How to Reach Pahalgam – Valley of the Shepherds!

Pahalgam is famous for its scenic beauty and is considered a jewel of the breathtaking Liddar valley. It is located in the western part of Kashmir, in the northern region of India. The valley sits at an altitude of 2130 m above sea level surrounded by the great mountains of the Himalaya.

The place is ideal for hiking, trekking and fishing. In fact, it is also the starting point of the Amarnath yatra which is an annual pilgrimage.

One of the most beautiful and popular treks in the region is the Kolhoi Glaciers trek via a beautiful village named Aru. The locals also offer sledging on frozen glaciers. In addition, the long stretches of rivers in Pahalgam are the perfect site for people who enjoy trout fishing.

Suggested Read: Things to do in Pahalgam

Pahalgam is also the place where Sunny Deol’s and Amrita Singh’s famous Bollywood movie Betaab, was shot. The valley was then named Betaab Valley. Sheshnaag Lake, in the valley, is another beautiful place to visit. Also, when in Pahalgam, don’t forget to go shopping and buy authentic Kashmiri saffron from Pampore.

The origin of Pahalgam, however, is obscure. In the medieval period, it was ruled by the Mughals and later it become a part of the Kingdom of Kashmir, which local Hindu rulers ruled. In fact, even during the British Raj, this princely state remained independent and then was merged into independent India, later on.

The weather in Pahalgam is alpine. Summers are not very hot but the winters are chilly. It does experience a little rain but not much. The snowfall is heavy though that happens from December to February. An ideal season to visit the valley of the shepherds is during the summer. Somewhere between mid-April and mid-November. It is also visited from July-August when the Amarnath yatra begins.

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The place houses famous attractions as well, such as Chandanwari, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Kolahoi Glacier, Sheshnaag Lake, etc.

How to Reach Pahalgam by Air

( Beautiful view of Pahalgam during winter season surrounded by snow frozen Himalayas glacier mountains and green fir and pine tree line forest landscape, Pahalgam, Kashmir, India )

The fastest, easiest and most convenient way to reach Pahalgam is by air. However, Pahalgam does not have an airport, but the closest airport is in Srinagar. Srinagar airport is well connected to almost all major cities in the country that have direct and connecting flights running between them at regular intervals. Srinagar airport is 96kms away from Pahalgam. Once at the Srinagar airport, you can hire a cab from outside the airport that will take you to Pahalgam.

How to Reach Pahalgam by Train

( Horses grazin at Aru Valley Near Pahalgam )

Pahalgam does not have a railway station. About 217 km from Pahalgam, Udhampur is the closest station. However, if you are travelling by train, Jammu is better connected to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kanyakumari, Indore, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, and Rishikesh as compared to Udhampur. Taking a train to Jammu will be preferable. Jammu is 285 km from Pahalgam, so from Jammu, you can take a bus ride, hire a car or self-drive to Pahalgam.

Suggested Read: Places to visit in Pahalgam

How to Reach Pahalgam by Road

( Beautiful View of Betab Valley during winter season, near Pahalgam, Kashmir, India )

Pahalgam is 96kms far from Srinagar. If you are in Srinagar then you are close by. But if you are planning a road trip from your base destination you can either hire a car, self-drive or look for bus services. From Delhi and Chandigarh, you will easily get bus services to the valley. However, keep in mind that the transport service is restricted on the route from Jammu to Pahalgam during the Amarnath yatra. But there are special yatra coaches available from Jammu and Srinagar.

Kindly Note: It is best to plan your travel from your start point to your endpoint. Do not depend on the availability of taxi and bus services outside the airport or railway station. Make sure you book your ride before you reach your destination.