Kashmir is bestowed with one scenic valley after another, there is no dearth of places to see or things to do in Kashmir. Sonmarg is one such place, characterised by pristine beauty and breathtaking landscapes. We would definitely spend more time here if we could, given that this is the base to umpteen amazing Alpine lake treks. However, if you’re not someone who likes hiking, there are plenty of other things to do here as well.

This blog details out everything we did in our 2 days in Sonmarg and everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip there.

How to reach Sonmarg?
Sonmarg is about 80 kms from Srinagar. You can hail a taxi from Srinagar which should cost you around Rs. 3000 for a same day round trip, including fuel. Within Sonmarg, you won’t need much of a Taxi, you’ll be able to walk everywhere. In case you’re not a big fan of walking, you can hire a pony to ferry you around.

How many days should I spend in Sonmarg?
Depends on what all do you want to do, it could be as little as a day trip to spending a whole week here, it is just that diverse. We spent 2 days here and we honestly wished that we could stay a couple of days more so that we could include some hikes as well.

What is the best time to visit Sonmarg?
Sonmarg remains closed for most of the Winter season because it is completely snowed in. However, with the Zojila tunnel underway, Sonmarg will soon become accessible all year round. Keeping that in mind, the best months to visit would be April/May and September/October. Much of the snow remains till April and hence a beautiful time to visit, however Zojila Pass opens only towards the end of May. September and October are pleasant, lush greenery and gushing rivers will welcome you. There won’t be any snow to enjoy, however, you may experience the season’s first snowfall towards the later half of October.

What are the things to do/see in Sonmarg?

1. Zojila Pass: Known for its nerve-racking roads and haunted stories, this rugged pass connects Kashmir to Ladakh. The journey will blow your mind as you move from the lush greenery of Kashmir to the barren mountains of Ladakh.

2. Thajiwas Glacier: Situated a short hike away from the main town of Sonmarg lies the beautiful Thajiwas glacier. A couple of years ago, you could see snow all year round here. But now, due to Global Warming, the glacier has receded by a couple of meters and hence you won’t actually be able to see the glacier up close.

3. Dras: A day trip from Srinagar lies the World’s Second Coldest Place, Dras. This journey will take you through Zojila Pass and onwards to Ladakh. The trip here should take you about 2-3 hours to reach depending on the road conditions at Zojila. This place won’t be accessible from Sonmarg during the winter since Zojila Pass remains closed from late November until late May.

4. Kargil War Memorial: Actually located in Dras, this War Memorial commemorates the heroes who sacrificed their lives for India. The feeling of passing by Tiger Hill (Which was captured and regained during Kargil War) and visiting the memorial is overwhelming.

5. Lakes: Sonmarg has an umpteen number of Alpine lakes surrounding it. However, none of them are accessible by road and require a day or more’s hike to get to them. These lakes are Gadsar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Vishansar Lake, Gangabal Lake, Satsar Lake to name a few.

How to plan your trip to Sonmarg?

Get here leisurely from Srinagar or wherever you’re starting from. Pick a hotel on the farther end of the town so that you avoid most of the day trip tourists and commotion. Almost all hotels have the same view of the Thajiwas Glacier on one side and the gushing Sindh River on the other side. Save the entire day to hike up to the Glacier and enjoy the mesmerising views there.

We reached Sonmarg quite late and had a quick lunch enjoying the view of the Glacier. We did realise we were too late to hike up to the Glacier and hence thought it would be best to hire the services of a pony. In hindsight, the hike is really not that difficult and can be easily done on foot.

On your hike up, you will have green meadows, the prettiest skies and a crystal clear river to keep you company. The sight is so captivating that it almost feels unreal. The hike shouldn’t take you more than 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. Once you reach the Glacier, or the stalls selling Tea and Maggi near the Glacier, you can pick a quiet spot and enjoy a scenic picnic. This, of course, will only work during the months of September to October. During the months of April to June, the entire place is covered in snow, you can then enjoy winter sports such as snowboarding, sledging, and so much more.

We spent the later half of the day chilling by the river, hiking up shorter reachable hills and just having the time of our lives whilst simultaneously freezing from the inside. Our hike back down, mounted on top of the ponies was scary to say the least. It was dark by the time we reached the main town and so we headed directly to have a lavish, piping hot dinner to satiate our stomachs and our souls.

Your second day in Sonmarg should be saved for a drive up to Dras. On this journey, you’ll also cover Zojila Pass and Zero Point (The topmost point of Zojila Pass). Start off early to beat the traffic. Since this is the only highway that connects Kashmir to Ladakh, it is often crowded with truck traffic and tourists going towards Leh. An early start will give you plenty of time to explore the area and click photos to your heart’s content. Zojila is known as one of the most treacherous passes in Kashmir, the roads are in bad condition and very narrow in certain places. However, having been to both Ladakh and Spiti, we didn’t really find this pass to be the worst of the lot. This was most likely because it wasn’t rainy season when we visited, rains wreck havoc on these roads and hence it is best to have an expert navigating them.

At a height of 3528M, you’ll reach the top of Zojila Pass, Zero Point. Don’t forget to click a picture here with the milestone. You can also enjoy a cuppa and some maggi here. Just after the winter months, when Zojila opens up, this place too is covered in snow and you can enjoy a bunch of activities here as well.

We left pretty early from Sonmarg towards Zojila, however, call it our bad luck, that was the day Honourable President of India also chose to visit the Kargil War Memorial. Due to security concerns, Zojila was closed and no one was allowed to cross the checkpost just outside of Sonmarg. Disappointed we returned to our rooms and contemplated skipping Dras altogether and heading back to Srinagar. But, this just didn’t sit well with us, we were looking forward to visiting the Memorial since a long time. And so we decided to wait it out until lunch. Sometime around 1PM, we heard news from our hotel owner that the pass should open in a bit since The President has left. Upon reaching the checkpost, what we saw was utter chaos, there were hordes of cars, tourists and local alike, lined up to cross the checkpost. No one had any information regarding when they’ll actually open the roads. Some said 20 minutes, some said 5PM, utter chaos! While we sat in our car, disappointed yet again, stuck in a jam, contemplating a U-Turn, our driver came running to us shouting that the roads have opened. What ensued was madness. Every driver wanted to cross over first and that meant everyone was driving like crazy, at top speeds, on the most treacherous pass. We went from disappointment to euphoria to shitting in our pants. 😅

💡 Usually Fridays are maintenance days at Zojila Pass, when it remains closed. While this doesn’t affect travellers very often, it does sometimes result in delays by a couple of hours. Hence best to avoid this trip on Fridays and plan accordingly.

The journey is breathtaking to say the least. Especially if you haven’t been to Ladakh or Spiti, the barren mountains have a way of making you feel minuscule. Lovely roads welcome you once you crossover to the other side of Zojila. Ask your driver to point out which one is the Tiger Hill as you get closer to Dras. That feeling of passing by the hill that was captured by Pakistan and regained by India during the Kargil War cannot be explained in words.

Kargil or Dras War Memorial is on the main road towards the farther end of Dras. A visit to this Memorial is overwhelming to say the least. We were surrounded by barren mountains and the souls of the departed soldiers. We’re an emotional bunch and tear up easily, but we’re sure the experience will leave you speechless as well. There is also a museum and a TV Room here, where the events that transpired during the Kargil War are explained.

We spent a good amount of time soaking in everything and letting our emotions wash over us. Had a late lunch at Dras and headed back to Sonmarg.

You can either stay at Sonmarg or head back to Srinagar to retire for the day.

Other Things to do in Sonmarg

If you have a couple of days to spare, there are bunch of things you can do in and around Sonmarg. You can take up hikes to the Apline Lakes. The Great Lakes of Kashmir Trek starts from Shitkadi, a couple of kilometers away form Sonmarg. If dedicating 5/6 days to trekking isn’t really your thing, you can explore the lesser known places in Dras and even move further to Kargil Valley. Dras has the infamous Mushkou Valley, which was used by Pakistan to gain access to Tiger Hill. Kargil also has a bunch of interesting places such as Apati Buddha Statue and Mulbekh Monastery. If you wish to extend your trip, you can also include Zanskar Valley and explore Phugtal Monastery and Drang Drung Glacier.

All in all, plenty of things to do in and around Sonmarg, so plan your trip wisely. Do ping us in case you need any assistance with your itinerary or recommendations for stays.