Baltal: A serene abode in Sonamarg
Sonamarg Valley is a heavily thronged hill station in the paradisical land of Kashmir, which attracts travellers of every taste and kind. Baltal Valley, Amarnath Yatra, gateway, is nearby, making this region even more significant. Sonamarg, or the meadow of gold as it is often called, is a symbol of pride and beauty for the Kashmir Valley. It is around 80 kilometres away from Srinagar city and is part of central Kashmir in the Ganderbal district.
Its green pastures, alpine lakes, and soothing streams make it a place equal to paradise. In this beautiful area, another attraction has a different charm of its own, known as the Baltal Valley. Today we are going to explore this place in detail.
Baltal Valley
The Baltal Valley is located 15 kilometres away from the Sonamarg town and is at a height of 2,743 metres. It is a beautiful valley located near the Sind Stream, which flows through it. It is also important as it is the base camp for Amarnath pilgrims, who eat and stay here to have a rest. The refreshing experience of Baltal makes one forget the sorrows and fears of life while enjoying a hug with Mother Nature.
Amarnath Yatra
The pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, which is done in the summer season, is done from two routes, the Pahalgam and the Sonamarg. Talking about the Sonamarg route, it has its base camp in the Betaab Valley where every arrangement is made from food to a night stay. The Amarnath cave is 14 kilometres from the Baltal Valley, which is a trekking route through the mountains.
Camping
Besides the Sonamarg pilgrimage to Amarnath, there is also scope for adventure lovers. Camping is among the most loved and suited activities in the Baltal Valley. Setting a camp near the Sind stream is the best location to enjoy a blissful camping experience. Clothes suited for rain and cold weather are a must to have while camping here.
Angling
This activity has an ample amount of scope in the Baltal Valley. You can fish out the exotic species of trout and mahseer, and make your stomach happy. There is no fishing equipment available on a rental basis in this area, thus carrying one’s own equipment is necessary.
Trekking
Hiking and trekking are also famous in the Baltal Valley. Apart from the Sonamarg pilgrimage trek which is done in the Amarnath Yatra, there are lots of places to trek. You can reach the Pahalgam Valley from Baltal after doing a day trek in the mountains. There are various heavenly alpine lakes that are situated in the higher reaches and are considered among the best places for trekking.
Nonetheless, you can roam in the Thajwas-Baltal Wildlife Sanctuary to see the amazing wilderness and the amazing animal species of various kinds. Be sure to take proper permission to visit the area as this a protected area and venturing into it without permission is illegal.
Helipad Services
The Baltal Valley is famous for the Amarnath Yatra, where some of the people who are wealthy enough travel to the cave by helicopter. It is a service that has been given to the pilgrims for a long time. This valley was the operating ground for the heli services to the Amarnath yatra.
In the year 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir government shifted the heli services to a new location called Neelgrath. Now there are no heli services accessible to the pilgrims in the Baltal Valley. You need to reach the Neelgrath Helipad site to access the help services.
Accommodations
In the Baltal Valley, there are accommodations for both tourists and pilgrims which are cosy and affordable. There are tent stays and lodges, which offer night stays for everyone. You do not need to worry about the night stay in this amazing location.
Advice from us
Some good advice for you would be to adhere to the local rules properly, check the weather beforehand before leaving any place, and keep the surroundings clean. You will also need to decide properly about the season in which you would prefer to visit the Kashmir valley.
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