Sonamarg is a picturesque hill station in Jammu and Kashmir, located 80km north-east of Srinagar. At an elevation of around 2800 km from sea level, Sonamarg is known for its snow-laden fields, surrounded by majestic glaciers and serene lakes which casts subtle spells on the travellers. 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. Sonmarg is also the base destination from where the famous Amarnath Yatra starts.
Situated in the Himalayas, Sonamarg does not have a railway station or an airport. The nearest railway station is at Udhampur (250 km), and Jammu railway station is also nearby which is around 300 km. Jammu station is well connected by rail with the rest of the India. From Jammu or Udhampur, you can take a cab or a bus to reach Sonamarg. The nearest airport is in Srinagar (70 km), and taxis or buses are readily available to take one to Sonamarg. However, Sonamarg is mostly inaccessible during winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
The best time to visit Sonamarg is Summer from April to June when the wild flowers are in full bloom making Sonamarg breathtaking. The temperature during this time ranges around 10 to 20 degrees Celcius. Another good time to visit Sonamarg is from July to August, especially for people undertaking the Amarnath Yatra trek. Sonamarg remains closed to tourists during the winters from November to March because of heavy snowfall and avalanche.
Sonamarg is enveloped by the great Himalayan glaciers - Kolhoi Glacier and Machoi Glacier - and gives rise to the famous Three Sisters of Kashmir Valley. Towering over this charming hill town are the peaks like Kolhoi Peak, Amarnath Peak, Machoi Peak and Sirbal Peak which makes Sonamarg a popular place for adventure sports tourism.
Sonamarg acts as the base camp for the trekking routes which leads to the mountain lakes such as Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Kishansar. The Sonamarg Valley is divided into two halves by the Thajiwas range - on one side is the fir-covered Thajiwas spur popular for its camping site. The other side houses some stunning waterfalls and the Thajiwas glacier which is the prime attraction of this place.