Kashmir's most relaxed hill town, where the Lidder river runs through pine forest at 2,130 metres, with Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari branching off above it.
2,130 m2 daysBest: Mar–Nov
Hill stationValleyTrekking
Kashmir Valley · Anantnag
Aru Valley
The trailhead where the real mountains begin
- Valley
- Trekking
- Offbeat
- Altitude
- 2,414 m
- Ideal stay
- Half day to overnight
- From Srinagar
- 102 km
- From Jammu
- 267 km
- Best months
- May–Oct
Overview
About Aru Valley
Aru sits at 2,414 metres where the Lidder valley narrows and turns serious. It is a working village of around a hundred and fifty households, with log and stone houses, horses grazing the meadow and a river that comes straight off the Kolahoi glacier.
Most visitors come for an afternoon, which is a pity. Aru is the launch point for some of the best trekking in the Himalaya — the Kolahoi glacier approach, the Tarsar–Marsar lake circuit, and the route over to Lidderwat and Sekhwas. There are simple guesthouses and camps, and the valley after the day-trippers leave is a different place entirely.
Also known as: Aru
Why people come here
Tarsar–Marsar trek
A five to seven day circuit to two of the most beautiful alpine lakes in India, starting from Aru.
Kolahoi glacier
Kashmir's largest glacier, reached in two days via Lidderwat from Aru.
The meadow and village
Log houses, horses and a Himalayan river — the archetypal Kashmiri high village.
Lidderwat
A riverside camp site three hours up the valley and one of the loveliest places to spend a night in Kashmir.
Things to do in Aru Valley
Walk up towards Lidderwat
Even two hours up the trail puts you in completely different country from the Pahalgam road.
Stay overnight
Simple guesthouses and summer camps let you see the valley without day-trip crowds.
Start the Tarsar–Marsar trek
One of the finest moderate treks in the Himalaya; July to September, with a local crew.
Ride to the upper meadows
Horses are available in the village for shorter half-day excursions.
Photographs
Aru Valley across the seasons
Open-licence photography so you can see what the place actually looks like at different times of year — not a retouched brochure.
Spring and summer
July to September is when Tarsar–Marsar and Kolahoi are open and at their best.
Autumn and winter
The road from Pahalgam can close for days at a time after heavy snowfall.
Season by season
What Aru Valley is like through the year
Including the months when it is genuinely closed — because knowing that in advance saves a wasted trip.
Spring · Mar–May
OpenSnowmelt and new grass
May opens the valley properly; higher trek routes are still under snow.
2°C to 16°C
- Meadow walks
- Horse rides
- Photography
Summer · Jun–Aug
OpenFull trekking season
July to September is when Tarsar–Marsar and Kolahoi are open and at their best.
9°C to 23°C
- Tarsar Marsar trek
- Kolahoi glacier trek
- Camping
- Horse riding
- Trout fishing
Autumn · Sep–Nov
OpenGolden and cold
Early October is superb for trekking; by late October the high camps shut down.
-1°C to 17°C
- Trekking
- Photography
- Village walks
Winter · Dec–Feb
OpenDeep snow, limited access
The road from Pahalgam can close for days at a time after heavy snowfall.
-9°C to 3°C
- Snow photography
- Snow trekking
Getting there
How to reach Aru Valley
By air
Srinagar Airport (SXR) is 107 km away, about three hours.
By rail
Anantnag (57 km) is the closest station; Jammu Tawi (267 km) for long-distance trains.
By road
12 km from Pahalgam by local union taxi — private vehicles are not permitted on the route.
Nearby
Combine Aru Valley with
Places close enough to fold into the same itinerary without adding long drives.
A manicured river meadow seven kilometres from Pahalgam, walled by pine ridges and named after the 1983 film shot there.
2,200 m2–3 hoursBest: Apr–Oct
ValleyGarden
Kashmir Valley
Chandanwari
At 2,895 metres, the highest point reachable by road above Pahalgam — where snow bridges survive into summer and the Amarnath yatra begins.
2,895 m2–3 hoursBest: Apr–Sep
SnowPilgrimageTrekking
Kashmir Valley
Amarnath Cave
One of Hinduism's most revered shrines — a Himalayan cave where a stalagmite of ice forms each summer, reached by a demanding pilgrimage from Pahalgam or Baltal.
3,888 m2–5 daysBest: Jul–Aug
PilgrimageTrekkingSnow
Questions
Aru Valley FAQs
Something not covered? Ask us directly — we answer every message personally.
How do I get to Aru Valley from Pahalgam?
By local union taxi — 12 km on a fixed-rate route. Private cars are not allowed, so this is arranged locally on the day or pre-booked through us.
Is Aru worth an overnight stay?
Yes, if you have the time. The valley empties out after 5 p.m. and the evening and early morning are the best parts of the day.
Which treks start from Aru?
Tarsar–Marsar, the Kolahoi glacier route via Lidderwat, and the crossover to Sonmarg via Sekhwas for experienced trekkers.
Start planning
Planning a trip to Aru Valley?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will put Aru Valley into a full itinerary with the right stops around it, and tell you honestly whether your chosen month works.
A reply within hours
A planner in Srinagar reads your enquiry and responds personally, usually the same working day.
An itinerary, not a brochure
You get a day-by-day plan written for your dates, group and pace — then we refine it together.
One clear quote
Every inclusion listed in writing before you pay anything. No surprise charges on the ground.
Prefer to talk? +91 88991 23434 · Every day, 09:00-21:00