SONAMARG TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO SONAMARG
Hill Station
About Sonamarg
Country: India | State: Jammu & Kashmir
#100 of 5 Places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 Full Days
Nearest City to Sonamarg: Srinagar (92 Kms), Jammu (348 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Sonamarg: March to August
Peak Season: April to June
At a distance of 14 km from Baltal, 62 km from Ganderbal, 92 km from Srinagar, 124 km from Gulmarg, 131 km from Anantnag, 182 km from Pahalgam, 264 km from Patni Top, 348 km from Jammu, and 407 km from Pathankot, Sonamarg or Sonmarg, which means 'Meadow of Gold', is a charming hill station located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the popular tourist places to visit in India and among the must-include places in Jammu & Kashmir tour packages.
Placed at an altitude of 2800 m, Sonmarg is an ideal holiday destination adorned with snow-laden fields, surrounded by majestic glaciers and serene lakes which cast subtle spells on the travellers. This pristine hill town is enveloped by great Himalayan peaks like Kolhoi Peak, Amarnath Peak, Machoi Peak, and Sirbal Peak which makes Songamarg a popular place for adventure sports tourism. Sonamarg gives rise to the famous 'Three Sisters' - a group of rivers (the Lidder, Sind, and Neelum) that run parallel to each other and serve as tributaries for the major Jhelum River that runs through the Kashmir Valley.
According to legend, Sonamarg had historical significance as a gateway on the ancient Silk Road, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Tibet. Sonamarg and regions around it were under the control of King Pravarasena II, 2000 years ago. Then, it came under the control of Mauryans, Kushanas, Mughals, Sikhs, and several other kings until the 19th century. Under a treaty between Gulab Singh and the British, Kashmir along with Sonamarg, became a princely state and remained under the rule of Gulab Singh until independence. Later, Sonamarg was annexed to India in 1947 and is now a military defense post due to its high altitude and strategic location.
This tiny Himalayan town is blessed with several tourist places that include Thajiwas Glacier, Zoji La, Vishansar Lake, Nilagrad River, Baltal Valley, Gangabal Lake, Krishnasar Lake, Satsar Lake, Gadsar Lake, etc. which attracts a large number of tourists as part of Sonamarg Tour Packages. It is a base camp for trekkers going to Ladakh and for many trekking routes to different lakes of Kashmir. Tourists can also enjoy trout fishing in Vishansar Lake, Krishnasar Lake, Gangabal Lake, and so on. During winter the valley covered with snow offers an opportunity for the tourist to enjoy sledding or skiing. If you like water activities, Sonmarg provides you with the opportunity to enjoy white water rafting as well.
Spring Snow Festival is the main event in Sonamarg that is celebrated for 3 days from 24th to 26th of December every year. The festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Kashmir, in collaboration with District Administration Ganderbal along with local stakeholders. The Sonamarg winter festival will feature cultural programs, and leisure sports activities like horse riding, all-terrain vehicle rides, sledge rides, skiing, and adventure camping. Losar is another festival celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists here in December and January.
Sheikh ul Alam Airport, Srinagar is the nearest airport which is about 90 km from Sonamarg Bus Station that has well-connected flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh. About 92 km, Srinagar Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is well connected by trains with Jammu Tawi, Katra, Banihal, Baramulla, and Budgam. From here, one can hire a bus or a cab to reach Sonamarg. Sonamarg is well connected by buses from all the major cities of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sonamarg has plenty of hotels, offers amazing views, and is perfect for all kinds of trips. These hotels are suitable both for people looking for budget accommodation or for someone with no budget constraints. However, all the hotels shut down sometime in November and do not reopen until March as the town is inaccessible during winter months.
March to August is the best time to visit Sonamarg when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. The months of July and August see heavy pilgrim traffic for the Amarnath Yatra. Sonamarg remains inaccessible during winter months (November to February) as the NH1D connecting it to the nearby places closed down due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
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