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INTRODUCTION
Few places in the subcontinent come close to the belly-flipping beauty of the Himalayan mountain system. Like a beautiful young girl,all generously voted as the beauty of her family. Jammu and Kashmir (often simply referred to as Jammu and Kashmir) has always been shrouded in mystery and elusive aura. Jammu and Kashmir comprises 3 main regions:the religiously oriented Jammu (the state’s winter capital),the beautiful, flowering valleys of Kashmir, and the cold ruggedly beautiful desert of Leh-Ladakh. Whichever area you choose to start with, try completing the entire circuit to do full justice to these mesmerizing lands of the north. Top tourist places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir include Srinagar, Pahalgam,Gulmarg and Leh.
1.SRINAGAR
Known as the ‘heaven on earth’, Srinagar is located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,on the banks of the Jhelum River.Srinagar is known for stable houseboats and the gondola-type rowboat-Shikara on Dal Lake. Serene Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake, adorned with Srina…
2.GULMARG
Gulmarg is situated at an altitude of 2731 meters above sea level, and is a very popular skiing destination located in the outskirts of Pir Panjal Range of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Gulmarg is surrounded by snow-capped high Himalayas ,meadows of flowers, deep valleys, evergreen forest valleys, is also the second place in the world.
3.PAHALGAM
Pahalgam is a beautiful hill station and a popular tourist attraction located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir Valley.Pahalgam is situated on the banks of Lidder River and is Hiking, trekking, and fishing are popular adventurous activities. Hiking, trekking, and fishing are popular adventurous activities.
4.VAISHNO DEVI
Vaishno Devi is a temple town which is home to the famous Vaishno Devi Temple. Situated in the Trikuta Hills, 13 kms from Katra (in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir);This famous temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the world.Vaishno Devi popularly known as Mata Rani,Vaishnavi and Trikuta is a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga.It is believed that during the puja and aarti,the goddess Mata comes to the holy cave to pay her respects to the queen.Devotees believe that the goddess herself calls the devotees to reach here.Vaishno Devi is said to be the mother who fulfills the wishes of the moon.Maa Vaishno Devi is seen in the form of three naturally formed rocks in the holy cave.Which are known as Pindi. These Pindi represent the three forms of the Goddess as Maha Kali,Maha Saraswati and MahaLakshmi.More than one crore devotees visit Vaishno Devi temple every year.
5.PATNITOP
Patnitop is a famous hill station.The Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir is known for its panoramic views of the endless meadows and snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.With a wide abundance of scenery, Patnitop is known for activities like skiing and trekking as well as water falls.Patnitop offers adventure activities like paragliding,trekking, skiing etc.Sanasar Paragliding Base,located 17 km away,is popular for golf courses as well as extended sightseeing.Nathtop,located about 14 km from Patnitop,offers panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and also known as the take off site for paragliding.Shiv Garh is situated at an altitude of about 3500 meters at a distance of about 11 kilometers from Patnitop.It offers a short but exciting trek experience.
6.SONAMARG
Sonmarg is a hill station rich with picturesque views and is based in Jammu and Kashmir, located 81 km northeast of Srinagar.At an altitude of about 2800 km above sea level,Sonmarg is known for its snow-laden fields, surrounded by majestic glaciers and serene lakes,which cast subtle spells on the travellers.Sonmarg is surrounded by the great Himalayan glaciers – Kolahoi Glacier and Machoi Glacier–and gives rise to the famous Three Sisters of Kashmir Valley.Atop this charming hill town are peaks like Kolahoi Peak,Amarnath Peak,Machoi Peak and Sirbal Peak.Which makes Songmarg a popular destination for adventure sports tourism.Sonmarg serves as a base camp for trekking routes.Which leads to the mountain lakes like Gangabal,Vishansar,Gadsar,Satsar and Kishansar.The Sonmarg Valley is divided into two by the Thajiwas Range–on one side the cedar-covered Thajiwas Spur is popular for its camping site.On the other side there are some stunning waterfalls and Thajiwas Glacier which is the major attraction of this place.Sonmarg remains inaccessible during winters.Because due to heavy snowfall and avalanches,the NH1D connecting it to the surrounding places gets closed.
7.ARU VALLEY
Nestled amidst the snow-capped Himalayan peaks,Aru Valley is a picturesque village in Kashmir.Located about 11 km from Pahalgam,it is the base camp for trekking up to Kolahoi Glacier and Tarsar-Marsar Lake.The Aru is located along the Aru River, a tributary of the Lidder River,and with its beautiful meadows and horseback riding, hiking.and is known for activities like trekking.During the winter months,the Aru Valley becomes a winter wonderland covered with snow as far as the eyes can see.This makes it an ideal place for skiing.There is an entry fee for Aru Wildlife Sanctuary but there are no fauna in it.