Patnitop Srinagar Tour

Day 1: Visit Delhi to Patnitop

An early departure, around 5 am, is needed because Patnitop is about 600 km from Delhi and the last 100 km beyond Jammu climb through Udhampur and Kud. Breakfast on the highway near Karnal, lunch around Jalandhar, and a tea halt at Jammu. Expect to reach Patnitop by evening. Check in and stay overnight.

A short day on purpose. Walk the pine slopes around Patnitop, drive up to Nathatop for the ridge view and, in season, the paragliding point, and spend the afternoon at Sanasar meadow about 20 km away. Activities are paid locally. Evening free at the hotel.

Leave by 8 am. The road descends to Batote and Ramban, then climbs to Banihal and the Jawahar tunnel before opening into the Kashmir valley at Qazigund. Srinagar is reached in about 5 to 6 hours. Check in at the houseboat or hotel, and take a shikara on Dal Lake before sunset.

Sonmarg is about 80 km north-east of Srinagar, roughly 2.5 hours each way along the Sindh river. From the town a pony track leads to the Thajiwas glacier, which holds snow well into summer; the pony hire is paid locally. Return to Srinagar by evening. If time allows, stop at Shalimar and Nishat gardens on the way back.

Gulmarg lies about 50 km west of Srinagar, an easy 2 hours through Tangmarg. Check in, then walk to the gondola station. Phase one rises to Kongdoori and phase two to the Apharwat ridge; tickets are bought at the counter or online and are not part of the package. The meadow, the old church and the golf course are all within walking distance. Overnight at Gulmarg.

Drive back through Srinagar and south along the Jhelum to Pahalgam, about 4 hours in all. Afternoon at Betaab valley and Aru valley by local union taxi, since outside vehicles are not allowed on those roads. Evening walk along the Lidder. Overnight at Pahalgam.

Pahalgam to Jammu is about 300 km and takes 8 to 9 hours through Anantnag, the tunnel and Udhampur. Leave by 7 am so that the tunnel section is done before afternoon traffic. Overnight at Jammu; if you arrive early, the Raghunath temple market is close to most hotels.

A 12-hour run on NH44 with breakfast and lunch stops at highway dhabas of your choice. Drop at your home or hotel in Delhi in the evening.