Aru Valley — meadows and the trek base above Pahalgam
What it is
Aru, called Adav in Kashmiri, is a village in the Anantnag district about 12 km from Pahalgam, on the Aru river's left bank; the Aru is a tributary of the Lidder. Wikipedia notes it for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains.
Photos: Irfanaru (CC0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The treks
Aru is the base camp for walkers heading to the Kolahoi Glacier, the Tarsar and Marsar lakes and the Katrinag valley, and a start for the walks to Lidderwat and the Vishansar and Kishansar lakes. Wikipedia says the Kolahoi is the Kashmir Valley's biggest glacier, close to the valley's highest peak, and that about 20 alpine lakes, peaks and meadows lie round Aru. We have no timed trail or permit information for these treks, so ask locally and plan with a guide.
In winter
Aru gets heavy snowfall, and Wikipedia says skiing and heli-skiing are practised then. The road is slower after snow.
Getting there
Aru is about 12 km from the town by Wikipedia's figure; our router gave 13.3 km but no usable time for the final stretch, so ask locally how long the drive takes.
Combine it with
The Lidder Valley is the way up. The Aru day uses both; read when to visit Pahalgam and things to do in Pahalgam.
Plans that include this
All 1 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Pahalgam →
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Questions people ask
What is Aru Valley?
A village and valley about 12 km from Pahalgam, up the Aru river, noted for meadows, lakes and mountains. Wikipedia calls it a base camp for treks to the Kolahoi Glacier, the Tarsar and Marsar lakes and the Katrinag valley, and a starting point for Lidderwat, the Vishansar and Kishansar lakes and Kangan.
What can you do at Aru?
Walk and picnic in the meadows, trek, ride horses, fish for trout in the Lidder and photograph the mountains. Wikipedia says about 20 alpine lakes, peaks and meadows lie around the valley and that skiing and heli-skiing are practised in winter, when it gets heavy snowfall. We have no verified guide or pony rates.
How far is Aru from Pahalgam by road?
About 12 km from the town by Wikipedia's figure. Our router measured 13.3 km but gave a meaningless time for the last stretch, a track, so we quote no drive time. The road can be rough and is affected by snow. Allow most of a day, check the road, and carry warm clothing.