Jammu and Kashmir’s attractions are well-known throughout the world. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the region every year. However, they usually spend their time primarily in the capital cities—Srinagar, Jammu, and a few other places.
Apart from these well-known destinations, many other vacation spots are sure to capture the hearts and minds of backpackers. So here it is, six tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kanihama
Kanihama, formerly known as Gund Kawarhama, is a village in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, located on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road. The government of Jammu and Kashmir designated Kanihama as a handloom village because the village is best known for its handloom products, such as Pashmina Shawl, Kani Shawl, etc.
Khanyar
Khanyar is a neighbourhood in downtown Srinagar that stretches from Khayam to Khwaja Bazar. It is located about 4 kilometres north of Lal Chowk in Srinagar. The tomb of Yuz Asaf in Roza Bal is also nearby. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed in 1899 that it was the tomb of Jesus Christ. Others have dismissed this as simply a tourist attraction.
Naranag
Naranag is located nearly 50 kilometres from Srinagar in the Ganderbal district, on the road to Kargil. It’s the kind of place photographers always look for, tucked away in the mountains and surrounded by dense forests.
The Naranag Temple was built in the 8th century and is one of Naranag’s most popular tourist attractions. The village serves as a base camp for trips to Mount Harmukh, Gangabal, and Satsar. The top things to do in and around Naranag are sightseeing, exploring the city and taking photographs.
Shrunz
The waterfall is located on the Nallah Ningli near Nagbal Baba Reshi, about 5 km from the Baba Reshi Shrine, and has remained a tourist attraction for tourists visiting Tangmarg and Gulmarg.
Drangyari
Drangyari is in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district’s Chowkibal region, an off-the-beaten-path destination. The scenic beauty of Rawathpora lake can be enjoyed on the way to Drangyari valley.
Lal Draman
Lal Draman is a tourist destination in the Doda district, attracting both local and foreign visitors on a seasonal basis. In the winter, there is typically 6-7 feet (1.8–2.1m) of snowfall, which draws tourists to the area for winter sports such as skiing. The main draws for tourists are the beautiful landscapes, scenic picnic spots, and cultural festivals.
Every year in the summer, a one-day Grameen-cum-Tourism Mela is held to depict the culture of the Doda district, with various cultural programmes performed in Sirazi, Bhaderwahi, and Kashmiri; other activities include games, horse racing, animal shows, etc. The small mosque and temple built next to each other in Lal Draman represent Muslim and Hindu unity.
