Pahalgam, a town in Anantnag district in the Indian UT of Jammu and Kashmir, is a hill station worth visiting. Blessed with lush greenery, beautiful waters, and snow, it is among the most scenic tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir and popular among nature lovers. Here, we take a look at the top 7 places in Pahalgam, which nature lovers must visit in 2022.
Sheshnag Lake: It is an alpine lake located on the way to Amarnath cave, at an elevation of 3590 meters. It is surrounded by meadows and snow-covered mountains. To reach this lake, one has to travel by road up to Chandanwari and then take a pony ride. The lake freezes during the winters and is rendered inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.
Aru Village and Valley: Aru is a tourist destination in the Anantnag district of J&K, located on the left bank of the Aru river. The Aru Valley that houses scenic meadows is known for its serene ambience. 20 alpine lakes, peaks, and meadows are located around the Aru Valley. This place is known for activities such as skiing, heliskiing, and fishing of trout.
Chandanwari: It is known for being the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra and located at a height of 2895 meters. The Lidder river is close by and snow-capped mountains surround this place. It is a must-visit place for nature lovers, renowned for its relaxing environment and the sight of glaciers melting in the Lidder river.
Lolab Valley: It is an oval-shaped valley that is rich in animal-life and houses many Himalayan wild animals such as the Himalayan black bear, brown bear, snow leopard and the musk deer. The main tourist attraction of this valley is the resting place of Saint Kashyap. Lolab Valley is one of the top camping sites in Kashmir.
Tarsar Lake: This almond-shaped lake in the Kashmir Valley has a rich diversity of flowers, and in the summer, migratory birds can be spotted here. The flowers commonly found in the basin of this lake include blue poppy, geum, potentilla, and gentian. This place forms the summer breeding ground for migratory birds such as the Himalayan golden eagles, bar-headed geese, and black bulbuls.
Baisaran: This valley, located in Anantnag district, is a green meadow on a hilltop and adding to its beauty are pine forests and the surrounding snow-covered mountains. Baisaran is called mini-Switzerland for its scenic beauty. It’s definitely a must-visit in 2022, for every nature lover.
Kolahoi Glacier: The Kolahoi Peak is the highest mountain in J&K with a peak elevation of 5,425 metres. The Kalahoi glacier, after which the peak is named, lies at an average height of 4700 metres and is a sight to behold.
Betaab Valley, Tulian Lake and Panchtarni are some other tourist attractions in Pahalgam for nature lovers. Golfing, skiing and river rafting are some of the activities you would like to engage in, during your visit here. Thus, if you are a nature lover and if you are considering traveling to Pahalgam in 2022, these top 7 vacation destinations should be in your itinerary.
