Sonamarg - "Switzerland" in India
Sonamarg is also known as the 'golden grassland', a perfect destination for nature lovers and backpackers, and is a must-visit destination when traveling to Kashmir. The hill station provides a suitable environment to spend a vacation in tranquility. Located 2800 meters above sea level, Sonamarg is surrounded by pristine lakes and sparkling glaciers.
The best time of the year to visit Sonamarg is between the months of April to October. Most tourists visit Sonamarg during the months of July and August for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage. This leads to heavy traffic and chaos. Prices are going up everywhere and everyone is very busy. Therefore, you should book a hotel room in advance if you visit in July or August to get the best price and not worry about running out of rooms.
Currently, there are many ways to get to Sonamarg which are extremely convenient.
- By air: Srinagar International Airport is about 70 km from Sonamarg. There are regular flights from Delhi and most major Indian cities like Mumbai, Amritsar, Bengaluru etc. Connects to Srinagar daily.
- By train: There is no railway station in Sonamarg. The nearest stations are Srinagar railway station and Jammu Tawi station, 51 km and 182 km away respectively. There are direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to Srinagar railway station.
- By road: If you go to Sonamarg by road, you have to go through National Highway 1D or Srinagar – Ladakh Road. From Gulmarg, it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to cover the 126 km distance. You can choose to travel by taxi, personal vehicle or tourist car#falltrip