Aru Valley Travel Guide: Explore Kashmir's Hidden Gem

About The Aru Valley

Aru Valley In Pahalgam

Set about 12 km from Pahalgam, Aru Valley is among the must-visit destinations in Kashmir. The valley is a beautiful village in the Anantnag district with towering, snow-clad hills and lush green landscapes embracing it from all sides. 

The thick pine and cedar forests with colourful flowers and sparkling lakes only add to the beauty of this place, making it highly popular among photography enthusiasts. The valley got its shape from the convergence of two streams, one starting from the Lidder River and the other gushing from the Aru Glacier. 

Besides, the place also serves as a trekking destination for adventure lovers. It's a camping base for the popular trekking route to Kolahoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake.

How To Arrive At The Aru Valley?

Arrive Aru Valley, Pahalgam

If you're starting the trip from Srinagar, you can book a private cab or take a bus to Pahalgam. We also recommend shared cabs as they're generally inexpensive. 

You can easily find a shared taxi from Srinagar to Anantnag district (also known as Islamabad), which can cost you about Rs. 100-120; make sure to bargain! These taxis are available from the Lal Chowk Taxi Stand.  Now, you can take another shared vehicle from the Anantnag Taxi Stand to Pahalgam, which will cost about the same. 

Upon reaching Pahalgam, you can take a private cab to the Aru Valley or a shared one, depending on the comfort you'd like. Again, the shared one costs about Rs.30-50, which is cheap, for the 30-minute ride to the Aru village. 

Best Season To Plan A Trip To the Aru Valley 

Trip To Aru Valley Pahalgam

If you want to enjoy the pleasant weather of Aru Valley, we recommend visiting during the summer season between May and September. During this time, the weather is neither too warm nor too cold and just about perfect, making it ideal for trekking! But it can get colder at night, so keep this in mind while packing clothes for the trip! 

During winters, specifically from January to February, the Aru Valley receives significant snowfall. Moreover, the road to the valley from Pahalgam is very narrow and somewhat steep, so it gets blocked by the snowfall, which is left uncleared. During this time, the village completely separates from the rest of the town, making it impossible and unsafe for tourists to visit. 

By March, the weather gets warmer again, and the snow starts melting, making the village accessible to tourists! If you wish to experience the chilly weather, you can check out the valley after March. However, for activities like skiing and sledging, we advise visiting primary tourist spots like Gulmarg, which are easier to visit in the winter season! 

Where To Stay In The Aru Valley? 

As mentioned earlier, the Aru Valley is a small village. Here, you will find various decent accommodation options offering all the necessities, including breakfast/dinner. 

And the best thing? They're so much cheaper than the ones you'll find in Pahalgam! Most hotels here offer rooms at a price between Rs. 600-800 per day! While in Pahalgam, the minimum price for a room is around Rs. 1500, i.e. if you manage to negotiate! 

Aru Valley

Aru Valley Visiting Time & Entrance Fee 

The valley is a village, so no such thing as the opening or closing time exists here. You are free to visit whenever you like! Also, there is no entrance fee, which isn't the case for the Betaab Valley, where the entry ticket costs about Rs. 100 per head with additional vehicle parking charges! 

Things To Do In The Aru Valley & Nearby Places To Visit. 

Things to do in Aru Valley

Despite not being a hub for snow activities, this valley still gains a lot of tourists during spring and summer! These people come here with the purpose of trekking and camping! If you're physically fit and experienced, we recommend the Green Top Trek, which has a steep route but offers an incredible view from the top, worth all the struggle! 

The valley offers other activities like horseback riding and fishing in the Lidder River! If you're willing to partake in a long, multi-day trek, we recommend the Kolahoi Glacier Trek, which can take as long as five days, including the return to the Aru village! 

Many other multi-day treks, including the Thajiwas Glacier Trek and Tarsar Glacier Trek, are also available from the Aru Village. Other than that, one can check out nearby tourist spots from the Aru Valley, such as the Betaab Valley, which is popular for offering snow activities like sledging and skiing. It's about 19 km from the Aru Valley, so visit if you have a free day on the trip! 

Conclusion

And that's a wrap for this article! Yes, life gets monotonous now and then, but with nature's creations like the Aru Valley, we have several places to help us unwind! 

So, what are you waiting for? Now, you know enough about this hidden gem, so on this trip, include it in your list of places to visit in Kashmir!