There are different shades of Kashmir (depending upon the season you visit this state), where winter is all about hues of blue and white. If you love snow-covered mountains, frozen lakes, snowfall, trekking, and skiing, then you must visit Kashmir in winter. We have detailed a list of 7 places that you must visit on your winter trip to Kashmir!
Srinagar
Srinagar is the capital city and is a must-visit during winter. There is no natural beauty in winter, like that in Srinagar; this place is surrounded by the beautiful Kashmir valley, which becomes white in winter. Somewhat frozen Dal Lake, and snow-clad mountains in the surrounding, add to the picturesque beauty of the place. Some activities that you can experience in Srinagar are, visiting Shankaracharya temple, strolling in the Shalimar Bagh (aka the Garden of Love), and admiring the tulips in the Indira Gandhi Tuli Garden (this tulip garden comes in the list of top 10 tulip gardens across the world!). While you are in Srinagar in winter, do check out if you can ride on a beautifully decorated Shikara on Dal Lake; this is something that you will not want to miss!
Gulmarg
One of the most thrilling adventure activities is skiing on snow-covered mountains and Gulmarg is the region to get a skiing experience in your life. If you are an adventure enthusiast and can handle temperature being in minus degrees, then skiing in Gulmarg is a must-experience activity for you. When you reach Gulmarg, you will find a lot of locals that can arrange all the gear for your skiing experience and also can give you proper ski training courses. Apart from skiing, you can also enjoy mountain biking and trekking in Gulmarg. One activity that you must not miss while you are here is the world-famous gondola ride over the valley. If you are here just for the view, then you can book a beautiful cottage for yourself and see the snowfall from your room and enjoy this beautiful sight!
Sonmarg
If you are a lover of trekking, then you must visit Sonmarg; this place has the valley’s best trekking trails. This place is also known as “Meadow of Gold” and will take your breath away, with its pristine natural beauty. In winter, these trails are also covered in snow, which adds to the excitement part (though you will need to be absolutely careful while trekking on snow!). You can take up camping package in Songmarg (a region covered with snowy mountains, crystal-clear frozen lakes, and passing by rivers) and have one-of-a-kind of experiences in life.
Pahalgam
It is because of regions like Pahalgam, Kashmir gets the title of “Heaven on Earth”. This place is covered with fir, oak, and pine trees, and in winter, all these trees get covered in specks of snow; every inch of this place looks like a postcard from some winter land in heaven! The best medium to check out this place would be on a pony. If you are up for spending some me time amidst the beauty of nature, then you should visit Pahalgam on your trip to Kashmir. Don’t forget to use discount coupons & deals to experience hassle free travel planning and online booking without overspending.
Zanskar
When you enter the Zanskar region, you will see the frozen view of the Zanskar River (will give you the feeling that you have entered the ice age!). It would be difficult to walk on this trail, but then it is a beautiful trail to explore! This river flows across the Hemis National Park and, in winter, it turns into a sheet of ice. You can go on the Chadar Trek, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience because this trek happens on the frozen lake. This trek on the frozen Zanskar River is considered a glorious trek (in the Himalayan region!). Along the trek, you will get to see frozen waterfalls and snow-covered mountains in proximity. Yes, it is dangerous and you will need to be at the best of your health so that you can complete this trail with ease and enjoy it to the fullest. If you do not want to embark upon such dangerous terrains, you can always choose to trek in Kounsarnag (another beautiful spot in Kashmir!).
Poonch
This is an off-beat location, but is a rather beautiful one! This place is also known as the Valley of 7 Lakes (which btw gets frozen in winter and looks amazingly beautiful. If you plan your trip right, you can also attend the 4-day music and dance festival in the Poonch region; in this festival, you can feel alive with live music playing around you and beautifully decorated kiosks serving your Kashmir’s indigenous food. Apart from this, some of the scenic spots that you can visit in Pooch are, Noori Chammb, Girgan Dhok and Lakes, Mandi, Loran, Nandishool, Surankote, Behramgala, and Dehra-Gali (these are small villages around Poonch that look beautiful in the winters and are a must-visit).
Pulwama
This is a serene village that is about 40 km from Srinagar and you can see nature at its best, in this region. You will find small cottages and saffron fields, all covered in snow (and looks absolutely stunning!). Apart from this, you can also find partially frozen waterfalls in this area and enjoy some adventurous activities like snowboarding, mountaineering, hiking, and trekking. If you are visiting Kashmir in winter, then Pulwama should definitely be on your list!
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