TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN KASHMIR THIS SUMMER

Kashmir has been a land of beauty, mystery, and intrigue, even before the time of Gilgamesh. For centuries travelers have come from miles around to marvel at its stunning beauty. Today, it’s still one of the most beautiful places on earth. Kashmir has many natural wonders: the snow-covered Himalayas in summer; orchards in full blossom during spring; and fields aplenty filled with wildflowers during spring’s rainy season. Kashmir is home to everything from serene forests and high-altitude lakes to golden beaches lapping against turquoise waters.
For Visitors
But not just any traveler can visit this enchanted land. Visitors have to have permits and must adhere to a strict set of rules. The process is tedious, with lots of paperwork and lonely nights spent in the mountains. To make things a bit more exciting, travelers are also required to bring all their food and supplies. So, what follows is a list of must-see places in Kashmir, which can be easily visited by most tourists (without permits) without making them wait for hours interminably at the visa office.
Dachigam National Park
This place is situated in the Poonch district on the Line of Control. It’s about 50 km from Kashmir town and is located near Markundi village in Markundi tehsil. It offers a great opportunity to enjoy the forest walks, spotting the flora and fauna, trout fishing, and visit the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery. This place is also suitable for camping under the pines with your friends and family.
Phanjuna Valley
Located in the Anantnag district on the way to Gulmarg from Srinagar, this place is especially for nature lovers who wish to explore its secrets. The pleasant weather makes it suitable for camping under starry skies.
Naranag
Located in the north of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, this place offers a great opportunity to explore the flora and fauna easily. One can take a walk around Harwan lake, which is perfect for water sports like rowing, sailing, and canoeing. It also has a small zoo with all kinds of animals like brown bears, leopards, and rabbits. Staying here is particularly pleasant as it also has some resorts with swimming pools where you could enjoy yourself with your friends and family.
Peer Panjal Pass
This place is suitable for trekking lovers who wish to explore its secrets or just see its beauty from the top. You can take a pony or horse to go around the mountains and enjoy the view of all the beautiful places or just see nature, as you wish.
Lamayuru Monastery
This place is located 2 km from Lamayuru village in Leh district. It’s famous for its monasteries and Buddhist culture. The Lamayuru monastery is a very old structure built by the Tibetan Lama in the 12th century. It has paintings on its walls narrating many stories of Lord Buddha’s life and all other gods of Indian mythology. The monastery also offers housing facilities to those who wish to stay overnight. It is also surrounded by numerous small hills and is perfectly suitable for camping.
Sonmarg
This place is located 65 km from Srinagar in the Anantnag district. It offers a great opportunity to enjoy nature, as this place is surrounded by small hills and streams. The main places of interest are the apple orchards, pine trees, and many beautiful picnic spots with wildflowers all around. The weather here is pleasant which makes it perfect for camping. It has some bungalow houses which are mainly used during winters by tourists who want to enjoy the snowy cold weather of the Himalayas.
Gadsar Lake
Located in the heart of Aru Valley, this place offers a great opportunity to enjoy camping. You can also walk around the lake and enjoy the scenery. There are many water sports activities available here like rowing and sailing. It is also surrounded by mountains which makes it picturesque. It is located 55 km from Srinagar and is well connected with roads.
Babbar Chanan
This place is situated 88 km from Srinagar, in Baramulla district on the Jhelum River banks. This place offers a great opportunity to explore its beauty as it has many attractions like temples, forests, lakes, etc. You can also enjoy water sports like canoeing, sailing, and rowing. The weather is beautiful there all year and it is suitable for camping.
This list of the top ten places to visit in Kashmir can be expanded upon. It is always recommended that tourists must do their research thoroughly to make an informed decision about which place will be suitable for them. The tourist information center in Srinagar provides visitors with detailed information on things to do in Kashmir and how best to get around the place from different places.
Shikara Ride
The paramount reason why people come to Srinagar is for the relaxing and memorable Shikara rides. Taking the ride across the scenic Dal Lake at the backdrop of the majestic slow clad Himalaya’s is indeed an experience in itself both enjoyable and unparallel.