Sonamarg – the Meadow of Gold
Sonamarg is situated at a distance of 84 kms from Srinagar, on t...
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Sonamarg – the Meadow of Gold
Sonamarg is situated at a distance of 84 kms from Srinagar, on the Srinagar-Ladakh Road. It is well connected by bus from Srinagar where from J&K SRTC operates regular buses as well as sightseeing buses during the season. However, it is advisable to rent a taxi for the journey as the route travels through one of the most picturesque natures’ trail along the Sindh river and one feels to stop and take a few photographs for sweet memories, which is not possible if you are traveling by bus. The route passes through the picturesque town of Ganderbal (21 kms), Kangan (40 kms) and Gund of the Sindh Valley. Enroute the spectacular views of the Harmukh range dominates the horizon and the river runs along the route for most of the journey. After passing through the river valley as one nears Sonamarg, small glaciers make an appearance on the road sides, which offer another of the spectacular views. The entire river valley is dotted with small villages and terraced rice fields, may be these rice fields which turn golden yellow at time of ripening, attribute the name ‘The meadow of gold’ to this place.
The beautiful Sindh Valley
Sonamarg is placed at an altitude of 2730 meters and offers a spectacular view of snow covered mountains against a backdrop cobalt blue sky. It takes about 2½ Hours time to drive from Srinagar, after having tea & snacks en-route one can have a heavy Brunch at Sonamarg and there from hire Ponies (a round trip will cost you from Rs.400/- to Rs.500/- per pony depending upon the rush) for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier. Sonamarg also acts as the base of a major treks that passes along several mountain lakes namely – Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. Nilagrad is another tourist spot, where a small stream meets the Sindh River. Sonamarg is also the take off point for the drive to Ladakh across the Zojila pass (at 3450 meters), which is at a distance of 20 Kms. from. Of late, Sonamarg has also gained importance as it has become the staging point for the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave (during the Sawan Purnmima), through Baltal route.
Small glaciers on way to Sonamarg
Snow covered mountains against Cobalt blue sky
The Thajiwas Glacier
A rivulet emnating from snow covered mountains
The terraced rice fields in Sindh Valley
Sindh River flowing by
The rippling waters of Sindh river
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Beautiful Roy,
These pics only remind me of my own trip to Kashmir when I was young. We went to Pahalgam and then my father and brother went on ponies to Gulmarg close to the Pak border. This was way back in the 70's and my mother and myself waited for them to return as we sat under some huge trees. The weather changed from sunny to misty and rained and it was simply beautiful.
There was nothing to be scard of and the people were so hospitable, we stayed in a boat house and used to go in the shikaras I cannot even think of going to Kashmir now. You have rekindled all my old memories.........
- Sudha
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Beautiful! Great photos...The place lives up to it's name.
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Great pics .After a long time somebody thought of this destination.We went in 1977 with a large group of 18 to 25 yeras age and had great time climbing and rolling down the hill across the bus stand .Beras were supposed to be raoming that is what locals said to us when we came back from our mini trek!! The other real Golden meadow we saw at Naggar manali as the harvest on the hill up fileds was ready to be reap.
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To Mr. S Roy Biswas
Wonderful photographs.
I had visited Gulmerg.
But we were there in the days of Kargil War, so we were not allowed to go at Sonmerg.
I feel I have missed a part of the heaven to see.
Naval Langa
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nice pix
madhvi
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