Things to do in Sonamarg — the glacier, the river, the lakes and the pass
Things to do in Sonamarg: the Thajiwas Glacier, trout fishing on the Sind, river rafting, treks to Vishansar and Gangabal lakes, and the road to Zoji La.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-14
Best time to visit Sonamarg — the short summer season
When to visit Sonamarg: summer for blooming meadows, trout rivers and the glacier, a winter cut off by snow and avalanches, and the weather figures given.
The season at Sonamarg is short and set by the snow. Wikipedia gives its Köppen type, humid continental, an average temperature of about 5.1 °C and about 932 mm of precipitation a year, but no monthly table, so we give no month-by-month figures.
Summer
The season. The alpine meadows bloom, and the lakes and rivers hold trout. Ponies run up to the Thajiwas Glacier in summer, and the road towards Zoji La is usually open. Snow can linger into early summer.
Autumn
The shoulder of the season, with the first snow possible and shorter days. Leave early and check the road before you travel.
Winter
Closed in practice. Wikipedia says Sonamarg is inaccessible in winter because of heavy snowfall and avalanches, with local traffic stopping at Gagangir. A tunnel at Sonamarg is meant to keep the road open, but ask locally.
Plans for the season
The one-day plan is for summer. Read how to reach Sonamarg and things to do in Sonamarg.
Places around Sonamarg
The Sonamarg guide →
Thajiwas Glacier — the ice above Sonamarg and how people reach it
Zoji La — the high pass on the road from Kashmir to Ladakh
Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
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Questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Sonamarg?
Summer, when the alpine meadows bloom, the rivers and lakes hold trout and ponies run to the Thajiwas Glacier. Wikipedia says the area is inaccessible in winter because of heavy snowfall and avalanches. We have no month-by-month table, so ask locally when the road opens and closes each year.
How cold is Sonamarg?
Wikipedia gives a Köppen type of humid continental and an average temperature of about 5.1 °C, with about 932 mm of precipitation a year, not counting heavy snow. At about 2,730 m the weather changes quickly even in summer, so carry warm and waterproof layers and check the forecast before you travel.
Is Sonamarg ever open in winter?
Rarely and unreliably. Local traffic is allowed only as far as Gagangir when the highway is blocked. A tunnel at Sonamarg is meant to keep the road open all year, but conditions change, so confirm locally before planning any winter trip, and expect avalanche risk and sudden closures.