14 Enchanting Hill Stations Near Srinagar That You Must Visit In 2024

23 Mar 2023

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As Jan Morris puts it “Kashmir has always been more than a mere place. It has the quality of an experience or a state of mind, or perhaps an ideal.” Being the land of your dreams, this one will fulfill all your wishes for a fairytale escape. This is the land that will make all your dreams come to life. Well, this place has Srinagar as one of its most popular hill stations. Srinagar is famous for being the gorgeous land where the stunning Dal lake is ever so inviting.

On the bank of the mesmerizing Jhelum river, this land will win you over by its magnificence. With a pleasant climate, this one will win you over by its spell bounding beauty. With tourists visiting this place all around the year, this place can is every traveler’s dream come to life. Don’t tell yourself you have been to Srinagar if you don’t visit the beautiful hill stations near Srinagar. Check the list out and decide on where you should be going!

14 Hill Stations Near Srinagar

Hill Stations	Distance from City	Mode Of Transport
Gulmarg	50 km	Bus and Car
Sonmarg	80 km	Bus
Pahalgam	90 km	Bus
Hemis	450 km	Airplane, Bus and Car
Pulwama	30 km	Bus
Kathua	307 km	Bus and Car
Kupwara	85 km	Bus and Car
Leh	421 km	Airplane, Bus and Car
Poonch	177 km	Car
Patnitop	186 km	Bus and Car
Sanasar	205 km	Bus and Car
Nubra Valley	580 km	Bus and Car
Lamayuru	342 km	Bus
Kishtwar	211 km	Bus

We have created a list of some of the most hill stations near Srinagar that offer a wonderful time. We have mentioned some details such as the best things to try, the ideal time to visit etc so that it becomes a lot easier for you to plan your trip.

Gulmarg – Meadow of Flowers
Sonmarg – Meadow of Gold
Pahalgam – With Great Tourist Spots
Hemis – With Magnificent Sights
Pulwama – Rice Bowl Of Kashmir
Kathua – City Of Sufis
Kupwara – Get Wonderful Views
Leh – A Sheer Beauty
Poonch – Find The Seven Lakes
Patnitop – With Enchanting Views
Sanasar – An Adventure Hub
Nubra Valley – An Ethereal Beauty
Lamayuru – The Place Of Freedom
Kishtwar – An Offbeat Hill Station

1. Gulmarg – Meadow of Flowers

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Gulmarg is popular by the name of the ‘Meadow of Flowers’, and this is one of the gorgeous hill stations near Srinagar a sight to soothe the eyes. This one will win you over by its bright flowers and the snowy landscapes that are enough to make anyone fall in love with Kashmir. Also, this hill station is pretty close to the enigmatic Srinagar.

This one is a wonderful place for adventures as this place offers many sports opportunities such as skiing for the visitors that will make this place worth visiting and a sight for sore eyes. So, enjoy a great escape being here.

Places to stay:

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

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: June to October.
Things to not miss out on: trekking, Mountain Biking, Gondola rides, skiing etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 1 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 51 km.

Must Read: Houseboats In Srinagar: Luxury Amidst Heavenly Serenity

Kashmir Tour Packages On TravelTriangle

2. Sonmarg – Meadow of Gold

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If you are an anthophile then this is one of the top hill stations near Srinagar for you. Sonmarg is also famous by the name ‘Meadow of Gold’. Sonmarg is famous for the vibrant flowers as well as some amazing trekking routes that will win your heart by its majestic ambiance that is enough for you to make you fall in love with it all over again. You can plan a visit to Gadsar Lake, Baltal Valley, Thajiwas Glacier, which are some of the best places to visit in Sonmarg.

Places to stay:

Tranquil Retreat
Rah Villas
Ahsan Mount Resort
Sindh Resorts
Glacier Heights

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: June to October.
Things to not miss out on: Camping, Trekking, Nature walks etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 2 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of approx. 80 km.

3. Pahalgam – With Great Tourist Spots

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Pahalgam is a wonderful land to visit that has the famous three sites that you can not miss out on. The Betaab Valley, Chandanwari, as well as Aru Valley are some of the best places to visit in Pahalgam. Also, the experience of enjoying a pony ride here would be a lot of fun. Make sure to visit the famous Dabian and Baisaran that will captivate you by the thick forests as well as snow-covered mountains.

One can enjoy a variety of experiences here such as enjoy white water rafting on the famous Lidder River. There are many great tourist spots here such as Sun Temple, Tarsar Lake, Mamleshwar Temple etc.

Places to stay:

Pahalgam Hotel
Welcome Hotel Pine And Peak
Hotel Heevan
Hotel Royal Hilton
Paradise Inn

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: March to November
Things not to miss out on: Visiting the religious sites, white water rafting etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 2 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 87.6 km.

4. Hemis – With Magnificent Sights

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Hemis is one of the sites that is not famous in the conventional sense but this is a gem that is not worth missing out in Jammu and Kashmir. It Is a little village that is at a distance of 40 km towards the southeast of Leh. This village is famous for its magnificent sights, one would find a lot of monasteries and national parks here in the village. This village is also popular among the wildlife lovers as one can find the rare species such as the snow leopard, bharals etc.

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: May to July
Things to not miss out on: Visit the Hemis Monastery and the Hemis National Park.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about ten and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 451 km.

5. Pulwama – Rice Bowl Of Kashmir

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Pulwama is famous for being the “Rice Bowl Of Kashmir”, a gorgeous village that will let you witness a lot of natural wonders unfold. This site is at a distance of 40 Kms from Srinagar, one can find a lot of tourist sites here. Also, this place is famous for its pleasant weather. The saffron fields here will win your heart.

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: April to October
Things to not miss out on: Mountaineering and trekking in summers, skiing and snowboarding in winters.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 1 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 30 km.

6. Kathua – City Of Sufis

Image Courtesy- kathua.nic.in

Famous by the name of “city of sufis”, this is a pleasant city in Jammu and Kashmir, the one that shares its borders with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. One can find a lot of sufi shrines in here. This place is also famous among history enthusiasts; one can get to know about the past of Kashmir at Kathua, one of the most scenic hill stations near Srinagar. By looking at the resplendent views and peaceful ambience, one can never have enough of Kathua during a vacation.

Ideal time to visit: Plan your visit in the summer.
Things to not miss out on: Visit the famous Jasrota fort and go for a picnic in Ujh Barrage.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 8 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 302 km.

Suggested Read: Shopping In Srinagar

7. Kupwara – Get Wonderful Views

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A small district that is in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, this one is at a distance of 90 km from Srinagar yet is one of the most beautiful hill stations near Srinagar. One can fall in love with the wonderful views in here. Find the meadows, alpine mountains, clear water that will make a special place in your heart.

Ideal time to visit: April to October
Things to not miss out on: Visit the stunning Lolab valley, pay your respects to Qamar Reshi Sahib Shrine and Sheikh Baba Behram.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 2 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 85 km.

8. Leh – A Sheer Beauty

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One of the hill stations near Srinagar that holds a special place in every adventure lover’s heart, Leh will captivate you by its sheer beauty and its wonderful opportunities for biking. This one is famous for its mountains, the alpine lakes, as well as the magnificent backdrops that will make up for a trip to remember. Camping in Leh is one of the best things you can look forward to on your trip.

Places to stay:

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

Ideal Duration: 6 Nights/7 Days
Packages Starting From: 15,799/-
Ideal time to visit: April to June,
Things to not miss out on: Mountain Biking, Trekking etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 10 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 421 km.

9. Poonch – Find The Seven Lakes

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One of the gorgeous hill stations near Srinagar, this one is famous for its stunning sights, meadows, snow-covered mountains and the famous Poonch Fort of eighteenth century that will make a special place in your heart. One can find the seven lakes of Girgan Dhok as well as many religious shrines here such as the Baksh Sahib, Gurudwara Nangali Sahib etc.

Ideal time to visit: Summer
Things to not miss out on: trekking, visiting temples and sightseeing.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 5 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 169 km.

10. Patnitop – With Enchanting Views

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One can find some of the most enchanting views of meadows and captivating views of the snow-covered Himalayas at Patnitop which is one of the best hill stations near Srinagar and it will let you have a wonderful time amidst the spell bounding beauty of nature. This place is also famous among the adventure lovers as it lets you try a variety of adventures such as skiing, paragliding etc.

Places to stay:

Hotel Trinetra Resorts
Akas Resort Patnitop
Poonch House
Vardaan Hotels Patnitop
Travel Tales Eco Stay

Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Ideal time to visit: It can be visited all through the year.
Things to not miss out on: This place holds a special place in the hearts of the adventure lovers offering special opportunities such as Paragliding, Skiing etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 1 and a half hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 51 km.

Suggested Read: 14 Ethereal Hotels In Srinagar Near Dal Lake

11. Sanasar – An Adventure Hub

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Sanasar might not be the most popular hill stations near Srinagar but that doesn’t make the fact false that it is one of the most spectacular hill stations in Jammu and Kashmir. One can also find some of the best adventure activities being here such as rock climbing, paragliding, trekking, abseiling etc.

Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Ideal time to visit: April to June
Things to not miss out on: One should definitely visit the famous temple Naag Mandir. Try some adventure sports here such as Paragliding, also you can participate in Wilderness Adventure Camps (WAC).
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 6 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 203 km.

12. Nubra Valley – An Ethereal Beauty

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Nubra valley is one of the most stunning hill stations near Srinagar. One can not miss out on this stunning place which is on the Silk route, this site is made even more ethereal by the stunning Shyok and Nubra river. Also, one can find the famous monasteries here that have beautiful colours on them such as gold, red etc. One can find some of the most stunning sites here such as Alpather Lake, Gulmarg, etc.

Places to stay:

Stone Hedge Hotel
Cozy Ethnic Camp
Summer Holiday Camp
Hotel Karma Inn
Hotel Namgyal Villa

Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Ideal time to visit: June to September
Things to not miss out on: One can enjoy some of the most amazing experiences being here such as visiting famous sites such as YarabTso, Panamik village, Sumur, enjoying Bactarian camel safari, Gondola Cable Car, etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 25 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 870 km.

13. Lamayuru – The Place Of Freedom

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One of the enchanting hill stations near Srinagar, this hill station is in the middle of Kargil and Leh that is on NH1-D, and is also famous by the name of Srinagar- Leh Highway. Lamayuru is 100 km away from Leh, also it is the second highest pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway. Lamayuru is also famous by the name of ‘the place of freedom’ and also houses the oldest monasteries in Ladakh region.

This place will offer you a lot of peace. This place is also famous for the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery that is near it. You can find some of the most enchanting landscapes here that are made into mountains and give a moon-like feeling.

Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Ideal time to visit: April to June
Things to not miss out on: Uleytokpo, Moonland, Lamayuru Monastery, etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 7 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 273 km.

14. Kishtwar – An Offbeat Hill Station

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A lesser known place in Kashmir, this is one of the offbeat hill stations near Srinagar that will captivate you by its gorgeous place with some of the most spectacular scenic views, the hills, greenery as well as some pine and deodar forests. This place also has a famous national park that is a major attraction among wildlife lovers and nature lovers. This place is also religiously significant as it has the famous Machail Yatra and Sarthal Yatra that are two religiously significant circuits.

Ideal time to visit: Plan your trip in summer.
Things to not miss out on: Enjoy a variety of experiences such as camping, trekking, pilgrimage, wildlife safari etc.
Distance from Srinagar: It is about 20 hours away from Srinagar, at a distance of 733 km.

Further Read: 41 Perfect Destinations To Spend Your Summer Holidays In India

Thus, these are some of the most amazing hill stations near Srinagar and offer you to make memories to cherish as well as some of the most magical experiences. We hope that this trip to Kashmir becomes one of the best trips of your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hill Stations Near Srinagar

What are the things you should not miss out on a trip to hill stations near Srinagar?

Srinagar is one of the most enchanting places that one can visit in Kashmir. There are a variety of experiences that can be tried near Srinagar such as trip to Gulmarg, witnessing Yusmarg, enjoying a tour of Dachigam National Park, trekking to the famous Wular Lake, etc.

What are the things that you shouldn’t miss trying in SriNagar?

Srinagar is one beautiful place where you can try a variety of experiences such as trekking, shikara rides, horse riding, paragliding, etc.

Is Srinagar safe to visit?

Yes, Srinagar is one really safe place to visit, one can have a beautiful time being here. Though Kashmir is affected by terrorism, this one is one of the safest places in Kashmir.

Suggest some of the most famous places in SriNagar?

Some of the incredibly famous places in SriNagar include Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, Shankaracharya Temple and a lot more.

What is the distance between Gulmarg and Srinagar?

Gulmarg is about 51km away from Srinagar and you would reach there in approx. 2 hours.

What are the adventures that one can try in Patnitop?

You can try various adventures in Patnitop such as skiing, paragliding etc.