Sonamarg, with a literal meaning ‘the meadow of gold’ and with snow clad mountains sharing a spectacular blue sky, situated at an altitude of 2730 m, is a mesmerizing hill station in district Gandarbal of J&K. Some of the highest mountain ranges of the world share shoulders with Sonamarg. It's said that and as seen, the mellow rays of the sun caress the snow covered mountains which then turn golden, giving Sonamarg (golden meadow) its name. Not only that, even the road leading to Sonamarg from Srinagar offers magnificent views of snow covered ranges and attractive meadows. The traveller is captivated by these natural wonders. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of Sonamarg, by walking through its quiet meadows and flower-carpeted fields.
Places to visit in Sonamarg:
Sonamarg and it's vicinity have a number of trekking and hiking tracks, which attract the adventure-seeking tourists. Sonamarg also serves as the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain the Himalayan lakes of Vishansar (4080 m), Krishansar (3810 m), and Gangabal (3658 m). Other important lakes worth visiting in this area are the Gadsar Lake (which has abundant snow trout) and the frozen Satsar Lake (which is surrounded by alpine flowers and trees). Sonamarg valley is divided by a spur of the Thajiwas range. This spur is covered with pine, fir, and birch trees and has a number of camping sites nearby. On the other side of the spur, one can find a number of waterfalls and the Thajiwas glacier which is the major tourist attractions in Sonamarg. Travelers can also trek to Baltal, which 15 km from Sonamarg and serves as a base for undertaking the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawan Purnima.
Sonamarg also serves as a take off station for the drive to Ladakh across Zojila, a major pass in the Great Himalayan Range, through which the Srinagar–Leh Road passes.
How To Reach:
When travelling by Air, the nearest airport is at Srinagar, located about 80 km from Sonamarg.
By Road -Travellers can either use bus or taxi from Srinagar and would take them about 2 hours to reach Sonamarg, given a well connected road to travel on.
Best Time To Visit:
Sonamarg's beauty draws visitors to the valley in any season. Whether the valley covered in a blanket of snow or green pastures by the riverside, keeping your tongue wagging, any season is delightful. Starting from March that is still a cool one, April brings the onset of summer season and initiates visits to Sonamarg valley and it's vicinity. During this season, the weather is pleasant and favourable for sightseeing.
In the vicinity you'll find luxurious hotels with a sensational view of cascading river Sindh engulfed by snowy mountains, with rooms centrally heated and with an elegant dining options.