Sightseeing around Pahalgam

Baisaran Tullian Lake Gabisar Zoondab.

A short day walk from Pahalgam following a pony trail will take you to a beautiful meadow Baisaran (7,500 feet.) which offers a panoramic view of valley. An excellent overnight trek will lead to Tullian Lake at height of (12,000 feet).

Amaranth Ji Yatra

The pilgrimage by-passing through Sind valley to Amarnath cave, one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith continues from generations. Legend has it that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in a cave in Amarnath. Unkown to them, a pair of mating doves eaves dropped on this conversation and having learnt the secret, are reborn again and again and have made the cave heavenly abode. The pilgrimage starts from Pahalgam and goes via Bradhaji, Higun, Betab Valley (it is the same valley where famous Bollywood Film “Betab” was shot), HapathGand and to Chandanwari, Chandanwari to Sheshnag is 7kilometers distance.

Sheshnag lake is fed by glaciers, Sheshnag derives its name from its seven peaks resembling snakes. Shehnag to Panchtarni is 13 kilometers distance. It takes you over Mahaguns Pass at 14,435 feet. At Panchtarni(Five springs) camp ground, Shiva is said to have performed “Tandow Niritya”. Panchtarni to Amarnath cave is 6 kilometers.

Anantnag-Verinag-Himalayan Peerpanchal range.

Anantanag is called the granary of the Kashmir valley and gets the name from its main town and the district headquarters which during 10th century A.D, was named after the spring Sheesha or Anatnag (countless springs), situated in the south of town. The spring is mentioned in the Neelmat Purana as a sacred place of Hindus and presently called “Ander Nag”. The town gained significance during the Muslim period when Aurengzeb’s governor, Islam Khan 1664-65 A.D, laid out a garden, Wazir Bagh for Mughal emperor who clubbed together the adjoining Mohras and named the place after him as Islamabad. From Anantnag, Verinag is just 26 kilometers away, which is being considered the original source of river Jehlum (Vitasta).

The spring is situated at the bottom of the hill covered by pine trees and evergreen plants. Its charming and wonderful construction upon the spring and as well as its adjacent garden compels the visitors to see it again and again. The construction of the banks of the spring as well as its surroundings are of a rare shape. The Mughal emperor Jahangir constructed it and carvers for this purpose were brought from Iran. Verinag is famous for cool breeze blowing during nights as it has Peerpanchal ranges on three sides.

Ahrabal-Kungwatan-KanserNag.

From Pahalgam one can travel to Aharabal falls by car. Enroute Moura sanctuary and Mughal Gardens (oldest Chinar 600 years) at Bagibardah offer fantastic components of natural beauty.. the waterfallis about 10 kilometers from Aharabal at a height of 8,100 feet. The route to Kungwattan takes about three hours. The rout fallows the Vishav river to the 1.5 square kilometers Kungwattan meadow at 8,400 feet. From Kungwattan a walk througth thick forests lead to Mahinag at 9,800 feet. The Kaunsar Nag is situated at height of 12,140 feet. Kausar Nag lake is two kilometers long lake and dark blue water.

Ashmuqum,Mattan and Martand ruins.

The shrine of Zainuddin Wali, a saint, is situated on a hillock 20 Kilometers from Pahalgam. Mattan is an important Hindu pilgrimage point because of fish filled springs. On a plateau above Mattan stands the temple of Martand and is at a distance of 35 kilometers. From Pahalgam. The advent of the Karkotas provided a great and lasting impulse to art and architecture, reaching its zenith during the rule of Lalitditya Muktapida 724-761 A.D.

Being atop a lofty plateau, at whose feet stretch the broad verdant plains of Kashmir intersected by a network or rivers, lakes and canals, thickly dotted with clusters of busy villages nestling like beehives in closely planted grooves of trees, and encircled by snow-clad mountain ramparts the Sun temple is as Martand originally was. It is this beauty of situation that contributes so largely to the sense of grandeur with which the sight of these ruins always inspires even the most unimaginative visitors.