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Destination guide

Pahalgam: what’s open, what to see and how to get there

Pahalgam in one page: Betaab and Aru valleys, the Lidder, what’s open and closed (Baisaran, Chandanwari), weather, road time and taxi fares.

By Abbsar Bhat
Checked ·5 min read

Pahalgam is a valley town on the Lidder river, an estimated 2½ to 3½ hours by road from Srinagar, and “the gateway to the sacred Amarnath cave”, in the words of the Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India. Betaab Valley and the parks near the market reopened in June 2025, and Aru Valley reopened on 29 September 2025. Baisaran, Chandanwari and Tulian Lake are still closed to tourists, under district orders valid to 31 December 2026.

The green Pahalgam valley with the Lidder river and snow peaks
The green Pahalgam valley with the Lidder river and snow peaks. Photo: KennyOMG, CC BY-SA 3.0
In this guide6 sections
  1. What’s open and what’s closed
  2. Things to do in Pahalgam
  3. Local rates
  4. Pahalgam by season
  5. Getting to Pahalgam
  6. Pahalgam questions

At a glance

Road time from Srinagar
2½–3½ hours Go Kashmir app estimate, 22 Oct 2026
Taxi from Srinagar
About ₹3,000 one way, ₹4,055 return one operator’s 2026–27 list
Reopened
Betaab, Aru, the market parks, Yanner rafting point
Still closed
Baisaran, Chandanwari, Tulian Lake until 31 Dec 2026
January
4.9°C by day, −6.1°C at night
July
25.5°C by day, 12.9°C at night

What’s open and what’s closed

These were checked on 23 October 2026.

  • OpenBetaab Valley and the parks near Pahalgam market. Reopened on 17 June 2025, PTI reported, in National Herald.
  • NoteReopened: Aru Valley, Rafting Point Yanner, Akkad Park and Padshahi Park. On 29 September 2025 the administration “threw open” seven spots including these, PTI reported in The Tribune.
  • ClosedBaisaran, Chandanwari and Tulian Lake. All three are on the official Anantnag district list “as on 07-07-2026”, with an end date of 31 December 2026.

The closures followed the April 2025 attack at Baisaran. What governments advise is summarised in Is it safe to visit Kashmir now?, and every closed place in the valley is listed in Kashmir places closed to tourists. We will re-check this list between 2 and 9 January 2027, after the current orders run out.

Things to do in Pahalgam

  1. Betaab Valley

    A green valley near the town, “immortalized by Bollywood film”, in Incredible India’s words. It reopened on 17 June 2025. Torn between the two valleys? See Betaab vs Aru.

    The Lidder winding through the meadows of Betaab Valley
    Photo: Sauood07, CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Aru Valley

    Ordered reopened from 29 September 2025, according to The Tribune.

    Forested slopes and the river at Aru Valley near Pahalgam
    Photo: TheAutumnal, CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. The Lidder river

    Incredible India calls the Lidder the “lifeline of the region”, known for trout fishing, rafting and riverside walks. Rafting Point Yanner was ordered reopened from 29 September 2025.

    The Lidder river running through a green valley near Pahalgam
    Photo: Vikas Panwar, CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Mamleshwar Temple

    Incredible India calls it “the ancient Mamleshwar Temple”, one of several temples in the town.

  5. The parks near the market

    Reopened on 17 June 2025, along with Betaab Valley.

  6. The route to Amarnath

    Pahalgam is the start of the traditional route to the Amarnath cave. The Yatra has its own registration and dates each year: see Amarnath Yatra 2027.

Local rates

A rate list for tourist services at Pahalgam prices ponies, local taxis, guides and activities. These are some of its rows. Taxi rates depend on the vehicle, from a van to a Crysta, and the list allows one hour at each spot, with extra time at ₹400 an hour.

Service Rate on the list
Pony, Pahalgam parking to Betaab Valley (8 km) ₹1,850 return, including one hour’s waiting; ₹250 for each extra hour
Taxi to Aru and Betaab Valley ₹1,600 (van) to ₹2,400 (Crysta)
Taxi to Aru ₹1,000 (van) to ₹1,800 (Crysta)
River rafting ₹750 per person per trip (minimum 2.5 km), with lifesaving equipment
Tourist guide ₹1,100 a day, plus ₹500 for a night halt
Ponies to Baisaran and Tulian Lake, taxis to Chandanwari Closed to tourists under orders that run to 31 December 2026

From a rate list posted on the J&K Cable Car Corporation’s website (file dated 28 March 2026; it names no notification or validity period), read 23 October 2026.

Pahalgam by season

Winter

December–February

Highs of 4.9–7.9°C and nights of −3.9°C to −6.1°C. January is the coldest month.

Spring

March–May

The wettest stretch: March averages 171.2 mm of rain and snow, measured as water. Highs rise from 12.5°C in March to 21.3°C in May.

Summer

June–August

Highs of 24.2–25.5°C and nights of 8.9–13.0°C.

Autumn

September–November

October is the driest month, with 38.2 mm. Highs fall from 23.7°C to 13.1°C, and by November nights drop below freezing on average.

These are 1991–2020 averages for the India Meteorological Department’s Pahalgam station (42028), from the WMO climate normals. All months, with snow reports and records: Pahalgam weather.

Average day and night temperature, Pahalgam °C, each bar runs from the night low to the day high
  1. −6.1°
  7. 25.5°

WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020, station 42028 Pahalgam. Warmest days: July, 25.5°C. Coldest nights: January, −6.1°C.

Getting to Pahalgam

  • By road: an estimated 2½–3½ hours from Srinagar, according to the Go Kashmir app as of 22 October 2026.
  • By taxi: about ₹3,000 one way or ₹4,055 return from Srinagar on one operator’s 2026–27 rate list. Compare fares in Srinagar taxi fares.
  • By air: the nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport (SXR). See the airport guide.
  • Spring gardens nearby: Achabal is an estimated 1¼–1¾ hours from Pahalgam, Kokernag 1¾–2¼ hours and Verinag 1¾–2½ hours, according to the Go Kashmir app as of 23 October 2026. See Achabal, Kokernag and Verinag.

Pahalgam questions

Is Pahalgam open for tourists?

The town is not on the July 2026 closure list, Betaab Valley and the market parks reopened in June 2025, and Aru Valley reopened on 29 September 2025. Baisaran, Chandanwari and Tulian Lake are closed to tourists under orders that run to 31 December 2026.

Is one day enough for Pahalgam?

At 2½–3½ hours each way from Srinagar, a day trip leaves little time there. A night in Pahalgam gives you time for Betaab or Aru as well. The 5- and 7-day itineraries spend two nights there.

What is the Lidder river known for?

Trout fishing, rafting and riverside walks, according to Incredible India.

Pahalgam or Gulmarg?

That depends on what you want. The Gulmarg guide and Gulmarg vs Pahalgam vs Sonamarg set them side by side.

Sources

  1. Ministry of Tourism, Incredible India: Pahalgam. Read 22 Oct 2026.
  2. Anantnag district administration, details of closed tourist destinations, as on 7 Jul 2026. Read 22 Oct 2026.
  3. The Wire, tourist destinations shut under the July 2026 orders, 15 Jul 2026.
  4. National Herald (PTI), parks at tourist destinations reopened, 17 Jun 2025.
  5. The Tribune, 12 tourist spots to reopen from 29 September, 26 Sep 2025.
  6. Kashmir Life, High Court on tourist taxi route permits, 16 Jun 2024.
  7. WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020, station 42028 Pahalgam, published by NOAA NCEI.
  8. Vargis Khan, Srinagar taxi rate list 2026–27. Read 22 Oct 2026.
  9. Go Kashmir app, estimated road time from Srinagar, 22 Oct 2026, and to the spring gardens, 23 Oct 2026.
  10. J&K Cable Car Corporation website, rates for various tourism services at Pahalgam (PDF, file dated 28 Mar 2026). Read 23 Oct 2026.

We write from published sources and do not claim personal visits. How we check facts.

Read next

Destination guideBetaab or Aru: which valley to visit from PahalgamTwo valleys near Pahalgam compared: distance, reopening dates and treks.Safety & accessKashmir places closed to tourists: the full listAll 30 places on the official July 2026 closed list, district by district, and what reopened.PlanningGulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg: which should you visit?Road time, fares, weather and closures, side by side.

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