Chandanwari, Pahalgam: Height, Snow Point and Amarnath Yatra Start

Chandanwari is a small glacier-fed valley at the top of the Pahalgam road in Jammu and Kashmir, best known as the point where the sacred trek to the Amarnath Cave begins. It lies about 16 km from Pahalgam town and around 95 km from Srinagar, on the banks of the Lidder River, and the last stretch climbs steadily to roughly 2,895 metres. Every year in the Shravan month, usually July and August, lakhs of pilgrims gather here before setting off on foot towards the cave. For everyone else it is a half-day trip from Pahalgam: cold mountain air, a river running grey with snowmelt, and, for much of the year, real snow you can walk on. This guide covers the height in metres and feet, the best time to go, the weather by season, how to reach it, and what there is to do once you arrive.

Chandanwari at a glance

Here are the key facts in one place. Distances are from Chandanwari unless noted, and are approximate.

Chandanwari height and altitude

Chandanwari stands at about 2,895 metres above sea level, which works out to roughly 9,500 feet (2,895 metres equals 9,498 feet). That puts it roughly 750 metres above Pahalgam town (about 2,130 metres), which is why the short drive up feels noticeably colder at the top and why snow lingers here long after it has gone from the valley floor. A few older guides quote 2,700 to 2,800 metres, but the widely used figure across travel and pilgrimage sources is 2,895 metres. At this altitude some visitors coming straight from the plains feel mild breathlessness on the walk, so take the first climb slowly and carry water.

Best time to visit Chandanwari

The usual season is May to September, when the road is fully open and the days are pleasant. If you want snow, come in the tail of winter and early spring, roughly late February through April, when the snow bridge and sledging slopes are at their best. July and August are the Amarnath Yatra months, so expect crowds, pilgrim camps and a heavier security presence along the route. October is a quiet shoulder month with crisp, clear weather before the deep-winter closures set in. From about November to March heavy snow can limit or block the final stretch, so check conditions locally before heading up.

Chandanwari is high and cold for its latitude. Here is roughly what to expect by season, so you can pack for it. Treat these as guide figures; a clear day can run warmer and a cloudy one much colder.

How to reach Chandanwari

Chandanwari is reached only by road, and the last leg has a rule worth knowing before you go. From Pahalgam it is a 16 km drive, about 30 minutes, up a single mountain road that follows the Lidder. There is no public bus; shared Sumo seats do run from the Pahalgam stand in peak and Yatra season, but most visitors take a union taxi. Beyond the Pahalgam taxi checkpost, outside commercial taxis are not allowed, so a cab you hired in Srinagar cannot take you the final stretch; you park in Pahalgam and switch to a local union taxi there.

On the 2026 union rate card, a return trip to Chandanwari alone runs about Rs 1,300 to Rs 2,000, while the popular combined outing to all three local spots, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley and Chandanwari, costs roughly Rs 2,100 to Rs 3,000 for the car. Rates are fixed by the union and posted at the taxi stand, so confirm the current card before you set off. To reach Pahalgam in the first place, Srinagar is about 95 km away, a 2.5 to 3 hour drive.

For the full breakdown of trains, buses and taxis into Pahalgam, see our guide on how to reach Pahalgam from Srinagar, and the wider Pahalgam travel guide for where to stay and what else to see nearby.

Things to do in Chandanwari

Most people come for the snow and the setting rather than for a long list of sights. The main draws are:

• Play in the snow. In winter and spring a snow bridge forms over the Lidder and the slopes fill with sledges. Sledging and short snow walks are the top activity, and pony handlers wait at the parking area.

• Pony and palanquin rides. Ponies and palanquins run short circuits around the meadow and part-way up the trek route, handy if you want the views without the climb.

• Start the Amarnath trek. Chandanwari is kilometre zero of the traditional Amarnath Yatra route. Even outside Yatra season you can walk the first easy stretch towards Pissu Top for the valley views.

• River time and photography. The Lidder runs fast and cold here, framed by pine slopes and, for much of the year, snow. It is one of the more photogenic stops on the Pahalgam circuit.

A quick word of realism: Chandanwari is a short stop, not a full day, and there are no shops or hotels at the top, just seasonal snack and tea stalls. Base yourself in Pahalgam, carry cash for the taxi and activities, and pair it with Betaab and Aru valleys to make a proper morning of it.

Amarnath Yatra starting point and the trek stages

Chandanwari is the traditional first camp of the Amarnath Yatra, the annual pilgrimage to the ice lingam inside the Amarnath Cave. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board's base camp for this route is at Nunwan in Pahalgam, and Chandanwari is where the trek on foot begins. From here the route climbs steeply to Pissu Top, the first and hardest ascent of the trek, then eases towards Sheshnag Lake, about 12 km on, and Panchtarni, about 23 km from Chandanwari, before the final push to the cave, roughly 32 km from Chandanwari in all. The Yatra usually runs through July and August, and pilgrims need a permit and health certificate issued by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) before starting, plus the SASB RFID card that is checked at the access gate. Outside those months the camp is quiet and you can walk the lower section as a day hike.

Nearby attractions in Pahalgam

Chandanwari sits on the same short circuit as Pahalgam's other headline valleys, so it is easy to combine. Betaab Valley, the film-famous meadow, is about 9 km back towards town, and Aru Valley, a quieter base for treks and horse rides, lies about 12 km from Pahalgam up a separate road along the West Lidder, so it is a different branch from the Chandanwari road. Baisaran, the meadow often called mini Switzerland, sits above Pahalgam town itself. Most union-taxi day rates bundle Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari together, which is the sensible way to see all three in one morning.

Planning your Pahalgam trip

If you would rather have the hotels, transfers and sightseeing handled for you, our Kashmir tour packages cover Pahalgam alongside Srinagar, Gulmarg and Sonmarg, and the Kashmir tourism guide has the wider picture, from best time to sample itineraries. Chandanwari slots neatly into any two- or three-day Pahalgam plan.

Edited by TravelTriangle Kashmir Team. Updated October 2026.