Situated at an altitude of 2730 m, Sonamarg is a mesmerizing hill station in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Sonamarg literally means ‘the meadow of gold’ and with snow-capped mountains set against a spectacular blue sky, it is as close to heaven as it can get. The Sindh River flows through the valley. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier, which is a major local attraction during summer.

Sonamarg is also the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain lakes — Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. It is also the take off station for the drive to Ladakh across Zojila, a major pass in the Great Himalayan Range, through which the Srinagar-Leh Road passes. Sonamarg is also a base for undertaking the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawan Purnima.

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 Songamarg a popular place for adventure sports tourism.

The high mountain peaks also appear golden when the sunrays fall on them. Sonamarg is a perfect destination for travellers who have an interest in adventurous activities, such as trekking and hiking. All the important trek routes start from Sonamarg, making it a popular place for Trekking. The place is known for its natural beauty, which includes lakes, passes and mountains. Sonamarg also acts as the base camp for the pilgrims heading towards Amarnath.