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Pahalgam

Coordinates: 34°01′N 75°11′E / 34.01°N 75.19°E / 34.01; 75.19
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For the shooting event in April 2025, see 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Pahalgam
Pahalgom
Town
Lavender Park
View of the town
Trees above the valley in winter
View of the valley
Pahalgam is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Pahalgam
Pahalgam
Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Pahalgam is located in India
Pahalgam
Pahalgam
Pahalgam (India)
Coordinates: 34°01′N 75°11′E / 34.01°N 75.19°E / 34.01; 75.19
CountryIndia
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
DistrictAnantnag
Government
 • BodyPahalgam Municipal Committee
Area
[1]
 • Total
18.02 km2 (6.96 sq mi)
Elevation
2,200 m (7,200 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
9,264
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialKashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[3][4]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN[5]
192126[5]
STD Code+91-01936
Vehicle registrationJK-03
Websiteanantnag.nic.in/tourist-place/pahalgam/

Pahalgam (Urdu pronunciation: [pɛɦɛlɡɑːm]) or Pahalgom (Kashmiri pronunciation: [pəhəlʲɡoːm]) is a town in Anantnag district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 2,200 m (7,200 ft) in the Vale of Kashmir. Pahalgam is the headquarters of the Pahalgam tehsil, one of the eleven tehsils in Anantnag district.

Located about 45 km (28 mi) from Anantnag, the town is a popular tourist destination and hill station. The town is the starting point of the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath Temple, which takes place in July–August.

Etymology

Pahalgam literally means "village of the shepherds" in Kashmiri, with "Puheyl" meaning shepherd and "goam" meaning village.[6][7] In Hindu literature, the region is mentioned as "Bailgaon", meaning "village of the bull", to indicate where the Hindu god Shiva left his bull on the way to Amarnath.[8][9]

Geography

Pahalgam is located in Anantnag district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[1][10] It is located at an altitude of 2,200 m (7,200 ft) in the Lidder Valley, which extends east of Jhelum River in the Vale of Kashmir.[6][11] The two streams of Lidder River—East and West Lidder—join near Pahalgam before proceeding through the narrow valley.[12] At Pahalgam, the valley divides into two, one heading towards Amarnath in the northeast and another leading to Aru in the northwest.[6] The region is made up of volcanic and limestone rocks interspersed with asymmetrical roche rocks.[13] The vegetation in the region is dominated by evergreen fir and coniferous trees such as pine and spruce.[14]

Climate

Pahalgam has a temperate climate, with mild summers and cold winters.[15] The temperature variation across the day in minimal in the winter months of December to February. Cold winds can result in a steep decrease in nighttime temperatures in winter to below zero.[16] Winter can result in heavy snowfall of up to 4 m (13 ft) thick.[11] Summer extends from June to October, when the temperatures are at a maximum. Pahalgam receives most of the precipitation from late winter after November to May before the onset of summer.[16]

Climate data for Pahalgam (1991–2020, extremes 1978–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.8
(56.8) 		17.6
(63.7) 		23.9
(75.0) 		27.4
(81.3) 		30.8
(87.4) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.5
(88.7) 		32.2
(90.0) 		30.0
(86.0) 		27.7
(81.9) 		23.0
(73.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		32.2
(90.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.9
(40.8) 		7.2
(45.0) 		12.5
(54.5) 		17.6
(63.7) 		21.3
(70.3) 		24.2
(75.6) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.4
(77.7) 		23.7
(74.7) 		19.9
(67.8) 		13.1
(55.6) 		7.9
(46.2) 		17.0
(62.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.1
(21.0) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		3.3
(37.9) 		5.8
(42.4) 		8.9
(48.0) 		12.9
(55.2) 		13.0
(55.4) 		8.7
(47.7) 		2.6
(36.7) 		−1.4
(29.5) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		3.5
(38.3)
Record low °C (°F) −18.6
(−1.5) 		−17.3
(0.9) 		−13.0
(8.6) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		1.5
(34.7) 		2.0
(35.6) 		4.0
(39.2) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−5.1
(22.8) 		−10.8
(12.6) 		−15.7
(3.7) 		−18.6
(−1.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 136.0
(5.35) 		144.5
(5.69) 		171.2
(6.74) 		144.2
(5.68) 		120.1
(4.73) 		91.2
(3.59) 		107.1
(4.22) 		114.9
(4.52) 		95.1
(3.74) 		38.2
(1.50) 		51.3
(2.02) 		59.7
(2.35) 		1,273.5
(50.14)
Average rainy days 8.1 9.3 10.3 10.0 9.8 8.3 8.8 9.0 7.0 3.3 3.0 3.9 90.8
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 80 76 66 60 57 58 64 68 65 59 68 75 66
Source: India Meteorological Department[17][18][19]

Demographics

Religion in Pahalgam (2011)[20]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 80.09%
Hinduism
 
 17.64%
Sikhism
 
 1.38%
Other or not stated
 
 0.99%

As of 2011, Pahalgam had a population of 9,264 people.[2] Males constitute 59.8% of the population and females 40.2%.[20] The town had an average literacy rate of 64.9% amongst the population of seven years and above. About 48% of the eligible age group were employed full-time, and 10% had casual employment.[1] Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up about two percent of the population.[1] Islam was the major religion, with 80% adherents, with Hindus forming the second largest group (17.6%).[20]

Administration

Pahalgam is administered by the Pahalgam Municipal Committee.[21][22] The municipal committee is responsible for providing basic civic amenities such as water supply, sanitation and waste management, and other government services.[23] The town is divided into 13 wards which elect their own local body representative to the municipal council.[21]

Transportation

Pahalgam is well-connected with other regions of Jammu and Kashmir by roads.[24] The NH 501 connects Pahalgam with Anantnag.[25] State-run bus services and private buses connect the town with Anantnag, Jammu, and Srinagar.[24] The nearest major rail heads are located at Udhampur and Jammu, about 217 km (135 mi) and 285 km (177 mi) away respectively. The nearest airport is the Srinagar International Airport, about 95 km (59 mi) from Pahalgam.[24]

Tourism

Pahalgam's location in the Lidder valley and its climate has led to the town becoming a popular tourist destination and hill station.[24][26] In 2015, the town had about 7,020 beds for tourists.[27]

Betaab Valley near Pahalgam

The Amarnath Temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site situated above the Pahalgam valley. The town forms the base camp for the yatra to the temple that takes place every year in the months of July–August, and results in a seasonal influx of pilgrims.[24][28] As per Hindu mythology, Shiva is believed to have left his mount Nandi in Pahalgam, the moon he carries on his head in Chandanwari, the snakes around his neck at Sheshnag Lake, and the five natural elements at Panchtarni before entering the Amarnath cave.[29] The yatra begins from Chandanwari, situated about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Pahalgam, and proceeds towards Amarnath via Sheshnag Lake and Panchtarni.[30]

Kolahoi Glacier is a hanging glacier situated up the Lidder Valley, just below Kolahoi Peak. It is accessible via a 35 km (22 mi) trail from Pahalgam via Aru.[31] Baisaran and Betaab valleys are verdant meadows flanked by mountains and evergreen trees, located close to Pahalgam.[32][33] Pahalgam Golf Course, also known as Lidder Valley Golf Course, is an 18-hole golf course inaugurated in 2011.[34]

The high influx of seasonal tourists results in the production of large quantities of solid wastes, which overwhelms the waste management system, and leads to dumping of wastes throughout the town. With an estimated 74% of the total municipal wastes coming from tourism, the dumping had increased the probability of waterborne diseases downstream of the Lidder River and other health issues.[27]

2025 Pahalgam attack

Main article: 2025 Pahalgam attack

On 22 April 2025, militants affiliated with The Resistance Front opened fire on a group of tourists at Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, killing at least 28 people and injuring more than 20 others.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Pahalgam". citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Basic Population Figures of India, States, Districts, Sub-District and Village, 2011". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ^ "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Pincodes and STD codes". Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Ahmad 2003, p. 6.
  7. ^ Betts & McCulloch 2014, p. 234.
  8. ^ Raina 2014, p. 325.
  9. ^ Hazra 2003, p. 71.
  10. ^ "Rain Genomics – Pahalgam". Galling Rain. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  11. ^ a b Kaul 1990, p. 31.
  12. ^ Kaul 1990, p. 25.
  13. ^ Ahmad 2003, p. 137.
  14. ^ Kaul 1990, p. 35.
  15. ^ Kaul 1990, p. 29.
  16. ^ a b Kaul 1990, p. 32.
  17. ^ "Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Station: Pahalgam Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 605–606. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M78. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "Population by religious community, Jammu and Kashmir - 2011". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Pahalgam MC". Census 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Cooperatives in Anantnag district". Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Services and amenities". Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Pahalgam". Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  25. ^ "New highways notification dated September, 2012" (PDF). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Pahalgam: Valley of paradise". Bangalore Mirror. 24 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  27. ^ a b Bashir, Subzar; Goswami, Subhrangsu (January 2016). "Tourism Induced Challenges in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Hill Towns: Case of Pahalgam". Procedia Environmental Sciences. Waste Management for Resource Utilisation. 35: 77–89. Bibcode:2016PrEnS..35...77B. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2016.07.048. ISSN 1878-0296.
  28. ^ "Amarnath Yatra: Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves under heightened security". Business Standard. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  29. ^ Sunita Pant Bansal (15 November 2012). Hindu pilgrimage;a journey through the holy places of Hindus all over India. V & S Publishers. p. 121. ISBN 978-93-5057-251-1. OCLC 930451370.
  30. ^ "Traditional route, Amarnath Yatra". Amarnath Yatra board. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  31. ^ N. Ahmed and N. H. Hashimi (1974). "Glacial History of Kolahoi Glacier, Kashmir, India" (PDF). Journal of Glaciology. 13 (68): 279. Bibcode:1974JGlac..13..279A. doi:10.1017/S002214300002308X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  32. ^ "Bollywood returns to Kashmir, its original home". NDTV. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  33. ^ "All About Pahalgam's Baisaran: From India's 'Mini Switzerland' To The Valley Of Horror". News18. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  34. ^ "Pahalgam's Lidder Valley Golf Course struggles with maintenance, 'mismanagement'". Greater Kashmir. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  35. ^ "LeT Affiliate "Resistance Front" Claims Pahalgam Attack: All About It". NDTV. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.

Bibliography

  • Ahmad, Bashir (2003). Jammu and Kashmir State: Kashmir region. State Gazetteers Unit, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Betts, Vanessa; McCulloch, Victoria (2014). Indian Himalaya Handbook. Footprint. ISBN 978-1-907-26388-0.
  • Hazra, Rajendra Chandra (2003). Rise of Epic and Purāṇic Rudra-Śiva Or Śiva Maheśvara. Sri Balaram Prakashani.
  • Kaul, Manmohan Nath (1990). Glacial and Fluvial Geomorphology of Western Himalaya Liddar Valley. Concept Publishing. ISBN 978-8-170-22244-6.
  • Raina, Mohini Qasba (2014). Kashur The Kashmiri Speaking People: Analytical Perspective. Partridge Publishing. ISBN 978-1-482-89945-0.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pahalgam.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pahalgam.
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