At the
confluence of the streams flowing
from Sheshnag Lake and
Lidder river, Pahalgam (6390
ft), or the Valley of Shepherds, as it is called, was once a humble
shepherd's village with breathtaking views. Now it is Kashmir
's premier
resort, with a number of hotels
and lodges.
Choose
Hotel
More about
Pahalgam
Climate
Pahalgam has cool
dry summers from Mar-Sep (average temperatures 14-22
deg. celsius) and very cold winters from Oct-Feb
((average temperatures -5 to 8 deg. celsius).
Language
The main languages are Hindi,
Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu and English (in tourist
spots).
Around
Pahalgam are many places of interest, and as the resort is set
between fairly steep hills, it is worth
hiring a pony
rather than walking.
Pony fares are posted at prominent locations.
Some picturesque
locales include the huge, undulating meadow
of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly
wooded forests of pine;
Hajan, an idyllic picnic
spot, where several Bollywood films
have been shot; and Mamal Shiva
temple , Kashmir
's oldest existing
temple, dating to the 5th century.
Pahalgam is also associated with the
annual Amarnath Yatra, which begins
at Chandanwari (8685
ft), 16 kms from Pahalgam, in the month of Sawan
(July-Aug). Upto Chandanwari,
vehicles ply but the yatra beyond must be done
on foot or on a pony. About
11 kms away is Sheshnag mountain
lake (10,722 ft) and13 kms beyond
that is Panchtarni. 6kms from here
is the Amarnath Cave, where an
ice stalagmite forms a natural
shivling
which waxes and wanes with
the moon.
Some outdoor activities to indulge in
include horse riding, golf, fishing for
brown trout in Lidder
River (season is from Apr-Sep), and
trekking
along
various routes.
|
