Tourism Geography
Tourism is an important source of income and rests on the landscape, religion and adventure.
Hill stations and meadows
| Place | District | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Gulmarg | Baramulla | Skiing, the Gulmarg Gondola (one of the highest cable cars in the world) and golf |
| Pahalgam | Anantnag | Valley of Shepherds; base for the Amarnath Yatra |
| Sonamarg | Ganderbal | Meadow of Gold; Thajiwas glacier; gateway to Ladakh |
| Yusmarg, Doodhpathri | Budgam | Meadows |
| Patnitop, Sanasar | Udhampur | Hill resort in Jammu |
| Bhaderwah | Doda | Chota Kashmir |
| Gurez, Lolab, Betaab Valley, Aru | North and south Kashmir | Scenic valleys |
Gardens, lakes and heritage
- Mughal Gardens of Srinagar: Shalimar Bagh (Jahangir, 1619), Nishat Bagh (Asaf Khan), Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal and Achabal, Verinag, Kokernag.
- Dal Lake (houseboats, shikara), Hazratbal Shrine, Jamia Masjid, Shankaracharya Temple, Martand Sun Temple (Anantnag; 8th century).
Pilgrimage
| Shrine | Place | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vaishno Devi | Katra (Reasi) | One of India's most visited shrines |
| Amarnath Cave | Anantnag-Ganderbal | Annual yatra (about 3,888 m) |
| Hazratbal, Charar-e-Sharief, Dastgeer Sahib | Srinagar, Budgam | Muslim shrines |
| Hemis, Thiksey, Lamayuru, Alchi | Ladakh | Buddhist monasteries |
| Raghunath, Peer Kho | Jammu |
Adventure
- Treks: Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar-Marsar, Kishtwar-Kailash, Chadar (Zanskar).
- Skiing and heliskiing in Gulmarg, rafting in the Indus, Zanskar and Lidder, camel safaris in Nubra.
Ladakh
- Pangong Tso, Nubra, Tso Moriri, Khardung La and Hanle (dark-sky reserve).
- Hanle is the first Dark Sky Reserve in India, declared in 2022.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.