Pahalgam

Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, India, known for its scenic beauty, forests, lakes, and meadows:

Location

Pahalgam is a hill station in Jammu and Kashmir, located about 95 kilometers from Srinagar. It sits at an altitude of 2,740 meters above sea level, at the confluence of the Lidder River and Sheshnag Lake.

Name

The name Pahalgam is derived from the Kashmiri words pahal or pohal, which means “shepherd”, and gaam, which means “village”.

Activities

Pahalgam is a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, and is also a popular destination for adventure seekers. Activities include white water rafting, trekking, skiing, snow-sledging, golf, and angling.

Attractions

Some popular attractions in Pahalgam include:

• Betaab Valley: A valley with deodar and pine forests, and the Lidder River flowing through it. It was made famous by the 1983 Bollywood movie Betaab.

• Aru Valley: A tourist spot with meadows, lakes, and mountains. It’s a base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier, Tarsar Lake, Marsar, and Herbaghwan Lake.

Lidder River

A major tributary of the Jhelum River, known for its clear blue waters and picturesque surroundings.

Snow Festival

A two-day festival that showcases winter sports like skiing and snow-sledging.