger second terrace garden is the DIwan-e-Khas which served as the hall of private audience. The king met the prominent people there. You will find large Chinar trees and several fountains. The garden looks especially beautiful during autumn and spring when nature changes its color. Imagine that the king walked 600 years back with his queen in the garden, you will feel the charm of being there!
Best time to visit Kashmir
Kashmir is not a year-round destination. Since it snows a lot, it cuts off part of the area from the rest of the world by road. You will also not be able to do much if you visit Kashmir during extreme cold. Although each season offers something unique, the best time to visit Kashmir is between March and October.
