SONAMARG
Sonamarg, which means 'meadow of gold' has, as its backdrop, snowy mountains against a cerulean sky. Sonamarg is one of the four most visited destinations of Kashmir, the other three being Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The place is easily accessible, remains open for most of the year, has plenty of hotels, offers amazing views, and is perfect for all kinds of trips. The Sindh meanders along here and abounds with trout and mahseer, snow trout can be caught in the main river. Sonamarg provides trekking routes leading to Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gangabal Lake and Gadsar Lake in the Himalayas, which are stocked with snowtrout and brown trout. Ponies can be hired for a trip up to Thajiwas glacier, in the summer.
THAJIWAS GLACIER
Thajiwas glacier at an altitude of 9,186 feet is a striking silvery scene set against emerald meadows and a clear blue sky. In summers, you can take a half-day hike to numerous waterfalls around this glacier. The road will be long and the journey hard but the captivating views make it worthwhile. Thajiwas is also dotted with alpine meadows and several waterfalls, making the region look like a paradise. Owing to such surroundings, it is among the most popular destinations near Sonamarg. Thajiwas glacier also provides a good opportunity to enjoy a sledge ride, even during the summers.
BALTAL
Overview. Perched at an elevation of 2,743 m (8,999 ft), the highland pastures, Baltal serves as the base camp for pilgrims on their onward journey to Amarnath Caves, 14 km away. The site is seen with pitched tents meant for the pilgrims to spend the night. Baltal is one hour away from Sonmarg on a taxi or a bus. Baltal is a must-visit destination and is surely a perfect place for all the Amarnath Cave pilgrims to explore and unwind. Renowned for its scenic beauty, Baltal meadows offers tent accommodation for the pilgrims and tourists alike at reasonable prices. Both pony rides or, for those who can afford, helicopter services are available to the holy Amarnath Caves.
ZERO POINT
Huge valleys with a river that snakes through them may be seen. As you approach closer to zero point, the mountains also change from being vibrant green to becoming dry brown. The beginning of Ladakh is around 25 kilometres from Sonamarg and is located on the route between Srinagar and Ladakh. It takes tourists about 1.5 hours to reach here from Yumthang Valley, which is 25 km away, and about 3 to 3.5 hours from Lachung. After reaching here, there are no civilian roads beyond and that is why it is called Zero Point.
NARANAG
Naranag or (Nara Nag) is a tourist village and ancient Hindu pilgrimage site, near Ganderbal town in the Ganderbal district of the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Well known for its ancient but pillaged temple ruins complex, it is located around 8 km from Kangan, 6 km upstream from the Sind River. Naranag has two enigmatic 8th-century Shiva temple ruins in a beautiful valley setting that gives one the impression of having stumbled across a great secret find. The design suggests that the temples might in fact have Buddhist origins, but the stones have been curiously eroded as though shaped by a flood.
MANASBAL LAKE
The lake is a good place for bird watching as it is one of the largest natural stamping grounds of Aquatic birds in Kashmir and has the sobriquet of “supreme gem of all Kashmir Lakes”. The rootstocks of lotus plant which grows extensively in the lake are harvested and marketed, and also eaten by the local people. The name Manasbal has been derived from the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the lake looks so serene. The lake is not as busy as the Dal Lake in Srinagar, though it is located only 30 km from the city. Perhaps, this is what enhances the charm of Manasbal Lake.
KHEER BHAWANI
Kheer Bhawani, Ksheer Bhawani or the Ragnya Devi temple is a Hindu temple situated at a distance of 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-east of Srinagar, in the village of Tulmul in Ganderbal. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kheer Bhavani. The temple is constructed above a sacred spring, which is said to change its colours. Goddess Ragnya Devi – an incarnation of Goddess Durga – is the presiding deity of this temple. Kheer Bhavani is considered to be the deity of Kashmiri Pandits, who have a lot of recognition there. Over the years, the Kheer Bhawani Mela has become a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Kashmir.
BARWALLA WATERFALL
Barwalla is a town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kangan Tehsil of the district Ganderbal. The capital city Srinagar is around 34 km away from the location of the Barwalla Waterfall. One kilometer away from Kijora Bridge or Kangan’s Dumping Park is the location where Barwalla Waterfall is situated.
GANGABAL LAKE
Gangabal lake is located 36 Km from Sonmarg, at the foothills of the mighty mount Harmukh. It is considered to be one of the most mystifyingly scenic locations with lush green meadows consisting of wild flowers, and high altitude mountains. The Gangabal Lake, also called Harmukh Ganga, is an alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake situated at the foot of Mount Harmukh in the Ganderbal. The lake has a maximum length of 2.5 kilometers (1.6 mi) and maximum width of 1 kilometer (0.62 mi). It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs and is home to many species of fish, including the brown trout. This lake is considered sacred in Hinduism as one of the abodes of Shiva, and Kashmiri Hindus perform an annual pilgrimage to the lake called Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra.