12 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Sonamarg

At a distance of 3 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, Thajiwas Glacier is a mountain glacier located in Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir. Referred to as 'The hidden jewel of Kashmir, it is one of the most famous places for trekking in Jammu & Kashmir, and among the most visited tourist places in Sonamarg.

Perched at an altitude of 9,186 feet, Thajiwas Glacier is an exquisite beauty overlooked by Tajiwas Mountain, and surrounded by alpine meadows, conifer trees, and frozen lakes. The glacier is a perfect spot for trekking and camping enthusiasts. One can either trek all on their own or even hire a pony and a local to accompany you along. The trek is not difficult at all. On the way to the glacier, the tourists get to witness the beauty of the silver-shining frozen lake along with all the greenery around. There are also the Gujjar tribes who have their camps set up and earn their livelihood here.

Thajiwas Glacier Trek is a short one that starts from Sonamarg town itself and ends at the Glacier .....

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At a distance of 23 km from Sonamarg, Zoji La is a high mountain pass located in the Kargil district of Ladakh, India. Situated in the Dras subdivision, it is one of the world's most dangerous mountain roads and among the must-include places in Sonamarg tour packages.

With an altitude of 3258 m, Zoji La Pass is situated on the NH 1 that connects Srinagar to Leh and prides itself in being the second highest pass on the highway with the first being the Fotu La Pass. It connects the Kashmir Valley to its west with the Dras and Suru Valleys to its northeast and the Indus Valley further east. Historically, the pass was captured by Pakistan in 1948 during their attempt to acquire control over Ladakh. Later, the Indian Army launched Operation Bison to regain control over this pass, which was successfully captured in November 1948.

Translating to the 'mountain pass of blizzards', the pass is known for its breathtakingly beautiful views and landscapes. This high mountain pass offers .....

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At a distance of 34 km from Sonamarg, Vishansar is a high altitude oligotrophic lake situated near Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the popular high-altitude lakes in Jammu & Kashmir and among the best places to visit near Sonamarg.

Situated at an altitude of 3,710 m, Vishansar Lake is a sparkling blue lake surrounded by lush green meadows, alpine flowers, and snowcapped mountains at a tantalizing distance. The lake has a maximum length of 1 km and maximum width of 0.6 km. It is fed by the Krishansar Lake and glaciers. The lake is also the source of the Nelum River, a tributary of the Jhelum River, which flows northwards up to Badoab and then westwards through Gurais along the Line of Control. The lake attracts a lot of trekkers and is the best place for a night camping.

Popular as the Lake of Vishnu, the Vishansar Lake is known for the many species of fish it houses, especially the brown trout which make it a perfect location for .....

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At a distance of 35 km from Sonamarg, Krishansar is high altitude oligotrophic lake situated near Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the popular high-altitude lakes in Jammu & Kashmir and among the best Sonamarg trekking places.

Situated at an altitude of 3,710 m, Krishansar Lake is one of the highest-altitude lakes in the Kashmir Valley. It has a maximum length of 0.95 km and maximum width of 0.6 km. Fondly called the ' lake of Krishna', Krishansar Lake is mostly fed by the melting of snow and glaciers that drains out through a small stream which falls into the Vishansar Lake and gives rise to Neelum River, a tributary of Jhelum River. It is part of the famous trekking route known as the Great Lakes Trek which covers five lakes - Vishansar, Krishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, and Gangabal.

Surrounded by lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains, and dense forests, this lake is a popular tourist destination for nature enthusiasts, adventure .....

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At a distance of 47 km from Sonamarg, Gadsar Lake is a picturesque alpine lake situated near Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the scenic high-altitude lakes in Jammu & Kashmir and among the best Sonamarg tourist places.

Situated about 13,750 feet, Gadsar Lake is the gorgeous alpine lake that falls along the trail of Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and is arrived after crossing the Gadsar Pass. The water of the lake is glacier fed comes directly from the mountain in the background and outflows through a stream flow north westwards and joins the Neelum River at Tulail. The lake is about 0.76 km in width and 0.85 km in length. In the local Kashmiri language, Gadisar means, 'the lake of fishes', and it is aptly called so since it abounds in brown trout.

Surrounded by snow-covered mountains and shrouded in alpine flowers, the bluish-green waters of the lakes are so crystal clear that the clouds, & surroundings are perfectly reflected in them. .....

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At a distance of 12 km from Gadsar Lake, 10 km from Naranag, and 59 km from Sonamarg, Satsar Lake is an alpine lake is located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated amid the rocky foothills of the wonderful Himalayas, it is one of the popular places for trekking in Jammu & Kashmir and among the best places to visit in Sonamarg.

Perched at an altitude of 3600 m, Satsar or Sat Sar consists of seven small alpine lakes situated in a narrow alpine valley stretching from north to south. These lakes are spread over a 4 km distance with a width of 1 km. The lake is mainly fed by melting snow. During the late summer and autumn, two or three lakes usually dry up, depending upon the precipitation. The water of Satsar Lakes drains to Wangath River which is a tributary of river Sindh. Satsar serves as a natural mountain pass between Tulail Valley and Sind Valley. The lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol lie on the opposite side of Zajibal Pass.

The picturesque lake is surrounded .....

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At a distance of 13 km from Naranag, 62 km from Srinagar, and 69 km from Sonamarg, Gangabal Lake is a picturesque lake located at the foothills of the Haramukh mountain range in the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir. Also known as Haramukh Ganga, it is one of the largest alpine lakes in India, and among the must-include places in Sonamarg Tour Packages.

Lies at an elevation of 3570 m, Gangabal Lake is an alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake that is home to several species of fish, including the brown trout. Fed by precipitation, glaciers, and springs, the lake has a maximum length of 2.5 km and maximum width of 1 km. The lake feeds Nundkol Lake, and through Wangath Nallah it merges with the Sindh River. It is the largest alpine lake in Kashmir and is considered the Ganges of Kashmir. Every year lot of Kashmir Hindus visit this lake on the Ganga Ashtami for prayers and blessings.

Gangabal Lake is also a part of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. So one can reach either from .....

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At a distance of 18 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, Nichinai is a high mountain passage in the beautiful Kashmir Valley. It is one of the most mesmerizing valleys in India and among the scenic short treks in Sonamarg.

Situated at an altitude of 4139 m, Nichinai Pass serves as a prominent base for the trekking circuit in Sonamarg and as the main route to many destinations across the valley. Treks to high-altitude lakes like Krishnasar, Vishansar, Gadsar Lake, and Gangabal Lake are conducted through Nichinai Pass. The grandeur and charm of these high-altitude lakes from Nichnai Pass will leave you in awe of nature. The main thing that grabs the visitors' attention is a frozen glacier nearby.

The Nichinai Pass Trek starts from Shitkadi, which is about 5 km from Sonamarg Bus Station. The 13 km from Shitkadi takes approximately 4-5 hours and is extremely difficult due to low oxygen levels and snow-covered terrains, but it is rewarded with spectacular views. The trail is lined with .....

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At a distance of 8 km from Kangan, 52 km from Srinagar, and 60 km from Sonamarg, Naranag is a tourist village located near Ganderbal town in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Located on the road to Kargil, it is one of the popular places to visit near Sonamarg.

Naranag is a beautiful place tucked cozily in the mountains and encircled by dense forests. The village is well known for its ruins of the ancient Naranag Temple complex. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Naranag Temple was built by Lalitaditya Muktapida, of the Kayastha Naga Karkota Dynasty in the 8th century AD. The site consists of a cluster of temples facing each other at a distance of about 200 m. These temples have the typical Aryan structure that was present in Aryan Kashmir. Today, most parts of the temple lie in ruins for which the government has only constructed walls to protect it from encroachments.

Lies on the left bank of the Wangath River, a tributary of the Sind River, the village is also noted for .....

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At a distance of 13 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, Baltal Valley is a picturesque valley located to the north of Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir. Nestled along the banks of the Sindh River, it is one of the most beautiful destinations in Jammu & Kashmir and among the popular places to visit in Sonamarg.

Situated at an altitude of 2743 m, Baltal Valley is nestled along the banks of the Sindh River near Sonamarg. This valley lies on the foot of Zoji La - the high mountain pass in the Himalayas of Kashmir. The beauty of the valley is spectacular, as it is dotted with snow-capped mountain peaks, waterfalls & glaciers, while the Sindh River flows happily. It is considered a paradise for nature lovers as it commands a wonderful panorama of the snowcapped mountains and spellbinding views of the Zoji La Pass.

Baltal serves as a major camping ground for pilgrims going to the Amarnath Cave. The valley provides a shorter and alternate route to the sacred Amarnath Cave, which is why many base .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, the Sindh River in Sonamarg is one of the best places for White Water Rafting in Kashmir. It is one of the must-try activities while part of Sonamarg packages.

Sonamarg promises to satisfy your desire for an adventure-filled, adrenaline-flowing vacation. Whether the person is a novice or a trained adventure seeker, rafting in Sonamarg is one of the most challenging and popular river rafting sites in India. Besides, the area is also famous for its International Rafting Championships which have been organized by the Tourism Department. White Water Rafting in Sonamarg was started in the year 2011 by the then-CEO of Sonamarg Development Authority, Mushtaq Ahmed.

The untamed river Sindh that gushes past spectacular mountains has rapids ranging from II to IV and is also divided into three sections ranging from 3 km, 7 km to 24 km run. The course ranges from 3-7 kilometers for beginners and takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. .....

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At a distance of 6 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, Kashmir Great Lakes is a high-altitude lake trek that commences from Sonamarg. It is one of the most popular treks in India and among the must-include in Sonamarg tour packages, especially for adventure enthusiasts.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek comprises 6 stunningly beautiful high-altitude lakes - Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gadsar Lake, Satsar Lake, and Gangabal twin lakes. The trek spanning over a week requires you to walk over 72 km. During this trek, you cross high mountain passes, and witness a 360° panorama of wild, rugged mountains, rolling meadows, and turquoise alpine lakes. The range of landscape makes it a moderate-difficult trek with steep ascents and descents with no easy exit points. So, it's not meant for a beginner who hasn't been exposed to high-altitude treks.

This trek requires a good level of fitness. To register for this trek you are required to complete a 5K run in under 35 minutes. It is mandatory for .....

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