BEAUTIES TO SEE

Gulmarg
A huge cup shaped meadow, lush and green with slopes where the silence is broken only by the tinkle of cowbells, Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a film and not surprisingly have been the venue of several films.The valley of Gulmarg, a large meadow about 3-sq-kms in area, stands at 2,730 metres, 56-km south west of Srinagar . The name means 'Meadow Of Flowers' and in the spring it's just that, a rolling meadow dotted with countless colourful Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not's and Buttercups. The valley itself is about 3-km long and up to a km wide

Leh
Leh was the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now the Leh District in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The town is still dominated by the now ruined Leh Palace, former home of the royal family of Ladakh, which resembles a mini-Potala Palace. Leh is at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,483ft).

Srinagar
Srinagar district is situated in the centre of Kashmir Valley, The capital city ,is located 1730 metres above sea level. spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting According to a popular legend which is mentioned in Kalhana's Rajtaringini Kashmir valley was a vast lake. Kashyap Rishi drained out the water and made it habitable

Pahalgam
Situated at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river, Pahalgam (2,130 m) was once a humble shepherd's village with breathtaking views. Now it is Kashmir's premier resort, cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 25C.

Gulmarg Gondola
Gulmarg boasts Asia's highest and longest cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The ropeway project is a joint venture of the Jammu and Kashmir government and French firm Pomagalski. The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley. The second stage of the ropeway, which has 36 cabins and 18 towers, takes skiers to a height of 3,747 m (12,293 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The second stage was completed in a record time of about two years at a cost of Rs 11 crore and opened on May 28, 2005. The French company had also built the first phase of the gondola project, connecting Gulmarg to Kongdoori, in 1998. You can decide whether you wish to go to Stage two when you have reached stage one. Stage two is at a much hi

Khilanmarg
Carpeted by a floral splendour in spring and several feet of snow in winter. Hence it offers a different view depedns upon the season.It's a 600-metre ascent from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg. In early spring when the snow begins to melt, the path turns slushy and can be quite a daunting experience. However, once you reach your destination, you will be amply rewarded with an unparalleled view of the great Himalayas from Nanga Parbat to the twin peaks of Nun and Kun to the southeast.

Dal Lake
The Dal Lake is a famous lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. Dal Lake is connected to a number of other lakes in the valley. 500 or more wooden house boats are plying to facilitate the needs of the tourists.Covered in 18 square km and divided into 4 basins (Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin). Rup Lank and Sona Lank are the islands.During the winter season the lake sometimes freezes over. The lake has some interesting flora and fauna. The flora include lotus flower, water lillies and water chestnuts. Notable birds are kingfishers and heron.

Pari Mahal
Pari Mahal (House of the Fairies) is situated just above Chashma Shahi Gardens, about 10 km from Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir. It was once a Buddhist monastery, later converted into a school of astrology by Dara Shikoh - eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Pari Mahal is a historic monument as well as a well-laid spacious garden. Situated around a small spring, the garden has beautiful flowering plants and various kinds of fruit. Although Pari Mahal boasted a large number of springs earlier, only a few can be seen today. The mahal, on the spur of a hill, is illuminated at night and can be seen from most places in Srinagar. It overlooks the picturesque Dal Lake.

The Bund
The Bund, as it is popularly called, is a walkway extending from Zero Bridge to Badshah Bridge below, along the banks of the Jhelum River, in Srinagar. A stroll beside the lake, enjoying the breeze and the astounding beauty of the surrounding landscape with Doonga houseboats in the backdrop provides a pleasant experience. The General Post Office, the government handicrafts emporium and a string of handicraft shops lies along the Bund.

Kailash Lake
Kailash Lake, popularly known as Vasuki Kunda, is situated about 17 km from Bhadarwa in Jammu District. This is one of the major pilgrimage centers in Jammu and Kashmir. Visiting this holy place on the new moon after Rakhi Poornima is considered very auspicious. Visitors need to travel through an extremely steep lonely pass to reach here. Although the region holds no temples, there are stone images of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Vasuki. A trident, which is believed to belong to Lord Shiva, is a major attraction. It is virtually impossible to go to the Kunda and return back to Bhadarwa on the same day. It is recommended to stay overnight at Suaje Dhar and proceed on the journey the next day. Temporary shelters for the night and Langarkhanas, where free meals are served are built at Suaje Dhar, 13 km from Bhadarwa.

Samesar Lake
Surinsar is a beautiful lake situated about 42 km from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar road, in Jammu and Kashmir. Bordered by hills and covered with dense forest, the lake is a favorite picturesque spot in the state. During summer, the lake is covered with lotus flowers. Legend says that Arjuna, the legendary hero of the Mahabharat, shot an arrow into the ground at Mansar. The arrow came out at Surinsar and thus both lakes - Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake were created.

Bagh-e-Bahu Fort
Bagh-e-Bahu is an extensive terraced garden built around the Bahu Fort in Jammu. This beautiful garden with its glittering waterfalls, artificial lake, lush green lawns, flower beds, fountains and big trees is a favourite picnic spot of the city folk and it also has a pleasant view of the city.The garden can be reached by mini-buses and auto-rickshaws from the Jammu city.

Saser Kangri
Saser Kangri is a massive mountain with four high peaks rising from a glacier, covering the north-south summit ridge. Located near the north of Leh city in Jammu and Kashmir, the mountain is seen in the southeastern side of Karakoram. It is placed at an altitude of 7672 m in the region of Saser Muztagh. Indo-Tibetan Border Police expeditions were the first climbers to climb Saser Kangri in 1973. The ideal months for trekking are from July, August and September.

Pangong Tso
Pangong Lake is a beautiful lake with deep blue waters, surrounded by tall mountain peaks. This lake lies on the Indo - China boundary, with only one fourth of the lake being in India. The road to this lake passes through Chang-la, the world"s third highest motorable road. It"s a 4 & Half hour drive (149 Kms) from Leh to this place. If one is staying in Leh please leave around 4 in the morning. The problem in reaching Pangong Lake is that around 5 kms before the Lake, water from the snow melting blocks the passage by 1 O’clock in the afternoon & it doesn’t clear up until 8 in the evening. So, unless you want to get stuck there till late, leave early. The passage is also very tough to cross by car. So a four-wheel drive car is recommended.

Padum Valley
Padum is located at an altitude of 3505 m from the sea level. It is the capital of the ancient Zanskar and presently administrative headquarter of the Zanskar region. Padum has population of around 1500-1600. Padum is a very scarcely inhabited valley in the Zanskar. Padum is one of the famous trekking destinations for trekking lovers, Zanskar.

Lidder River
River Lidder is a snow-fed river which originates from the glaciers in the high mountains of Pahalgam, a town of Jammu and Kashmir. This river is the main source of water supply for the town of Anantnag and to its nearby areas. Some of tributaries of the River Lidder are the streams of Aroo and Chandanwari. The area situated on its bank is called the Lidder Valley, which includes the town, Pahalgam. This valley is surrounded by mountains and glaciers and is enriched by many streams.

Kolohoi Glacier
Kolohoi Glacier, situated up the Lidder Valley, just below Mount Kolohoi, is currently a hanging glacier. It is basically hollowed out from global warming, the Asian brown cloud, and local environmental factors associated with mountain hydrology. According to the mountaineers from Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM)in 2008, the glacier has receded by half since 1985. The glacier is not safe to study because it is hollow and in places has 200 foot deep crevasses. The sounds of cracking can be heard from either side of the ice field, which indicates an imminent collapse. The preferred method of approach for viewing is to take the right side. This approach offers less boulder fields on the approach, and the occasional goat/horse/cattle herder can be approached for cheese and Kashmiri tea on the way. Reaching Kolohoi, trekking up the Lidder Valley, you will encounter some of the most difficult terrain in the western Himalaya, but the views are breathtaking.