Kokernag
Kokernag, which probably means “Hen shaped springs” is at an approximate distance of 80 KMs from the city of Srinagar and 25 KMs from Anantnag. It is situated at a height of about 7000 feet above the mean sea level. Kokernag is the place where there a collection of fresh water springs and collectively form the largest fresh water spring of Kashmir. Trout fishing is a popular activity here. Tourism department even sells these fished to the tourists.
Some of them are Hazrat Baba Reshi, Shilagram Temple, Goswami Gund Ashram, Hanuman Temple, Sita Temple, Nila Nag, Ganesh Temple and Shiva Temple. Anantnag is an apt tourist destination if you are looking for a rich culture. The best time to visit would be the spring season.
Hemis
Hemis is located at an approximate distance of 40 km from Ladakh. It is sought after because of two main tourist destinations, Hemis Monastery and Hemis National Park. A Tibetan Buddhist monastery, Hemis Monastery was constructed by King Sengge Namgyal in 1672. The Hemis Festival, held every year in June in the honor of Padmasambhava attracts many tourists. Bound by Indus River on one side, Hemis Nationl Park is one of the highest protected areas in India. It is also the largest park in South Asia. It is one of the very few areas in the world where snow leopards can be seen. Tibetan wolf and the red fox can also be spotted here
Yusmarg
Yusmarg is a serene hill station located at 1a distance of 47 km from the city of Srinagar. It is believed that Jesus Christ once visited this place. It is located at a height of about 2400 km. The Tatakooti Peak and the Sunset peak offer a surreal view. Pine meadows are an ideal location for photography sessions and picnic spots. River Doodganga passes through Yusmarg and increases the beauty of this place. Yusmarg has a lot to offer to all the adventure buffs. A trek of 4 km to Nilnag and then a trek of 11 km leads to a lake which is frozen. The site is completely divine. Apart from this, tourists can also enjoy fishing, horse riding and skiing. Many accommodation options are available. Although, being a blissful spot for vacation, it is advisable to not visit in the winters as the roads are often blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Tulian
Tulian, a freshwater lake, is located at a distance of 15 km from Pahalgam. It is located at a height of 3500 km from the mean sea level. Even in summers, many pieces of ice can be spotted. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains on three sides and pine trees on the fourth. The meadow around this lake is an ideal picnic spot. This lake looks truly divine as it is set in the perfect surrounding of mountains and trees. A short visit to this lake in any month will surely rejuvenate you. This lake remains frozen in the months of November – February but that does not prevent tourists from frequenting this place. Full of heavenly and surreal beauty, Tulian Lake deserves a visit from all the nature and photography buffs.
Doodhganga
Doodhganga is a tributary of River Jhelum and passes through Yusmarg. Doodh stands for milk. This river appears milky white in colour as it collides with the rocks again and again and hence it got it's name. At a small distance is the lake Neel Nag. The scenic beauty of this place is awe inspiring. It is still undisturbed by huge number of tourists and is a good spot for relaxing and clicking photos. The peaks on all sides increase the grandeur of this place. Both these water bodies are easilyaccessible as they are not more than 55 km away from Srinagar. It is also believed that Jesus Christ passed this place while on a tour of Kashmir. These waterbodies are overloaded with surreal beauty and deserve a visit especially in spring season.
The Martand Sun Temple
The Martand Sun Temple is located very close to Anantnag. As the name itself suggests it is a Hindu Temple dedicated to The God of Sun. Martand is another name for Him. It was constructed in the 8th century by King of Karkota Dynasty, Lallitaditya Muktapida. The architecture is of Aryan style. However it was later ruined by Sikandar in around 15th century. In the center it has the main shrine and is then surrounded by 84 other shrines. There was also a temple. It is built on a plateau and a panoramic view of the surrounding areas can be seen. The Bollywood film, Haider was shot here.
Chatpal
Chatpal is located near Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. Among all the places mentioned, Chatpal tops the list of being the most offbeat. The white peaks touching the blue sky, the green landscape with crystal clear streams are the characteristics of the beauteous natural beauty of this place. Trekking in this place will truly refresh you and give you many beautiful memories. At sunset, the grandeur of this place reaches a new zenith with orange peaks. There is a furnished bungalow maintained by the government which is available for accommodation. A stay there is recommended highly. The only problem is that electricity is not available in this area. All around the year, the serene beauty of this place is awe inspiring. It is an ideal place if you are looking for a rejuvenating getaway from the hustle bustle of the city.
Hanle is a village located in Ladakh. The two important tourist attractions here are the Hanle Monastery and the Indian Astronomical Observatory. Though special permission is needed from the Government to visit them because they are very close to the Tibetan and Chinese border. Hanle Monastery was built in the 17th century. The population density is also low. The scenic beauty is divine. It is a nice getaway from the hustle bustle of the city but this place is also dangerous and visiting Hanle can be a risky endeavor. If you are an adventure enthusiast then you must come here and pay a short visit.
Jammu & Kashmir
