Pahalgam is a town and a notified area in Anantnag district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also the headquarters of the tehsil of the same name and is situated on the banks of the Lidder River, 45 km from Anantnag. Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination and hill station. Along with this, it is also an important stop for the Amarnath Yatra. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year.

Pahalgam is famous for its coniferous forests. It is situated at a distance of 95 km from Srinagar and is surrounded by dense forests, beautiful lakes, and meadows of flowers. The best time to visit here is from June to October, December and January for snow. From here tours to Betaab and Aru valleys, horse riding, canoeing, etc. can be done.

Although Pahalgam is more famous for being the base camp of Amarnath Yatra, it is also an ideal place if you want to go here for a holiday. Being situated at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level, the weather here always remains cool. Here you are away from the hustle and bustle of the city amidst nature. If you want, you can spend your whole day sitting on the banks of the Lidder River or if you want, you can also do adventure activities like rafting, paragliding, and trekking.

Peach Valley
Aadu Valley is 12 km from Pahalgam and is 2400 m above sea level. Share taxis and private taxis are easily available to reach here. The beauty of Aadu Valley is a sight to behold. There are snowy mountains and dense forests all around here. You can also do paragliding here. If you are fond of trekking, then you can go up to Kolahoi Basecamp and also trek to Tarsar and Marsar Lakes. All trekking equipment and guide-porters are easily available in Aadu.

Baisaran Valley
Baisaran Valley, barely 5 km from Pahalgam in Kashmir's Anantnag district, is a popular tourist attraction that has been dubbed Mini-Switzerland because of its scenic magnificence. It is a lush green meadow on a mountaintop surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense deodar forests. The optimal time to visit Baisaran depends on the kind of experience you want to have. January to March is the best time to visit if you want to experience the snow. Head there during April and June to appreciate the foliage and the beautiful weather.

Chandanwadi
Chandanwadi is 15 km away from Pahalgam. Betaab Valley is also located on the way to Chandanwadi, where the Betaab movie starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh was shot. Both these places are very beautiful and here one can see the pristine beauty of the Lidder River. Apart from these, Baisaran is also a good place, which can be reached on foot. If you do not want to walk, you can also go by mules. Mules are easily available from Pahalgam to Baisaran.

Valley of shepherd
Pahalgam is also known as the Valley of Shepherds. Beyond here, the Gujjar community lives with their sheep and goats on the banks of lakes situated on high mountains. These people go up in April-May and come back down in October. They get good quality pashmina wool from sheep, which is very expensive. Clothes made of Pashmina wool are very soft and light and also very warm.

Pilgrimage to Amarnath
Amarnath ji's yatra is organized every year in July and August. This yatra is done through two routes – Pahalgam and Baltal. The Pahalgam route is legendary and also the most popular. It takes two to three days to reach Amarnath ji on foot from this route. Night rest on the way is at beautiful places like Sheshnag and Panchtarni.

Kolahoi Peak
Kolahoi Peak (locally called Gashe-Brer meaning goddess of light) is a mountain with an elevation of 17,799 feet (5,425 m) located in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The mountain is the highest in the Kashmir Division. Kolahoi Peak is easily accessible through the Aru Valley and is located in the vicinity of Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district. Kolahoi Peak is part of the Great Himalayan Range and is located 21 km north of Aru near Pahalgam. The Sindh River flows to its north, while the Lidder River originates from a glacier on the mountain and flows south.

The Kolahoi Peak, which originated from the Kolahoi Glacier, is a pyramid-shaped peak with waterfalls and snowfields below. The rock formation of the peak is exceptionally stable with areets and ridges. The Kolahoi Peak was first climbed in 1912 by a British medical team led by Dr. Ernest Neve. The easiest way to climb Kolahoi Peak is on its south face via Aru village near Pahalgam, from where a 21 km alpine trek leads to the summit glacier. A shorter but more difficult 15 km trek is also possible from Sonamarg via Sarbal Nala.

On 7 September 2018, a group of climbers was hit by rockfall debris while descending after a successful summit, killing two of them.

Desperate Valley
Betab Valley, originally called Hajan Valley or Hagan Valley, is located 15 km (9.3 mi) from Pahalgam in the Anantnag district of the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley got its name from Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh's first hit film Betaab (1983). The valley is towards the northeast of Pahalgam and falls between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi and is on the route of the Amarnath Temple Yatra. Valley is covered with lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains, and dense vegetation.

Betab Valley is a very popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. Betab Valley is also a favorite campsite of travelers as it also serves as a base camp for trekking and further exploration of the mountains. The valley is at a walkable distance from Pahalgam. The crystal clear and cool water of the stream bubbling down from the snowy hills is a delight; The local people here also drink this water. Baisaran and Tulian Lake are some of the nearby attractions that can be visited.

When to go?
Pahalgam can be visited anytime, but April to June is the best time as the weather remains cooler during this time and the holiday is more enjoyable. The crowd is high in July and August due to the Amarnath Yatra. The time from September to November is also good.

How to go?
The nearest airport is Srinagar, which is well connected by air to Delhi. You can reach Pahalgam by taxi after reaching Srinagar. The nearest major railway station is Jammu, from where buses and shared taxis are easily available for Srinagar and Anantnag.

Where to stay
Pahalgam has hotels for all budgets. Some hotels are also on the banks of the Lidder River, where the pleasure of staying is different. Some camps will also be found in Aadu Valley. You can also take your tent.

(PC: Freepik)