Sonmarg

Located at an altitude of 2,740 m, Sonmarg is an ideal stopover for nature lovers who want to enjoy camping in a hill station. Known as the Meadow of Gold, Sonmarg is the gateway to Ladakh and is known for its verdant and picturesque valleys and snow-clad peaks. River Sindh winds its way through the valley and takes care of the flora of the region that include silver birch, fir, pine and alpine flowers. Sonmarg is also the base destination from where the famous Amarnath Yatra starts. If you happen to be in Sonmarg, make sure to visit Vishansar Lake. Around a kilometre long, the lake freezes over in winter and is the source of River Nelum, which flows upward in the northern direction. Another attraction is River Nilagrad, around 6 km from Sonmarg.
A large number of tourists arrive to take a dip in the river, which is red in colour and is said to have medicinal properties. If you happen to be an adventurer at heart, do visit Thajiwas Glacier and hire an ice scooter to experience ice skiing. You can also opt for white water river rafting at Shutkari Bridge. Sonmarg is only accessible during the summer months as winters are cold, harsh and experience heavy snowfall and avalanches. Historically, Sonmarg was the gateway to the ancient silk road along with Gilgit. It connected Tibet with Kashmir. One of the highest passes for road transport, Zoji La Pass is located around 15 km east of this place.