Top Tourist Attractions in Kulgam
Kulgam, also known as Kolgom in Kashmiri, is the administrative centre and headquarters of the Kulgam district in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union region. It is 67 kilometres from Srinagar, the state capital of Jammu & Kashmir in the summer.
Kulgam is located in the Pir Panjal Ranges, overlooking the left bank of the Veshaw River, and is accessible from Larow, Afghanistan, along a difficult, steep route. The primary left-bank tributary of the Jhelum River, Nallah Veshav, drains much of the northern face of Pir Panjal and runs into District Kulgam. The Veshev is divided into a multitude of channels that offer drinking water and irrigation to vast swaths of land around the area. Kulgam is around 68 kilometres (42 miles) from Srinagar and 17 kilometres (11 miles) from Anantnag. The adjacent districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, and Banihal are all connected by roads.
Best Places to Visit in Kulgam
- PANCHANPATHRI D K MARG KULGAM
- SYED SIMNANIA (RA) ZIYARAT SHARIEF KULGAM
- ZIYARAT SHARIEF SHEIKH UL AALAM (RA) CHIMMER
- VASAK NAG KUND
- BADI BAHEK
- CHIRANBAL
- KOUSARNAG LAKE
- Ahrabal
PANCHANPATHRI D K MARG KULGAM
Panchanpathri is located near Sheikh ul Aalam (RA) Astaan (Shrine) in Chimmer ( pathri meaning valley). With its open green ground flanked by alpine trees and a cold stream running through it, it provides as an exquisite picnic place for people searching for leisure travel and a wonderful skiing option during the winters. It has also acquired appeal among locals as a cricket venue, and you may come upon a game in progress.
SYED SIMNANIA (RA) ZIYARAT SHARIEF KULGAM
Kulgam, formerly known as Shampora, gets its name from the great Iranian Saint Syed Simanania (RA), who chose to live here while travelling through Kashmir. With his life and teachings having left an indelible imprint on the locals, no tour to Kulgam is complete without a visit to his Astaan (Shrine), which is said to have been established on the precise site he first set his eyes on.
During Urs, which is celebrated with zeal, the deodar temple and its open courtyard are lavishly adorned, and festivities line the streets as devotees go to his shrine in great numbers. The profound Sufi heritage of Kashmir is at its finest here, and it is simply not to be missed.
ZIYARAT SHARIEF SHEIKH UL AALAM (RA) CHIMMER
Sheikh-Ul-Alam (RA) was born in Qaimoh and raised there. He’d lived the majority of his life in Qaimoh. He left his home at the age of 30 and retired to caverns for meditation. The cave is around 15 feet deep and is located in the little hamlet Guffabal of Tehsil Qaimoh. Pilgrims continue to visit the spot to this day. Sheikh ul Aalam (RA) is widely regarded as Kulgam’s patron saint. His lyrics, which represent the syncretic Sufi-Reshi heritage of Kashmir, have immortalised him, and he is revered as one of the saints who have created the land’s culture and ethos.
Chimmer has an Astan (Shrine) dedicated to him at Kulgam, where he spent several years, and it reverberates with tranquilly and piety. Though small on the outside, it pays tribute to his life philosophy, and the peace and tranquillity one finds here is unparalleled.
HOUEN HENG
A terrible piece of history is buried under Kulgam’s snow-covered Houen Heng (Dog’s Horn) mountain (4200 ft above sea level). On February 7, 1966, a Fokker F 27 IA aircraft deviated 12 miles from its intended trajectory and crashed into a mountain, killing all 37 people on board. People remember a civic society drive led by a local businessman who lost his son in the disaster to remove the bodies from their icy graves. The debries, which have been carefully conserved until this day, urge tourists to hear their storey.
VASAK NAG KUND
Vasak Nag is a peculiar cold water spring located near Kund, Tehsil Devsar, Kulgam. The Waltengo Nar locals say the spring runs for only 6 months before inexplicably vanishing back into the soil as a result of a contract between Sufi Saint Syed Noor Shah Baghdadi (RA) and a Hindu seer. Each year, it is greeted with great fanfare around the 15th of April when it emerges and says farewell when it departs around the 15th of September. Whether it is a geological wonder or of spiritual origin, the spring is a must-see for any visitor eager to experience off-the-beaten-path destinations.
BADI BAHEK
Badi Bahek is a hidden green treasure in DH Pora, surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains. The unspoilt alpine meadow, stretched across acres of emerald green and punctuated by a few nomad mud houses, is nature at its purest. Its natural, beautiful splendour is a visual feast. Peer-Nag is located in the heart of the Behek, and a brief dip into it provides spiritual peace to believers. This is an excellent camping and picnic area. It also has a lot to offer those looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure.
CHIRANBAL
A little distance away from Manzgam (6 Km Approx.). This huge swath of emerald green is an undisturbed slice of nature’s richness, interspersed with lush forest trees and towering mountains in the distance. The wide, lush terrain of this alpine meadow, which is divided into hear (small) and bon (large) Chiranbal, provides a stunning panoramic perspective.
Campers and nature lovers may enjoy nature’s bounty, while the Zajinar River, on the banks of which Chiranbal is located, provides opportunities for fishing and swimming.
KOUSARNAG LAKE
This snow-fed lake in Kulgam, the source of the River Veshav, is nestled in the lap of the Pir Panjal ranges on three sides and is around 4000 feet above sea level. A big three-day walk from Aharbal to Kousarnag through Kungwattan and Mahinag. Once nearing the lake, hikers are greeted with spectacular vistas of startling blue colours against steep landscape. Its quiet, crystal clear water and the serene peaks above make it the ideal natural destination for recharging the senses.
Ahrabal
The sheer beauty of Aharbal, located on the River Veshav, is a sight to see and appropriate of its sobriquet – ‘Niagara Falls of Kashmir.’ The rumbling of strong white water flowing through, enhanced by the quiet surroundings, is like nature’s rhythms that combine into a pool of calm, azure blue water after the 25-metre drop. This one promises to captivate not just nature enthusiasts but also enthusiastic photographers, and with nearby fishing sites and trekking choices, it offers something for everyone.
Best Time to Visit in Kulgam
The months of February and March are ideal for a vacation or business trip to Kulgam.
How to Reach Kulgam
BY FLIGHT
Kulgam does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Srinagar Airport.
Kulgam
49 km away
Srinagar Airport (SXR), Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Kulgam
106 km away
Satwari Airport (IXJ), Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
BY TRAIN
Instead of Kulgam you can a get a train to Banihal on regular basis.
Kulgam
27 km away
Banihal (BAHL), Bahl, Jammu & Kashmir
Kulgam
49 km away
Srinagar Kashmir (SINA), Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
BY BUS
There are regular buses from other major cities(Srinagar and Jammu) of the country to Kulgam.
Bus Station(s): Kulgam