With miles of grasslands and echoes of chirps, Aru Valley is a relatively peaceful locale. It is located on the left bank of Aru River (Lidder River's tributary), and thus the name was given. Often, offbeat travelers and trekkers visit this village mainly because it acts as a trekking base for those trekking to Tarsar-Marsar Lake, Katrine Valley, Vishansar-Krishnasar, Lidderwat, Kangan, and Kolahoi Glacier. The village falls at a distance of a mere 12 km from Pahalgam, a popular tourist attraction of Kashmir. As soon as winter knock-in, the region gets sprinkled with snow and converted into a favorite skiing and heliskiing resort. Hiking, fishing, and horse-riding are other popular activities in Aru Valley. If someone is interested in wildlife safari, there is the Overa-Aru Biosphere 76 kilometers away.
Best Time to Visit Aru Valley in Pahalgam
The best time to visit the Aru Valley is between March and November. However, if you want to try snow activities, visit Aru during the winter season. In summers too, you can spend some time playing in the snow as snow is found in higher altitudes of the valley. In monsoon, the region receives scanty rainfall.
How to reach the Aru Valley in Pahalgam?
Aru Valley is situated almost 12 km from Pahalgam, and it takes 30 minutes approx. to reach it. You can hire a taxi or private car from Pahalgam to Aru Valley.
Entrance Fee for Aru Valley in Pahalgam
There is a fee to enter Aru Valley in Pahalgam. So every person needs to pay Rs 25 as an entry fee.
Top Things to Do in Aru Valley in Pahalgam
Some of the things to do in Aru Valley are:
- Fishing in the Aru River
- Heli-skiing, snow-skiing
- Horse rides
- Sightseeing
