One of the major places that you will visit in your Amarnath Yatra is Chandanwadi or Chandanwari. Chandanwadi is the actual starting point of your Amarnath Yatra. This place is full of beautiful natural scenery and wonderful Himalayan landscapes. During the Amarnath Yatra season of July and August, there are many campsites here and tents are set up for the pilgrims. Chandanwadi is one of the offbeat places to visit in Kashmir. There are no attractions to see in Chandanwadi. But the natural landscapes and mountain scenery in Chandanwadi are so beautiful that it makes this one of the major places to visit in your Amarnath Yatra.
Location of Chandanwadi
Chandanwadi is 16 km from Pahalgam. There is a motorable road from Pahalgam to Chandanwadi. A car takes about 30 minutes from Pahalgam to reach Chandanwadi.
Chandanwadi – The Starting Point of Amarnath Yatra
Chandanwadi is the base camp from which you will start your trekking to Amarnath Cave Temple. Many of the tourists who come to Chandanwadi are pilgrims who are going on their Amarnath Yatra. Amarnath Yatra happens from June to August every year. There are many dhabas and some tea stalls in Chandanwadi. You can come to Chandanwadi by car from Pahalgam. But from Chandanwadi there is no motorable road. The only way is to trek by foot up to Amarnath Cave.
Betaab Valley – The Most Famous Stop on the Route from Pahalgam to Chandanwadi
One of the most famous places that you can visit during your drive from Pahalgam to Chandanwadi is Betaab Valley. The valley was named after the famous Bollywood movie called Betaab, which was extensively shot in the beautiful and scenic valleys of Pahalgam. You can do horse riding here in Betaab Valley. The original name of Betaab Valley was Hagoon, but later on, became famous due to the movie Betaab. The valley is full of alpine forests and you can see beautiful trees such as pine, deodar, willow, poplars and so on. The Lidder River which flows here adds a scenic touch to Betaab Valley.
Chandanwadi During the Winter Season
Chandanwadi is closed to visitors during the winter season. Heavy snowfall takes place in Chandanwadi from December to February and the ground is covered with thick layers of snow.
Things to Do at Chandanwadi
There is not much to do at Chandanwadi other than rest and camp stay. However, you can do exciting activities like sledding in the snow, snow skiing, horse riding, photography, and nature walks. There is a waterfall nearby which you can visit for sightseeing. The best thing about sightseeing in Chandanwadi is that wherever you go, you will walk on the banks of the Lidder River which flows here.
