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SONMARG

Sonmarg also known as Sonamarg is a hill station and a tourist destination located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Sonmarg is set at an altitude of 2,730 meters (8,960 feet) in the Kashmir Valley. Sonmarg mainly comprises of Alpine meadows along with rivers and lakes. Sonmarg serves as a strategically important point of Indian Army. As Sonmarg is an important tourist destination and has glaciers like Kolahoi Peak along with trekking routes leading to Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gangabal Lake and Gadsar Lake in the Himalayas. The name Sonmarg is a derivation of Kashmiri word meaning ‘Meadow of Gold’. River Sindh meanders through Sonmarg and it abounds with fishes like Trout and Mahseer. Sonmarg has a historical significance and served as a gateway on the ancient Silk Road connecting Kashmir with Tibet. Sonmarg is an ideal destination for nature loving tourists for its enchanting natural landscapes and snow-capped Himalayan peaks. The dense wilderness of Sonmarg is native to Sycamore and Alpine flowers along with other floras like Silver Birch, Fir and Pine. The valley of Sonmarg is divided into two sections, one is Thajiwas spur which is a popular camp site and the other is Thajiwas glacier popular for breath-taking landscape of Sonmarg valley and stunning waterfalls. Sonmarg is enveloped by great Himalayan glaciers like Kolhoi and Machoi. This in turn gave rise to the ‘Three Sisters of Kashmir Valley’. The towering peaks of Kolhoi, Amarnath, Machoi and Sirbal make Sonmarg a popular place for adventure tourism.

Things to do and see in and around Sonmarg:

  • Sonmarg is the base from where the journey to Amarnath Temple begins.
  • In the summer trip to Thajiwas Glacier begins from Sonmarg. Tourists can also hire ponies from Sonmarg to reach Thajiwas Glacier.
  • From Sonmarg at a distance of 15 km to the east lies Baltal at the foothills of Zoji La Pass.
  • Tourists can also reach Leh (the rooftop of the world) by crossing Zoji La Pass from Sonmarg.
  • At Sonmarg tourists can take part in river rafting which is organized by Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department.
  • Tourists can indulge in sledding activity at Thajiwas Glacier which is near to Sonmarg.
  • From Sonmarg at a distance of 06 km is Nilagrad River which is popular for its reddish coloured water. The water of Nilagrad River has healing properties. From Sonmarg tourists can pay a relaxing visit to Nilagrad River which is surrounded by lush greenery all over.
  • Fishing is a popular activity to try out at Sonmarg. Tourists can opt for a visit to the nearby lakes of Sonmarg in search for Trouts and Mahseer.
  • At Sonmarg one can enjoy camping under the starry night which is also very relaxing. Apart from that one can also opt for a riverside camping on the banks of River Sindh.
  • For trekking enthusiasts Sonmarg serves as an ideal destination as many trekking routes emerged from Sonmarg including Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.
  • From Sonmarg one can opt for day trips to nearby places like Zero Point which is known for snow activities.
  • Exploring the local culture of Sonmarg is also an important activity. Tourists can opt for trail through Sonmarg and meet the locals there to get deep insight of their day lifestyle.
  • From Sonmarg in a day trip tourists can opt for a visit to Kargil War Memorial which is at a distance of 69.5 km via NH 1.
  • From Sonmarg tourists can visit Vihansar Lake (The Lake of Vishnu) which is located at 13 km away. The trail to Vihansar Lake starts from Shitkadi Village which is at a distance of 06 km from Sonmarg and it takes about 04 to 06 hours depending on the trail conditions.
  • Gangabal Lake trek another popular activity in Sonmarg which is at a distance of 36.6 km. Gangabal Lake lies at an elevation of 3570 meter. From Sonmarg one needs to reach at Naranag (the base camp of Gangabal Lake) and from there at a distance of 13 km is Gangabal Lake.
  • Harmukh Mountain is another point of tourist visit from Sonmarg located at 36 km away. At the foothills of Harmukh Mountain lies Gangabal Lake. Harmukh Mountain is the second highest peak in Kashmir Valley.
  • From Sonmarg at a distance of 35 km away is Krishnasar Lake set at an elevation of 3810 meter. The trek to Krishnasar Lake is through the surrounding landscape of Alpine meadows and forests. The journey to Krishnasar Lake also begins from Shitkadi Village.
  • Gadsar Lake is also an important trek route from Sonmarg located at 30 km away. Gadsar Lake is set at an elevation of 13750 feet and is also surrounded by thick Alpine forests.
  • Nichinai Pass is another trekking trail from Sonmarg located at 13 km away and set at an elevation of 4139 meters (13229 feet). Nichinai Pass is a common segment of Kashmir Great Lake treks from Sonmarg. Nichinai Pass also serves as a gateway to Vishnusar and Krishnasar Lakes.
  • Hung Park is a beautiful park built by the Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir to promote eco-tourism. Hung Park is located around 6.8 km from Sonmarg on Srinagar – Leh Highway.
  • Satsaran Pass also known as Satsaran Gali Pass is a high mountain pass set at an elevation of 3680 meter (12073 feet) in the higher valleys of Sonmarg. Satsaran Pass serves as a significant trekking base in the Kashmir Valley and offers views of Satsar Lake.
  • Sonmarg Market or Sonmarg Main Market located at the heart of Sonmarg town. The Sonmarg Market is known for its Kashmiri handicraft products, local Kashmiri jewelry, local spices, dry fruits, wood carving handicrafts and others.
  • Satsar Lake or Seven Lakes is a group of seven interconnected Alpine Lakes nestled in Sonmarg region of Kashmir Valley. Satsar Lake is spread over 04 km long stretch at an altitude of 3650 meter (11975 feet).
  • White Water Rafting is Sonmarg is a popular activity centered on Sindh River. White Water Rafting provides the opportunity to view the lush meadows, snow-capped mountains and the surrounding beauty of the entire Sonmarg region.
  • During winters Sonmarg transforms into a haven for winter sports like Skiing and Snowboarding. The valleys and slopes of Sonmarg provide a perfect opportunity to enjoy such activities.
  • Sonamarg Tunnel in Sonmarg is a newly added gem that helps in fast connectivity between Gagangir and Sonmarg. This 6.5 km long tunnel takes only 15 minutes to pass with two lanes of National Highway 1. The Sonamarg Tunnel bypasses a Z shaped stretch of road which is used to be avalanche prone.

How to Reach:

By Air: Srinagar International Airport is the nearest airport to Sonmarg located at 102 km away. Srinagar International Airport is well connected with regular flights with almost all major cities of India along with International flights. From Srinagar Airport tourists will get hired vehicles to reach Sonmarg.

By Train: Sonmarg does not have a railway station. The major railway station is at Jammu Tawai located at 360 km via NH 244A, NH 44 and NH 1 from Sonmarg. Jammu Tawai is well connected by regular train services with all major cities of India. Another railway station is Srinagar Railway Station located at 80 km away from Sonmarg. Though Srinagar has fewer train connectivity but it is located much closer than Jammu Tawai with Sonmarg. From both Jammu Tawai and Srinagar tourists will get hired vehicles to reach Sonmarg. There is also another railway station at Udhampur located at 293 km away from Sonmarg, but Udhampur is also connected by very fewer railway networks with rest of the country.

By Road: Sonmarg is well connected with good motor-able roads with Srinagar and other major locations of Kashmir Valley. Tourists will get both hired vehicles and bus services to reach Sonmarg. The route to Sonmarg passes through picturesque valleys and magnificent mountains. From Srinagar tourists can avail the Srinagar – Leh Highway (NH 1) to reach Sonmarg. Sonmarg can also be reached from Pehalgam located at 140 km away and it takes about 04 to 05 hours. From Srinagar one can also opt to avail Kargil Skardu road (NH 1D) to reach Sonmarg.

Best time to visit Sonmarg:
Although Sonmarg can be visited throughout the year, but the most comfortable and the best time is summer (April to June) which is ideal for sightseeing, trekking, outdoor activities, camping and fishing. Along with that summer in Sonmarg is the best time to witness blooming flowers and lush greenery. Monsoon (July to September) offers a different experience with misty and foggy mornings and moderate rainfall making it unique for some. Winter (November to March) is the time when most of the roads remain closed due to heavy snowfall. But during winter Sonmarg becomes a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Tourists are advised to check the weather report of Sonmarg before their visit during winter season. Autumn (September to November) in Sonmarg is also a good time to visit Sonmarg with pleasant climate and autumn hues offering breath-taking views. As autumn remains less crowded hence it is one of the best times for trekking trails.

Hotels in Sonmarg