Patnitop has been labelled as ‘Heaven On Earth’, a perfect miniature replica of everything that Kashmir is known for. It is a town surrounded by ancient monuments by Hindu Rajas and Mughal emperors that make us proud even today. Close by are natural, devotional and spiritual wonders that bring peace and love into the hearts of anyone visiting Patnitop. All year long you will find golden valleys, verdant, dewy meadows and dense coniferous forests playing a constant game of light and shadow on the clean, dainty trails. Except in the winters of course, when the whole town and surrounding areas are covered in blankets of fluffy, soft snow. Patnitop is a great place to spend festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas and New Year with friends and family. There are many such beautiful places to visit near Patnitop for a great experience in Kashmir.
What is The Best Time to Visit Patnitop?
The best time of the year to visit Patnitop is the summer months of March to June. During this time the lush green forests of Anantnag are covered in wildflowers, new leaves and fresh streams trickling down from all moistened, nourished cliffs. The meadows near Patnitop are invaded by wild sheep, goats and ponies.
During this time, the weather is pleasant and brief showers dot the months with their windy ambience. Patnitop receives
10 Enthralling Places To Visit Near Patnitop On Your Next Kashmir Trip
1. Sanasar Lake
With lush green open banks slowly blending into thick coniferous forests, the Sanasar Lake is more beautiful than any other water body we have ever seen. The gentle, crystal-clear waters reflect the bright blue sky and the surrounding grasslands are considered perfect for paragliding, picnicking and camping. It is located 20 km to the west of the town but offers fishing and boating activities. To villages located nearby, from which the lake gets its name, are Sana and Sar, small pockets of traditional living in this highly tourist-friendly union territory. Sanasar Lake is one of the most popular places to visit near Patnitop.
Entry fee: no preliminary entry cost
Opening and closing hours: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 hours
2. Nathatop
One of the most exotic natural locations for adventure sports as well as Kashmir sightseeing near Patnitop is a tiny Meadow located at sub alpine heights. Travelers need to trek up to Nathatop, a pathway that is usually covered in colorful flowers in the summers and a spotless white carpet of snow in winters. From the top you can catch an uninterrupted view of the Pir Panjal ranges. Just like all the best tourist places near Patnitop, Nathatop is famous for paragliding, horse riding and sledging. You can further enhance your experience of the Kashmiri alpine pastures and medals by traveling ahead towards another serene and spectacular destination, Madhatop, before heading back.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 6 to 7 hours
3. Kud
One of the most underrated places to visit near Patnitop, the beauty and the significance of this pleasant, charming park is hard to explain. The freshly trimmed grass, ornamental beds of flowers and herbs, rare plants and looming trees with a cooling shade to sit in makes this place perfect for picnic and photography. The Kud park is set on a landscape of rolling hills and covered with natural as well as man made photo booths. Kud park is one of the most famous places to visit near Patnitop and accumulates the most beautiful scenic snow during the months of December to February.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: no official opening and closing timings available
Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours
4. Jammu
The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is located just 2 km away from Patnitop. Jammu is always a bustling city with natural, historical and gastronomical destinations for sightseeing. When in Jammu don’t forget to try the authentic Kashmiri Chai, Dum Aloo and Rogan Josh at famous traditional restaurants. Nestled between thick Himalayan forests, Jammu is home to the royal Raghunath Temple, Amar Mahal museum and Sri Ranbireshwar Temple, all symbols of its glorious past. When in Bahu Fort, stroll around looking for the ancient Kali temple built during the reign of Gupta dynasty.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 7 to 8 days
5. Shiv Garh
Located at a phenomenal height of 3500m, this exciting name among the top tourist places near Patnitop is 11 km away from the main town. It is a one day Trek through open, rocky uphill trails bordered by ancient trees on both sides. Pinewoods surround holy Maha Mrityunjaya Temple – a secluded, peaceful home to the unique, ice shivling lord Shiva. It is said that the temple is more than 1000 years old and was built by none other than the oldest Pandava brother, Yudhishthira himself. The temple is only open to tourists between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., but you can also enjoy the little body of water and untouched meadow nearby after the temple has been closed.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing hours: 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 6 to 7 hours
6. Billo Ki Powri
Historically speaking, this little walk-in monument was built before the advent of afghans or mughals, which makes it highly significant to the local history of Jammu and Kashmir. The town itself, named Dawariyai, is linked by the Powri to the nearby town of Batote – a collection of 270 stairs connecting both of them together. Billo Ki Powri is built straight into the mountain, and water often trickle down the tunnel during spring and monsoon. If you trace the pathway, you will soon find yourself coming face to face with the Kud Market, Chenani Tunnel and finally even the Baglihar Hydel Power Project.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 2 hours
7. Sanasar Tulip Garden
Skip out on the gushing crowds and overprice sale of tulips at the Srinagar festival and come away to Patnitop instead. Sanasar Tulip Garden is a must visit name among the tourist places near Patnitop between the months of March to September. Rose of brightly coloured tulips from all over the world have been planted and carefully raised in a valley that stretches right Into the horizon. The surrounding areas are covered with natural Kashmiri Woods that just make the experience all the more fulfilling. The valley is a dream come true for influencers and photographers who love a pop of color. When here, make sure to visit the Nag Mandir, Ladoo Lali and Shanta Gala!
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 hours
8. Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra
Katra is a religious places near Jammu and is located about 2.5 hours away from Patnitop. The Vaishno Devi temple is the main attraction here, and is visited by thousands of devotees and tourists from all over the world every month of the year. This prehistoric temple has been quoted in the Vedas but the modern Temple was only built as far back as in 1846. Located on a hilltop, the beautiful abode of goddess Vaishno Devi looks down upon the deep, nourished valley of Banganga. Devotees can reach the temple on foot, ponies, palanquins and even helicopters. One must visit this cave temple at least once in a lifetime!
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: one day
9. Sinthan Top
Mountain passes are a huge part of the history of the Himalayas. Sinthan Top is a breathtaking destination for birds-eye sightseeing near Patnitop; at the same time, the winding roads and steep drop around the viewpoint make it a scary, thrilling experience. The Top exists at an altitude of 12414 feet. It is a part of the Breng Valley, and surprisingly also the starting point of alpine lake treks like the Tulian Lake, Tarsar-Marsar Lakes etc. It looks down upon a picture-perfect series of settlements all along the banks of the river Chenab. People come here for mountaineering, Rock climbing and even skiing in the winter.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: 7 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 6 to 7 hours for trekkers; 2 to 3 hours for passengers
10. Kokernag
Located close to the Anantnag village, this is one of the most overlooked places to visit near Patnitop, but a famous hot spring destination in itself. Kokernag is blessed with beautiful autumns and snowy winters, a heavenly secluded botanical garden, the Wangam village and the Kokernag Waterfall. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can add a roundabout trip to Verinag, Achabal and Aharbal before returning back to Patnitop. These places are dotted with Mughal Gardens built by Jahangir and Shah Jahan that remain afflicted by exotic as well as wildflowers throughout spring, summer and the heavy mysterious monsoons that this part of Kashmir is famous for.
Entry fee: no entry cost
Opening and closing hours: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 days
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. Patnitop is 167.9 km away from Srinagar and it takes about 4.5 hours to reach from one town to the other.
A. Patnitop receives early snowfall most years. Usually, it starts snowing from the second week of November to the first week of December each year.
A. The best places to visit near Patnitop include Sanasar Lake, Kokernag and Verinag, Nathatop, Kud and Katra.
Conclusion
Did you like our guide to Patnitop and its surrounding areas? Do you want to create an itinerary that includes some destinations from the ones mentioned above? Increase your convenience and plan your trip with ease by choosing from our already curated Kashmir travel packages for Families that meet every crazy dream of yours. You can also add any custom details of your choice in your Kashmir Tour Packages for an experience like none before!
