Things to do in  Jammu and Kashmir

Situated in the city of Srinagar in Kashmir, Dal Lake is a massive body of water and a major tourist attraction. Many visitors to the city come to spend the night on traditional Kashmiri houseboats moored on the lake, but even if you decide to spend the night on land, it’s worth coming out to the lake for a boat ride.

At 17,590 feet (5,360 meters) above sea level, Chang La Pass is among the world's highest motorable passes. Most people come here on their way to Pangong Lake or the Changthang Plateau, both in remote parts of Ladakh.

Pangong Lake (Pangong Tso) is a bright blue brackish lake sitting at 14,270 feet (4,350 meters) above sea level. It spans the border between Ladakh (India) and Western Tibet (China), and the majority of travelers visit from Leh, Ladakh’s capital. Despite its very remote location, the sight is especially popular with Indian tourists, as it featured in the 2009 Bollywood hit 3 Idiots.

On a 1,100-foot (335-meter) hilltop overlooking Dal Lake, Srinagar's Shankaracharya Temple is believed to be the oldest shrine in the Kashmir Valley. Although it's dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, this temple is named after the Hindu sage Adi Shankara, also known as Shankaracharya, who was responsible for disseminating nondual Hindu beliefs throughout the subcontinent.

Ladakh means “country of high passes,” and at an altitude of 17,480 feet (5,328 meters), the Taglang Pass (Taglang La) in the Zanskar Range is one of the highest of all. The Leh–Manali Highway (NH3) stretches through it for several miles, with colorful Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags flying at the summit. Anyone undertaking the grueling-yet-spectacular overland route to Leh will cross the pass.

At an altitude of 8,960 feet (2,730 meters) in the Kashmir Valley, the hill station of Sonamarg is a popular getaway spot for fishing enthusiasts, hikers, white-water rafters, and travelers looking to see and play in powdery white snow. It's an easy day or overnight trip from the Kashmiri capital of Srinagar, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) away.

Ladakh is a strategically important border region with a visible Indian Army presence. Leh’s Hall of Fame, run by the Indian Army, commemorates soldiers killed during conflicts between India and Pakistan, particularly the 1999 Kargil War. It also celebrates the Indian Army’s contribution to Ladakh, such as during extreme weather events.

The points where two rivers meet—the confluence, or sangam in Hindi and other South Asian languages—are considered holy in Hinduism. But you don’t need to be religious to enjoy the beauty of the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers, surrounded by mountains. A lookout point just off the Srinagar–Ladakh Road west of Leh is a great place to stop and admire the view.

Built into the rocky hills of high-altitude Ladakh, the 15th-century Thiksey Monastery is one of the most dramatic Buddhist sites in the northern Indian territory. With its angular whitewashed brick buildings, it resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the former home of the Dalai Lamas. It’s a working monastery, but you're welcome to visit.

The Shanti Stupa in Leh is a pointed white dome on a rocky hill behind Ladakh; you can see it from many parts of the popular Changspa neighborhood. It’s not centuries-old like many of Ladakh’s Buddhist sites, but it’s a must-visit attraction for the views across Leh and the mountains beyond.