9 Awe-Striking Hill Stations Near Katra For An Unforgettable Tour In 2024!

Cover image credit: Wikimedia
Katra is a small town located on the foothills of Trikuta mountains in the state of Jammu. Every one of us knows that Katra is a famous and sacred religious place for Hindus. Hundreds and thousands of people visit Katra everyday to reach the renowned shrine of Vaishno Devi. Although located on hilly terrain, people visit this place to show their devotion to Goddess Durga. Though there are numerous other places to explore in Katra it is most famously known for Vaishno Devi Shrine. But if you are visiting Katra, why not visit some amazingly beautiful hill stations near Katra? So, if you are in search of eternal beauty, you must roam through some of the most beautiful hill stations that are located near Katra.

9 Best Hill Stations Near Katra

Listed below are some of the best hill towns you can visit when exploring around the town of Katra. Add the best hill station near Katra to your itinerary!

1. Gulmarg

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You must be knowing about Gulmarg since many Bollywood movies shooting have taken place in Gulmarg. Gulmarg is beautifully surrounded by snow-clad mountain, and you will feel like you are in the most beautiful places on the planet. Gulmarg Gondola is one of the best places to visit in Gulmarg and attracts a lot of travelers every year. Gulmarg is also known for the Indian Institute of Mountaineering and is one of the most beautiful hill stations around Katra.

Places to Stay:

Hotel Heevan Retreat
Gulmarg Zahgeer Continental
Hotel Pine Spring
Nedou’s Hotel
Royal Park Hotel

Nearest railway station: nearest airport to Gulmarg is in Srinagar 56 km away
Nearest airport: nearest airport to Gulmarg is in Srinagar 56 Km away

Things to do:

Take a Gondola ride
Trek to alpather lake
Unlimited photography
sightseeing

Best places to visit: Gulmarg Gondola, Alpather lake, Khilanmarg
Ideal for: honeymoon couple, family trip, solo trip
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Best time to visit: March to June
Distance from Katra: 130 km

Must Read: 9 Amazing Things To Do In Katra Which One Must Not Miss Out When They Plan A Vacay In Jammu!

Kashmir Tour Packages On TravelTriangle

2. Srinagar

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Every one of us knows about the beauty of Srinagar. Visiting Srinagar will leave you speechless, and you will be astonished by the beauty of Srinagar. This city is located on the banks of the river Jhelum and offers fresh and pleasant weather all year round.

Places to Stay:

The Lalit Grand Palace
Vivanta by Taj-Dal View
Mughal Palace Houseboats
Heevan Resorts
Heevan Resorts

Nearest railway station: Udhampur – 230kms
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport – 793.0 km

Things to do:

Enjoy the scenic beauty
Spend time in houseboats
Visit the Dal lake
Sightseeing

Best places to visit: Mughal Garden, Shalimar Bagh, and Dal lake
Ideal for: family trip, Honeymoon
Ideal trip duration: four to five days
Best time to visit: April to October
Distance from Katra: 167 km

3. Mcleodganj

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This place is a bit far away from Katra, and it takes almost 5 hours to reach Mcleodganj from Katra. Mcleodganj has Buddhist influence all over the place. This place will seem like a heaven for trekkers.

Places to Stay:

Greenwoods Inn
Pink House
Silver Moon House
Silver Moon House
Green Hotel

Nearest railway station: Pathankot Railway Station – 88.8 km
Nearest airport: Gaggal airport – 18.4 km

Things to do:

Visit different monasteries
Trekking
Sightseeing

Best places to visit: Dal Lake, Triund, and Bhagsunath temple
Ideal for: Buddhist worshippers, trekkers, family trip
Ideal trip duration: three to four days
Best time to visit: October to February
Distance from Katra: 240 km

4. Ladakh

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Ladakh can be truly called a heaven on earth. This place has abundant beauty, beautiful landscapes, and rich culture. This beautiful desert hill station is bound by two mightiest range called Karakoram and Himalaya.

Places to Stay:

The Grand Dragon Ladakh
The Zen Ladakh
Gomang Boutique Hotel
Hotel Ladakh Palace
Hotel Singge Palace

Nearest railway station: Jammu Tawi railway station – 650 km
Nearest airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

Things to do:

Visit different monasteries
Take Instagram worthy pictures
shopping

Best places to visit: Leh palace, Shanti stupa, Pangong Lake, and Nubra valley
Ideal for: family trip, honeymoon, trips with friends
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Best time to visit: End of March to Mid-August
Distance from Katra: 419 km

5. Sonamarg

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Majestic glaciers and Serene lakes surround this beautiful town near Katra. Sonamarg is a famous hill station in Jammu and Kashmir.

Places to Stay:

Tranquil Retreat
Rah Villas
Ahsan Mount Resort
Sindh Resorts
Glacier Heights

Nearest railway station: Udhampur Railway Station – 293.0 km
Nearest airport: Srinagar International Airport – 102.0 km

Things to do:

Fishing in the lake
Visit different mountains lakes like Gangabal, Satsar, and Kishansar
Visit nearby zoji-la pass

Best places to visit: Vishansar Lake, Zoji-La pass, and Thajiwas Glacier
Ideal for: group trip, family trip
Ideal trip duration: One to two days
Best time to visit: April to October
Distance from Katra: 132 km

6. Patnitop

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Panitop is one of the ideal places to visit if you want to witness nature surrounded by snow-capped mountains. There are different activities to perform in Patnitop. If you are an adventurous person, you must visit Patnitop for an enthralling experience.

Places to Stay:

Hotel Trinetra Resorts
Akas Resort Patnitop
Poonch House
Hotel Tourist Regency
Travel Tales Eco Stay

Nearest railway station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station -116.9 km
Nearest airport: Jammu and Srinagar airport – 186.1 km

Things to do:

Skiing
Trekking
Paragliding
Other adventurous sports

Best places to visit: Nathatop, paragliding spot at Patnitop

Ideal for: a group of friends, adventure junkie
Ideal trip duration: three days
Best time to visit: May to June and September to October
Distance from Katra: 138 km

7. Sanasar

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Sanasar is one of the least explored hill stations in Jammu. You can go for numerous adventurous activities in Sanasar. Visiting Sanasar can be an extension trip from Jammu and Kashmir. As Sanasar is a less explored place, you will find less crowd in Sanasar.

Nearest airport: Jammu Airport – 6.0 kms

Things to do:

Rock climbing
Paragliding
Trekking
sightseeing

Best places to visit: Naag mandir, Rock climbing in WAC
Ideal for: Adventure junkie
Ideal trip duration: two days
Best time to visit: May to June and September to October
Distance from Katra: 142 km

8. Amarnath

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Amarnath is one of the most important religious destinations for Hindus in India. Millions of worshippers visit this place to have a glance at ice Shivalinga. It is said that, at the Amarnath cave, Lord Shiva revealed the secret of life and eternity to Parvati.

Nearest airport: Srinagar airport – 181 km

Things to do:

Visit Amarnath cave
Amarnath temple

Best places to visit: Amarnath temple, Baltal
Ideal for: worshippers and family trips
Ideal trip duration: one to two days
Best time to visit: May to September
Distance from Katra: 110 km

9. Hemis

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Hemis is also lesser-known and unexplored hill station near Katra. It is basically famous for the Hemis National park and Hemis Gompa. This place is famous for various wildlife creatures like wolves, red foxes, and marmots.

Nearest airport: Leh Rimpochee Airport – 736.5 km

Things to do:

Visit Hemis National park
Witness the amazing wildlife
Trekking
Hiking
Witness snowfall

Best places to visit: Hemis Gompa, Hemis National park, and Gotsang Gompa
Ideal for: a family trip
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Best time to visit: May to September
Distance from Katra: 106 km

Further Read: 23 Things To Do In Kashmir To See The Best Of This Heaven On Earth

Katra is known for its enchanting landscape. Visiting this place can provide you one of the most memorable and enthralling experiences of your life. Katra is primarily known for the famous Vaishno Devi temple. But once you visit Katra, why not take a trip to other famous hill stations near Katra? Thus, all these places should be on your bucket list if you visit Katra for your next holiday.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hill Stations Near Katra

What is the best time to Visit Katra?

The best time to visit Katra is from March to October. Although you can visit this place any time of the year, but these months will offer you the most soothing and comfortable holiday experience.

What are some of the famous Hill stations near Katra?

Some of the famous hill stations near Katra includes Jammu, Mcleodganj, Hemis, Sanasar, and Patnitop.

What can one buy while visiting Places near Katra?

All hill stations near Katra are famous for different things. But you can buy traditional jewelry, carpets, silverware items, and wood carving objects from places around Katra.

How to Reach Katra from Delhi?

Jammu airport is the nearest airport to Katra. So you can first Delhi and take a flight to Katra. But if you want to travel by bus, different buses run at regular intervals from Delhi to Katra.