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Sonamarg

Sonamarg

hill station · Jammu & Kashmir

Sonamarg is eighty kilometres up from Srinagar and the last town before Zoji La and Ladakh.

State
Jammu & Kashmir
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Summer
Things to do
2+

Sonamarg is eighty kilometres up from Srinagar and the last town before Zoji La and Ladakh. The road in is shut by snow from roughly December to April, so this is a summer place whether you like it or not. Thajiwas glacier is four kilometres up the side valley, on foot or by pony. It has been retreating for years, so the walk to the ice is longer than older guidebooks suggest, and the pony rates are officially fixed and routinely ignored — settle the price and the route before you mount. It is also the start of two serious walks: the Amarnath yatra from Baltal, and the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, which takes a week and is among the best in the country. Come as a day trip from Srinagar if you only want the meadow. Stay if you are walking.

When to go

April to June, when the glacier is reachable, and September for the autumn colours.

Why visit

Sonamarg is the last town before the Zoji La pass and the start of both the Amarnath and Great Lakes treks. Thajiwas glacier is a short pony ride up. The road in is shut by snow from roughly December to April.

Cultural notes

Sonamarg was a military checkpoint on the ancient trade route that linked India with Central Asia and Tibet. It is still the second official base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, on the high Baltal route.

How to reach

Srinagar International Airport is the closest airport, 80 km away. Sonamarg sits directly on National Highway 1D (the Srinagar-Leh highway), a winding mountain road kept clear of snow right through the summer.

Sonamarg in 2 days

See the full itinerary

2 days in Sonamarg

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Thajiwas GlacierDay 1

Day 1

Thajiwas Glacier

Four kilometres up from Sonamarg, on foot or by pony, with sledge operators at the snout in summer. It has been retreating for years, so the walk to the ice is longer than older guidebooks say. Pony rates are fixed and routinely ignored — settle it before you mount.

Day 1

Sindh river walk

Sindh river walk

Day 1

Meadow picnic

Meadow picnic

Day 1

Trout dinner

Trout dinner

Day 2

Day 2

Drive toward Zoji La

Drive toward Zoji La

Day 2

Baltal valley

Baltal valley

Day 2

Great Lakes trek viewpoint

Great Lakes trek viewpoint

Srinagar (Dal Lake)

Day 2

Srinagar (Dal Lake)

Srinagar is a lake city, and the difference between a good stay and a mediocre one is which part of the lake you sleep on. Take a houseboat, but ask where it is moored. The boats near the Boulevard are convenient and noisy with traffic; the ones further out towards Nagin lake are quieter and give you the mornings the place is famous for. Shikara rides are priced by the hour and by negotiation — agree the route and the price before you get in, or you will be taken to a floating handicraft shop instead. The Mughal gardens — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi — are terraced up the eastern hillside and are best in the first hour after opening. The vegetable market on the water at dawn is the real thing, and it means being up before five. Papier-mâché and Kashmiri walnut wood are genuine crafts here and worth buying properly rather than roadside. Check current advisories before you book, and do that close to your travel date rather than months out. April and May for the blossom, and June to August is the season most Indians come. Winter is cold, beautiful and quiet.

Sonamarg guide & itineraries

Sonamarg is perfect for

natureadventurecouples

What & where to eat

Kahwa

Kahwa

Saffron and almond tea

Maggi

Maggi

Hot food on the Zoji La road

roadside dhabas

roadside dhabas

Hot food on the Zoji La road

Trout fish

Trout fish

Fresh trout from the Sindh river

Rogan Josh

Rogan Josh

Kashmiri lamb curry

Wazwan dishes

Wazwan dishes

Kashmiri feast items

Nearby getaways

Srinagar

Srinagar

~2.5 hrs

Baltal

~30 min

Kargil (Ladakh)

~4 hrs

Things to do

How to spend your time in Sonamarg.

Zoji La pass

Zoji La pass

Dramatic high pass toward Ladakh

Sindh River rafting & trout

Sindh River rafting & trout

River rafting and trout streams

Great Lakes trek base

Great Lakes trek base

Gateway to Vishansar and Gadsar lakes

Popular attractions

The places in Sonamarg most people come for.

Thajiwas Glacier

Thajiwas Glacier

Attraction

Nilagrad River Confluence

Nilagrad River Confluence

Experience

See all attractions

Frequently asked questions

What is Sonamarg known for?

The Thajiwas Glacier, alpine meadows, trout streams, and as the gateway to Zoji La and the Kashmir Great Lakes trek.

Is Sonamarg open in winter?

The road over Zoji La usually closes with heavy snow in winter; Sonamarg is mainly a summer destination (May to October).

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Srinagar (Dal Lake)

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Amarnath

Amarnath

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