Pahalgam is a town in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous for its beautiful landscapes and a large number of health resorts.
Pahalgam is literally one of those places in the country that seem to have come out of some painter’s imagination. In fact its dreamy hills and gorgeous valleys have been roping in a lot of Bollywood producers for a shooting destination. Moreover it is the starting point to a large number of treks in the region. All these factors have led to a large number of 5 star hotels in Pahalgam popping up recently.
One of the most interesting places in Pahalgam is the Betaab Valley, which got its name from the hit bollywood flick by the same name that was shot here. the valley is covered in a lush green cover and has snow clad mountains and beautiful plains. While you are here, do not miss taking a sip of the crystal clear water from the streams bubbling down the snowy hills. Further it is conveniently close to other notable attractions including Baisaran and Tulian Lake. If you are an adventurous soul, you should head to Aru valley which is the starting point of several treks in the region. It is located among the grasslands and is a great site for camping as well. It is also the starting point for the Koholoi glacier trek. While you are here, you will definitely experience that famous feeling of oneness with nature that tourists talk about for this place.
You should also visit Sheshnag lake here which is a high altitude oligotrophic lake located on the track for the hindu pilgrimage site of Amarnath caves. This cave in itself is a major hindu pilgrimage site as it is considered to have been dug up by Sheshnag himself. Sheshnag means the King of snakes and as believed by a lot of hindus, Sheshnag still stays in the lake. It is mainly fed by streams trickling down as well as melting snow from the mountain tops. The best time to visit the lake is during the months of June to September. Pahalgam is also popular among pilgrims for its ancient temples. This includes Mamaleshwar temple which dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to hindu mythology, this is precisely the temple where Lord Ganesha was ordered to guard the doors. In addition to this, the close proximity with the holy caves of Amarnath has led to a very high spiritual significance of this place amongst hindu pilgrims.
While you are in Pahalgam, you should lay your hands on the beautiful woollen clothes and handicrafts of Kashmir. You can shop for a large variety of items here including carpets, wall hangings and shawls in Kashmiri embroideries. Apart from these, Pahalgam is also famous for embroidered tea cosies and phirans. No matter what you are interested in buying, you would have to visit the Main Market of Pahalgam where you can shop till you drop.
Pahalgam is indeed a jewel in the crown of Kashmir and that too a rather untouched one. This definitely makes it an explorer’s paradise and you should not miss on it. You can check this Pahalgam hotels list as well to decide upon your accommodation and make your stay comfortable.
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