With enchanting lakes, glaciers, and mountain passes, Sonmarg is a romantic spot for experiencing nature at its glory. It is a true Eden for nature lovers. Many of the major Himalayan treks start from here and this makes it a major center for trekkers. This is a detailed guide to visiting Sonmarg.
Visiting Kashmir is on everyone’s buck list. Fascinated by the snow-capped mountains and fairy tail landscape in many movies and pictures of Kashmir, I always wanted to visit this magical land. There are a lot of places in Kashmir that take your breath away. In this article, I am going to talk about Sonmarg. Sonmarg also called the meadow of gold, is a small hill town near Srinagar. It is around 80 km from the summer capital. It lies perfectly on the Srinagar-Ladakh highway and you will never miss it.
You can check the J&K official website for more details.
How to travel to Sonmarg
The best way to find Sonmarg is to follow the Sind river. It flows through the length of the hill station. The Summer capital, Srinagar, is hardly a 3 Hours ( 80-90 Km) ride from Sonmarg. The nearest airport is Srinagar and it is connected to most parts of the country. Traveling by train is the best option if you are on a budget. Udhampur or Jammu is the nearest railway station. You can also opt for a bus and are available from Delhi to Srinagar and Jammu.
By Road
- Buses are available from Delhi to Srinagar
- You can take a private taxi from Srinagar to Sonmarg
- If you wish to drive by your own vehicle, roads are amazing to travel here.
By Train
- The nearest railway station is Udhampur / Jammu
- Hire a taxi or travel by bus to Sonmarg
By Air
- The nearest airport is Srinagar.
- Also can travel to Delhi or Chandigarh by flight and travel to Sonmarg by road.
- Good road connectivity from airports to Sonmarg
Places to see in Sonmarg
Sonmarg is an ideal place for all types of tourists. It also serves as the main hub for many major trek routes. Kashmir great lakes trek is one of such and is famous for its striking tracks through alpine trees and many lakes like Vishansar lake, Gangabal lake, Krisiansar, and Gadsar lake.
Vishansar lake: It is a picturesque mountain lake beside a serene landscape. You can trek to this place through blooming pathways or can hire a pony. It is about 30 km from Sonmarg.
Thajiwas Glacier: With its breathtaking spectacle, this mystic lake is famous for many sports and activities. Ponies and sleigh rides are some of those activities.
Baltal: This is a beautiful meadow and is a camping ground for Amarnath Trips. It is 15 Km away from Sonmarg.
Gadsar Lake: This high-altitude lake is a part of the Kashmir great lakes trek.
Gangabal Lake: A famous trek route passes through this lake and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Kashmir.
Nilagrad river: It is believed that the Nilagrad river has medicinal and healing properties, It is a unique river with a reddish appearance.
Krishnasar Lake: This is also a part of the Kashmir great lakes trek. It is very much proximity to Vishansar lake both the lakes make the valley paradisiacal.
Best time to visit
There are a lot of questions when it comes to mountain towns that when is the best time to visit. This is a tricky question when it comes to Sonmarg. First I am going to tell you when is not the best time to visit Sonmarg. Again, this depends on our individual preferences. Because I have friends who always want to mountains in extremes. Even though it’s not safe, but definitely it is fun for many of us. However, I would not recommend visiting any place during extreme climatic conditions. Especially when you’re traveling with family.
Sonmarg becomes completely impassable during the peak winter months. This is mainly due to the heavy snowfall. If you want to experience snowfall, visit in the month of December, as most of the roads are open during that time period. But during January and February, roads may get blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Also during the rainy season, this place can be a little messy. You may not enjoy the trip during the monsoon months of July, August, and the first week of September.
If you are a person traveling to Kashmir to enjoy solitude and peace, then avoid the months of Amarnath pilgrimage, weeks of Eid al Fitr, and Bakra Eid. Traffic can be very hectic during this time period. Amarnath pilgrimage happens during the months of July and August.
Best time to visit Sonmarg with Family
Definitely, winter and monsoon months are not ideal if you are visiting with family. Usually, travelers visit Sonmarg along with Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The ideal time is to visit during the month of April, May, June, September, and October.
Best time to visit Sonmarg for Photography
Everyone loves clicking pictures of the beautiful places that we visit. If you are too conscious about the picture you take and what is to be utmost perfect, you need to visit during May and June. It is when the valley blooms with flowers.
I got this idea of sharing month-by-month details from places from another blog that I read a long time back.
Visiting Sonmarg in January
If you are someone who loves extremes and can handle harsh climatic conditions, you definitely going to love Sonmarg in January. Travel can be a bit concerning as most of the roads are closed due to heavy snowfall. Always check the weather updates before traveling. Thick woolen clothes and snow gears are essential. Hotels and restaurants can cost you a little high due to extra heating and water supply. Do not travel with family during this time period.
Visiting Sonmarg in February
Same as that in January. The average temperature reaches -7 degrees Celsius. You can expect heavy snowfall at any time.
Visiting Sonmarg in March
The temperature remains negative throughout the month and gets better towards the end. Can also expect snowfall. Visitors begin streaming to experience the snow during this month. Make sure that you carry some heavy woolen clothes with proper trekking boots. I have tried taking a lot of pictures during this month and it all came out to be perfect. So I would say all your clicks may end up perfect for your Instagram feeds.
Visiting Sonmarg in April
Valley fills with flowers this month and is the start of the spring season. During this month, rainfall can happen and the temperature will begin to rise to a pleasant level. The nights are still frigid. During this month, light winter clothing is recommended. Can expect a slight price increase as hotels and restaurants are beginning to prepare for the upcoming busy months.
Visiting Sonmarg in May
The valley became packed with travelers as the snow started to melt. Hotel and restaurant rates will be reasonable, making this a perfect time for all types of guests. Carry woolen clothing as the temperature fluctuates from 8 to 16 degrees Celsius throughout the day, with more chilling evenings.
Visiting Sonmarg in June
This is the best time to visit Sonmarg. Most of the travelers visit here to escape from the fiery heat of North India. Tourist activities are available this month and it is the ideal time before the monsoon and the Amarnath yatra.
Visiting Sonmarg in July
As I mentioned earlier, Amarnath Yatra starts in the month of July. The town is densely packed with pilgrim traffic and not an ideal time for tourists. You need to pre-book your stays due to heavy demand.
Visiting Sonmarg in August
Almost the same as in July. You may have to carry rain gear, as there can be some chances of rainfall.
Visiting Sonmarg in September
Like in June, this is also the best time to visit Sonmarg. Temperature ranges between 16 to 18 degrees Celcius. If you wish to travel with your families, this is the month you can plan for your Kashmir adventures.
Visiting Sonmarg in October
The temperature begins to drop down in October. Night can be very cold and if you are visiting in October, you have to carry winter clothes as well. Since it still is the tourist season, you have to prebook the hotels.
Visiting Sonmarg in November
Perfect time if you are looking for peace and seclusion, this may be the right time.
Visiting Sonmarg in December
Visiting Sonmarg in December is very extreme and you cannot visit without heavy winter clothes. Most of the hotels get closed during this time period and tourist influx is also less.
To sum up, all that I have shared in this article. Sonmarg is completely a seasonal destination and depends on your preference, you can choose the time you want to visit. But This is a destination that you never going to forget.