While talking about Kashmir, you might have heard many people referring to it as the ‘Heaven on Earth’ or the ‘Switzerland of India’. Though many people are familiar with this idea as they have already explored some of the top sights in Kashmir, some are still to be introduced to the same.
There are a lot of reasons why you should ditch actual Switzerland and visit Switzerland in your very own country. No offense to the astonishing beauty and the captivating sight possessed by actual Switzerland, though.
Your upcoming vacation demands that you pack your stuff and head to Kashmir Tourism.
Here are a few places that are confined to Kashmir and should be visited by you to unravel the true sense of visiting Kashmir.
Table of Contents
Best Places to Visit in Kashmir
SRINAGAR
So, this is one name that you might be expecting for sure, even if you are a newbie in the world of travel and have yet to visit the various tourist attractions in Kashmir. Being the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, this place has the Dal Lake, which should be explored with the help of a shikhara ride, undoubtedly. Also, you can consider visiting the top of the Shankaracharya Temple and enhance the view of your eyes. The Shalimar Gardens can also be visited, which have also made their way to the Indian currency note of Rs. 10.
PAHALGAM
Next up in line while visiting the best places in Kashmir is Pahalgam. This is one of those places in Kashmir that is bound with rivers having clean water as well as deep valleys. Lidder Lake here can be well utilized if you feel like experiencing river rafting. Other sports like golfing can be explored too, along with satisfying your shopping bugs. You can get your hands on the traditional Kashmiri items available here. The best time to visit this place is between February and June.
SONMARG
Common with the title of ‘the meadow of gold’, Sonmarg is one of the famous tourist attractions in Kashmir. This place has a captivating view that is well complemented by the mountains covered with snow, the grasslands with thick green patches, the beautiful ponies ready for a ride, and whatnot.
Also, this marks the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra. Activities like zorbing, trekking, river rafting, etc., can be done here. However, you won’t be able to visit this place if you visit Kashmir in winter, all thanks to the avalanches and heavy snowfall received by the place on a yearly basis.
KARGIL
Hearing the name of Kargil, many people are likely to have a flashback of the Kargil War, which took place in 1999. The sentiments and memories of the Kargil War make this place in Kashmir even more special. While some go to witness this place as a tourist destination, which is very peaceful, many go or wish to go to see the place in the form of a battleground and thus pay homage to the ones who were martyred, our heroes. ‘Ranbhoomi’ is another word that is associated with it. There is a considerable number of monasteries situated here which can be visited, too. If possible, pay a visit to the military camps here. If you are lucky enough to hear some experiences and stories, trust me, you are going to carry it for the rest of your life with the utmost pride and gratitude for sure.
GULMARG
This is one name that finds its familiarity with the students from the Hindi textbooks they used to read in schools. Apart from this, Gulmarg is known as the snow paradise as it has the longest as well as the highest ropeways in the world. Interesting, isn’t it? The distance is approximately 5 km. For the ones who haven’t seen snow in their lifetime and have plans to visit Kashmir in the summer, you just got lucky. This is because Gulmarg receives a good amount of snowfall in the summer, too.
You can ski here at 1400 feet above sea level, but with the help of professionals, of course. The best time to visit this place is between March and June, thus escaping the scorching heat of the cities.
Others like the Kashmir Valley, Leh, Ladakh, Pulwama, Hemis, Kupwara, etc., have their doors opened, too, being the major additions to the Kashmir tourism.
The saffron fields, the terrains, the beautiful blue sky that can be well associated with romantics as well as serenity, or the interconnectivity, the best places to visit in Kashmir will surprise you every time you decide to pay a visit to them. And, being a new spectator, you won’t only be spellbound by the variety that is contained in this piece of land, but you also will feel like taking up new excuses and opportunities to visit this place and explore the top sights in Kashmir again and again.
Also Read: Check these Top 7 Places to Visit in Jammu
