Location : Anantnag - Kashmir Valley
Side Valleys : Aru Valley, Chandanwari, Bisaran, Beetab Valley, Hajan, Mamal
Altitude: 2130 mts
Major Tourist Activity: Trout Fishing, White Water Rafting, Golf, Horse Riding, Camping, Trekking, Mountaineering
Best time to visit: March to November

Pahalgam is an angler's delight and even an amateur can catch a rainbow trout from the rushing streams. the large brown bear is a natural inhabitant of the thick Pine and Cedar forests. Pahalgam has a golf course at 2400 meters above the sea level. Camping equipment, ponies and skiing equipment is readily available. White water of River Lidder makes it ideal for the thrilling adventure sport like white water rafting. Kolahoi is a popular Trekking destination via Aru Valley a charming meadow. Aru Valley haven for Amature and Professional Trekkers, some of the most popular trekking destinations from Aru are Kolohai, Tarsar, Marsar etc.

Pahalgam is base camp for the pilgrims of Amarnath, and for Trekking expeditions to Sonmarg, Wadwan and Suru Valley etc.

Places to Visit in Pahalgam

Baisaran

3 km from pahalgam is an exciting place where a stream flows through the meadows and pine trees.Visitors can enjoy a horse ride available at the market place near the bus stand.

Betab Valley

At a walkable distance is a tourist spot amidst pine trees in pahalgam is famous for many film shootings

Tulian Lake

Most captivating lake at an altitude of 4000m, surrounded by the snow capped mountains. It is a full day long trek from Pahalgam. Assistance of a local guide is highly recommended for conducting trekking to this high altitude lake.

Aru

Aru is a resort village 11km from Pahalgam with a motorable road. From here, famous trek via Lidderwat leads to the Kolohoi Glaciers (36km) at an altitude of 3400mtrs. Here, you can have a glimpse of Kolohoi Peak, 5370 mtrs. Another trek from Lidderwat leads to the most desired twin Lakes, Tarsar 3794mtrs & Marsar 3788 mtrs (2-3 days trek).

Sun Temple

64 km from Srinagar and just 7 km from Anantnag is "Sun Temple" of Martand that belongs to the era of Pandvas . These are the most impressive ancient ruins of Sun temple built by King Lalitaditya Mukhtapida 699-739 AD situated a top a plateau. According to a legend, Surya, the sun god was the l3th child born from a life less egg called Martand to Aditi wife of saint Kashyap. The foundation of the temple is said to have been between 370-500AD.Whereas some record the construction of temple by Ranaditya.

Aishmuqam

Shrine of a Sufi saint Baba Zaina-ud-din Wali on a hillock at Ashmuqam is 86 km from Srinagar on route Pahalgam. Commonly known as "Zaino Shah Sahib", the Sufi was a follower of Alamdar e Kashmir "Shiekh Noor ud Din". The main sanctorum is situated inside a deep and narrow cave, several relics associated to Bab are kept in a room inside the cave. One of the relics is "The Rod of Staff" of Prophet Moses PBUH, which is believed to have been gifted by Shah Hamdan to Shiekh Noor-Ud-Din Noorani who further handed over the relic to his disciple. In about 15th century, Baba Zaina-ud-Din Wali belonged to Hindu family fron Kishtawar(Doda),His name was Zia Singh.He suffered from a desease that could not be cured by any doctor of the time. When he approached the famous saint Shaikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, his desease cured . There after Zia Singh became Shiekhs disciple and he accepted Islam. One week long Zool festival is celebrated in the month of April in respect of the Shiekh Zaina-ud-din Wali in a peculiar way of holding torchlights "leshi" in a procession, which start in the shrine are displayed to the public for seeking blessings.