The most popular of these is the trek to
the lush, undulating meadow of Baisaran ( 56 kms) . Enclosed by thickly wooded
tracks of pine, Baisaran also makes for a good campsite. In the tourist season,
zorbing is arranged by the J& Tourism and is all the rage with tourists.
Further up, an 11 km trek takes one to
Tuliyan Lake at an altitude of 3353 m .This serene lake remains frozen most of
the year and is surrounded by snow capped mountains on all its side.
For the adventurous, there are treks that
take 4 to 6 days from Pahalgam to Sonamarh or to Panikher in the Zanskar valley
(via Sheshnag Lake) . For serious trekkers and mountaineers, guidance and
equipment can be sought at Jawahar Institut of Mountaineering and winter
sports, in Pahalgam .
Ponies can be hired by the hour at fixed
rates which are posted at prominent locations. These pony rides on steep trails
can be quite a thrilling and hair raising experience!Pahalgam has a scenically
placed 9 hole golf course, which is being developed into an 18 hole course.
Golf Championships organized by the state government and private hoteliers are
held here in summers.
The torrential Lidder offers rafting where
you can feel an adrenaline rush as you face the rapids in the icy cold water!
In 2009, Pahalgam also hosted an International Rafting Championship. Trout
fishing in Lidder is very popular in Pahalgam; the commonest varieties being
the Rainbow and Brown. It is thus no surprise that many hotels and restaurants
here serve up various kinds of trout delicacies – from Indian to continental
preparations making a visit to Pahalgam particularly delightful for fish
lovers. “Trout beat “in the main market is a popular joint for trying out
trout. Several of the hotels here also offer to cook your trout dishes on
order.
The department of Fisheries supervises
angling to maintain the ecological balance of the species. Fishing equipment
can be hired or bought, and one can use the services of ghillies (professional
fishing guide). Permits have to be sought in advance from the J& K
Department of Fisheries. Permits are issued for a maximum of 3 days at a time,
and the charges for angling are on per day, per rod basis. The best season for
angling in Pahalgam is from April to September.
Pahalgam Club, managed by the JKTD, is
being revamped to include a restaurant, auditorium, health club, open food
court and other facilities and promises to be a tourist attraction.
Known for products made of wool, Pahalgam
is an ideal stop for shoppers.Gabbas, rugs made of coloured cut outs from old
woolen clothes, or Namdas , soft rugs made of felt , can be bought here. Apart
from these,silk as well as woolen carpets, shawls, wall hangings , a range of
intricately carved walnut- wood furniture and accessories , jewellery boxes
made of stone, and tea cosies with beautiful Kashmiri embroidery are available.
For those wanting to indulge in eating, Pahalgam has a market lined with
restaurants with various cuisines on offer.
The wildlife reserve of Shikargah also
makes for a short trek. This as well as other forests around PAhalgam are home
to several endangered and protected species, including the hangul, musk deer,
serow, leopard, rhesus macaque and Himalayan mouse hare. Wild bears still roam
much of the area and local villagers are on constant alert. The region has a
wide variety of birds, both residents and migratory making it a bird watchers’
delight.
