Sonamarg

Set in a sweeping, forested valley, Sonamarg was once a popular trekking destination, but the town now has a heavy military presence. The road to Leh and Kargil passes through Sonamarg, so you can enjoy the scenery from the bus, even if you don’t stop over.

Government buses from Srinagar to Kargil or Leh pass through Sonamarg, or you can take a private bus from Srinagar’s Western Bus Stand. Buses heading on to Ladakh are often full by the time they reach Sonamarg.

Ladakh is covered by mountains .It is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the India. Sheer walls of rock and ice divide the Indus Valley from Tibet, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the human habitation is restricted to narrow strips of greenery clinging to the rivers that drain down from mountain glaciers. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir.

From the month of November to March, Ladakh is almost completely cut off from the rest of the world. Even in the months of summer, getting here involves crossing the highest mountain passes of earth, or a hair raising flight that weaves between mountain peaks. Isolation has preserved an almost medieval way of life, dedicated to nature by changing seasons. However, change is coming to this mountain Shangri La. Global warming is continuously changing the annual rainfall patterns, threatening farming cycles and Ladakh’s buildings and roads. Unlike, the rest of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is seen little violence since India got Independence. Majority of Ladakhis are Buddhist.