A glacial valley at 2,730 metres on the road to Ladakh, surrounded by snow peaks, braided rivers and the walk-in Thajiwas glacier.
2,730 m1–2 daysBest: May–Oct
ValleySnowTrekking
Kashmir Valley · Ganderbal
Thajiwas Glacier
Snow you can touch in July
- Snow
- Trekking
- Altitude
- 3,000 m
- Ideal stay
- Half day
- From Srinagar
- 84 km
- From Jammu
- 350 km
- Best months
- May–Sep
Overview
About Thajiwas Glacier
Thajiwas is the reason most day-trippers come to Sonmarg. The glacier sits in a side valley at around 3,000 metres, close enough that you can leave the meadow after breakfast and be standing on snow by mid-morning. Waterfalls come off the cliffs on either side, and the approach runs through birch and pine with the Sindh valley opening up behind you.
It is not a technical glacier and it is not a serious trek, which is exactly why it works for families and first-time mountain visitors. Ponies cover most of the route, sledge operators work the lower snowfields, and there are tea stalls along the way. Go early: by noon in peak season the approach is busy, and the afternoon cloud usually rolls in.
Also known as: Thajwas
Why people come here
Summer snow
One of the few places in India where you can reliably walk on snow in July without a serious trek.
Waterfalls on the approach
Meltwater falls line both sides of the valley through June and July.
Pony and sledge rides
Well-organised local operators make the glacier accessible to children and older travellers.
The view back down the Sindh
From the upper meadow the whole Sonmarg valley opens out below you.
Things to do in Thajiwas Glacier
Start by 8 a.m.
The approach is quieter, the light is better and afternoon cloud has not yet arrived.
Take a pony if you are unsure
The trail gains around 300 m and the last stretch is loose underfoot.
Try the sledge run
Operators set up short sledge runs on the lower snowfield — simple fun and very popular with kids.
Carry sunglasses
Glare off the snow at 3,000 m is genuinely strong, even on cloudy days.
Photographs
Thajiwas Glacier 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
June to September. Snow still lies on the upper glacier even in high summer — the main draw for visitors from the plains.
Autumn and winter
The approach is avalanche-prone and closed through deep winter.
Season by season
What Thajiwas Glacier 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
OpenMaximum snow, limited access
April and May have the deepest cover but the approach can be slushy and difficult.
0°C to 12°C
- Pony rides
- Snow play
- Photography
Summer · Jun–Aug
OpenThe classic season
June to September. Snow still lies on the upper glacier even in high summer — the main draw for visitors from the plains.
8°C to 20°C
- Glacier walk
- Sledging
- Pony rides
- Waterfall photography
Autumn · Sep–Nov
OpenBare ice and clear air
Snow cover retreats, but the walk is at its most pleasant and the valley is empty.
-1°C to 15°C
- Trekking
- Photography
Winter · Dec–Feb
Closed / inaccessibleInaccessible
The approach is avalanche-prone and closed through deep winter.
-14°C to -2°C
Getting there
How to reach Thajiwas Glacier
By air
Srinagar Airport (SXR) is 98 km from the Sonmarg trailhead.
By rail
Jammu Tawi (350 km) is the nearest major railhead.
By road
Drive to Sonmarg (80 km from Srinagar), then 3 km on foot or by pony from the meadow.
Nearby
Combine Thajiwas Glacier with
Places close enough to fold into the same itinerary without adding long drives.
The summer capital of Kashmir, built around a lake, a river and an old city of wooden balconies, copper-beaters and saffron-scented kitchens.
1,585 m2–3 daysBest: Mar–Oct
LakeHeritageGarden
The deepest lake in the valley, famous for its summer lotus beds, a Mughal garden on its shore and a complete absence of crowds.
1,583 mHalf dayBest: Apr–Oct
LakeOffbeat
Questions
Thajiwas Glacier FAQs
Something not covered? Ask us directly — we answer every message personally.
How far is Thajiwas Glacier from Sonmarg?
About 3 km from the main meadow — 60 to 90 minutes on foot, or around 40 minutes by pony.
Is there snow at Thajiwas in June and July?
Yes. Cover varies year to year, but there is almost always walkable snow on the upper glacier through the summer.
Can children do the Thajiwas walk?
Yes, especially by pony. The lower snowfield with its sledge runs is the part most families enjoy most.
Start planning
Planning a trip to Thajiwas Glacier?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will put Thajiwas Glacier 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