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Considered by many to be the most beautiful of Kashmir's
side valleys, the Sind is also the access route to the Zoji la, the pass
crossed by the road to Ladakh. Buses leave from the tourist reception
center in Srinagar daily for Sonamarg, 52 miles away in the midst of the
Sind valley.
Accessing The Best Treks Of The Region
Located northeast of
Srinagar , this
alpine valley was throughly enjoyed by early travelers to
Ladakh . Sind is not
only extremely beautiful, but from it one can leave for or return from
some of the best trekking areas to be found in Kashmir.
Sonamarg - The Trek Base
An excellent base for trekking is Sonamarg, the "Golden Meadow."
In the summer months this meadow area is visited for the day by many down
country tourists. Sonamarg has a small, tourist bazaar and some seasonal
restaurants, and the tourist center here is a well of activity with people
booking horseback rides or rest houses for the night. Pastel saris trimmed
with gold shimmer in the daytime breeze, and many of the gaily dressed
city people take the 3-mile horseback ride west, then south, to the
Thajiwas glacier, often led by a tall, somber Gujar.