H o s p i c o n

Kashmir, the paradise on earth, is an extravagantly beautiful land worth visiting and cherishing. The beauty of Kashmir engulfs its visitors and remains in their heart forever. It is the legendary valley touched with such benediction that poets have showered hyperbolic adjectives on it. It has snow in winter and bring, mild sunshine from April to November.

KATRA

Arial View of Katra Baba Dhansar

Location : Katra Town is 48 kms. from Jammu lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains.

About Katra : Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu, serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine. The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati (alt: 5,200 ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance for the pilgrims.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

Aghar Jitto :

Aghar Jitto, the Shrine of Baba Jitto, a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi is just 5 km away from Katra .
A Dip in the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles to pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here leads to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

Dera Baba Banda :

This major Hindu-Sikh pilgrimage centre lies at about 30 kms from Katra.
Baba Banda Bairaagi was Guru Gobind Singh's favourite 'Saint-soldier', who had the gurudwara constructed on the banks of river Chenab, where he spent his last days.

Baba Dhansar :

Baba Dhansar is a beautiful and cool picnic spot, located 10 kms from Katra (1 km on foot) .
A huge spring gushes out of the mountainside in a thick grove of trees and forms a number of small waterfalls before flowing into the holy Banganga.
Next to the spring in a small grove in the rock face is a naturally formed ‘Shivling’ on which droplets of water fall naturally all the year round. A major ‘mela’ (fair) is held here during Shivratri.

Shiv Khori :

This holy cave is nearly a kilometre long and houses a 4 ft high, naturally formed ‘Shivling’ and is considered second only to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in religious importance.
There are stalactites & stalagmites dripping milky limestone water from the ceiling.
Shiv Khori hosts a major fair on Shivratri day every year.

PATNITOP

Arial View of Katra Baba Dhansar

Location : Patnitop is located 110-km From Jammu, J&K.

About Katra : Patnitop, a famous hill resort is enveloped by thickly wooded forests that offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with athick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games includingskiing. It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

The Naag (cobra) temple :

The pride of Patnitop is its 600-year-old Naag (cobra) temple, though small in size, it reflects the faith and reverence shared by millions of Indians all over.

The evenings in Patnitop are quite cold and the mountains are covered by fog and visibility can drop to a mere 10 feet.

Skiing at Patnitop :

Skiing courses are conducted at Patnitop in the months of January and February.
During the winter months, there are introductory courses for tourists/beginners at the gentle gradient slopes of Patnitop.

Paragliding At Patnitop :

The months from May to June and September to October are best suited for paragliding.
Paragliding has been introduced at Sanasar and Jammu.

GULMARG

Location : The valley of Gulmarg, a large meadow about 3 sq-kms in area, stands at 2,730 m, 56-km south west of Srinagar

About Gulmarg : About 56 kms from Srinagar at 2730 meters, Gulmarg is one of the most alluring tourist destinations in India with lush surroundings and bewitching sights. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, Gulmarg's (meaning the "Meadow of Flowers") present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was spellbound by the sight of its grassy slopes bedecked with wild flowers. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of unimaginable beauty - but it is also popular for its golf course, which is highest in the world and skiing during the winter season. This is also an excellent trekking base.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

Skiing & Heliskiing :

Gulmarg is Asia's one of the most famous Heli-skiing resort.

In December, the verdant green slopes of Gulmarg are carpeted with snow, giving shape to some of the finest natural slopes for ski runs of all levels.

Golf Courses :

Gulmarg is one of the world's highest green golf courses at an altitude of 2,650 m, as well as a clubhouse, which is a historical building of its kind.

Gondola Lift :

Gulmarg's newly constructed Gondola lift from high above Gulmarg, through pine clad slopes, is breathtaking.Gondola Lift offers a fun filled ride of a most unusual kind.

PAHALGAM

Location : Pahalgam is located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the extreme north of India.

About Pahalgam : Pahalgam (Height - 2240 m) is situated at the union of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Pahalgam is Kashmir's premier resort, cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 250C. Pahalgam has numerous places of tourist's interest. This hill resort is set between fairly steep hills, hence it is worth hiring a pony rather than walking. Pahalgam is characterised by gushing, silvery streams of ice-water and by densely wooded mountains. Pahalgam is the starting point for several trekking trails, such as to the Kolohoi Glacier, Amarnath, Zanskar and Kargil.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

Mamaleshwara :

This is small Shiva temple with its square, stone tank.

Martand :

The lofty plateau, on which the remains of the ancient temple of Martanda stand, overlooks the modern village of Matan, located at its foot.

Tulian Lake :

It is covered in ice for much of the year and surrounded by peaks, which rise more than 300m above its shores.

SRINAGAR

Location : Srinagar is located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the extreme north of India.

About Srinagar : Srinagar (1,768 meters) is in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India. Srinagar is the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the beautiful valley of Kashmir. It is famous for lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them, the charming city is also known for its traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. It is called the Pride of the Kashmir Valley. It is said that "If there is a heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here".

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

The Dal Lake :

Prime tourist attraction of Srinagar.

Consists of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 km from the city center.

Ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of this lake.

The Mughal Gardens :

Another major attractions of Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens located to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake.

The Temple of Shankaracharya :

Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built this temple in the 3rd century BC. It is the another important place to visit in Srinagar.