Sonamarg Hill Station – The Meadow of Gold

Sonamarg is unique and extra popular hill destination of India which attracts large traffic of tourists from every corner of the world. The inspiring edifices and picturesque splendor have converted this target into a most important tourist spot. Driving by road to sonamarg via the Sindh valley, tourists can take pleasure in the incredible snow covered elevate mountains which seem like tearing the apparent azure sky? Tourists will certainly like the superb scenes of the roundabout rivers flowing through this valley and its spectacular exquisiteness.

Sonamarg is located at an elevation of 2750m above sea level in Jammu and Kashmir state. It is the gate way of Kashmir valley into Ladakh before the pass of Zoji la. After reaching the Zoji La pass, the green plains of Kashmir valley disappear and are replaced by the arid and infertile landscape of Ladakh. This proves that Sonamarg is not merely a pleasant tourist destination but also a best base for trekking and entry point for exploring the Ladakh area.

Reaching to Sonamarg via Sindh valley also displays enchanting features of Kashmir valley countryside. Sonamarg in Kashmir valley is bounded by the snow-white mountains against a clear blue sky. The meaning of Sonamarg is ‘Field of Gold’. This meaning may be due to the abundance of flowers that cover the fields in the spring season. Another reason of this name may be because Sonamarg used to be a decisive passage route for trades to central Asia. The River Sindh, plentiful with Mahseer and Trout, also  flows through Sonamarg area.

Arriving At Sonamarg

By Flight

The district headquarter of Sonamarg is Srinagar and situated at a distance of 85km on Leh-Srinagar Highway from Srinagar. The nearby airport is in district Badgam connecting Sonamarg with rest of India by air services.

By Trackways

Jammu is the nearest railway station and National Highway (NH-1A) is the connecting road to Kashmir valley and Sonamarg from Railway station.

By Roadways

Every possible mode of transport including Taxis and Buses run on this NH-1A to go with every pocket. Bus services, depart according to time-table from bus stand, can also be availed from Anantnag and Srinagar for Sonamarg. Pre-paid taxi services  and other local transports are also available from Srinagar.

Where to Stay and Eat

There are beautiful huts and hotels to suit the various pockets in Sonamarg to stay. This includes Zaika Restaurant with all types of cuisines.

Sonamarg Glacier Hotel

Glacier Heights Hotel is a luxurious hotel in this frame of charming paradise. This hotel has villas of two bed room posh accommodation bounded by a generous increase of pure nature where nature spreads its magic charm on each fall of dew depicting a magic that absorb any one into this peaceful plains over.

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Hotel Rah Villas

Sonamarg has another hotel Rah Villas which nearly 80km from Srinagar and provides an exclusive combination of comforts in a gorgeous pure surroundings. Tourists in this hotel can enjoy nearly all extravagant panorama of Kashmir without compromising on ease and manner. In addition, tourists can enjoy the local breads as of the bakers of village and later on eat dinner of the supreme and good cuisine from the valley of Kashmir and beyond.

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Tourist Attractions

Sonamarg is very attractive place full of natural charm and offerings. Sonamarg is a little charming town with some of the world’s rich colored grass fields and astonishing lakes of blue water. Tourists can also view the gigantic snow covered Ladakh Region Mountains for the pleasure to eyes.

Nilagrad

It is a unique place and a meeting point of a River from mountain and River Indus. One remarkable thing of this place is confluence of the pure Red color of River water with Indus water depicting a delightful sight. The local people here think this water has therapeutic power and skin ailments can be cured. Out of this faith, locals take bath once in every week in River water. The weekly off day i.e. Sunday experiences the largest turn out for bathing.

Krishnasar Lake

This lake is one of the most thrilling out of sequence of many Himalayan lakes and located at an elevation of 3800m over sea level. The tourists from all over India and state come here to make merry. Many tourists come here to enjoy and to engage themselves in fishing of trout’s which has enhanced the reputation of this lake as a well-known outing spot.

Baltal

The Baltal is strategically located at the bottom of Zoji la pass, next to the territory of Ladakh with enormously dazzling grasslands. It is further well-known owing to its proximity to the cave of Amarnath. The Amarnath cave is just at a walking distance of nearly 5km from Baltal. Throughout the famous Amarnath Yatra, lot of pilgrims put up camps at Baltal for rest.

Best Time to Visit

The best months for a visit to Sonamarg in Kashmir are from April to June. The visitors after coming here can explore the beauty of this place and many other interesting places fully. The water bodies of Sonamarg are must see spots. The two beautiful lakes here are bounded by blossoming flowers and variety of trees. Satsar Lake and Gadsar lake are the chief lakes of Sonamarg. Nichnai Pass and Nilgrad are two other most important attractions.

Adventure Sports

If the tourists are not yet satisfied then Sonamarg offers other abundant opportunities for adventurous visitors. Adventurous visitors can enjoy the pleasure of Mahseer fishing and trout fishing in River Sind and Krishnasar Lake correspondingly otherwise all the fridge glaciers are ideal for sledging. The trekking lover tourists can explore the ways to the Vishansar Lake, Gangabal and Krishnasar Lakes. The magnificent view of the complete valley can be witnessed from Nichnai Pass.

Shopping

Sonamarg offers an interesting and fun loving shopping in handicrafts and local made artifacts of different kinds. The shops in Sonamarg have many items like papier mache(paper pulp moulded items), shawls, chain stitch, namdas, crewel furnishings, saffron, almonds, walnuts, honey silver and copper wares, wood carvings, basketry and carpets etc. The other common items which can be bought from Sonamarg include wood furniture’s made out of walnut, crewel embroidery, boxes of stone jewelry and mirror frames.