Places of Interest

Every locale of district Kupwara is enchanting, mesmerizing and beckons the nature lovers. All spectacles of nature be it a village, plain, hill, mountain, pasture, river, meadow is eye catching and worth seeing. Although every inch of district is a health resort the places likely to be developed as tourist resorts are as under :-

BANGUS

This valley is situated at an altitude of 10000 feet above sea level, which presents the ecological system in front of you. The ecosystem includes trees such as grasslands and contracted trees and taiga, because of this you get to see a good positioning combination here. And here is the vegetation at low altitude, it is an unemployed valley west of Handwara coming in the Kupwara Tehsil which is divided into two parts, in which the big valley is called Bodh Bangus and the small valley is Lokut Bangus which is the Chaukibal Mountain and Samasheri mountains. The Stream of Mani Sankudhari Mountains originates from here and it is quite famous here.This enchanting and fascinating 20 x 15 Kms plain is full of wild orchids, with carpet of green grass, surrounded by high snow clad mountains, rivulets in cascades flowing from the mountains, chirping of colourful birds, grazing of cattle and sheep. This gives the semblance of a dream world.
It can be approached form Handwara Tehsil through Satkoji with a foot journey of 12 Kms. Second approach to it is through Chowkibal Marsari and again a foot journey of 15 way the Kms ahead. A Golf Course is proposed to be here which is likely to be the Asia’s biggest golf course.

DRANGYARI

Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty and rightly given as the tag of “Paradise on Earth”. There are numerous places in Kashmir which are famous for its flora and fauna and there lots of places which are yet to get their due importance. One such place is the Drangyari. Situated near the town of Chowkibal, one hour from Kupwara lies the nature’s wonder “Drangyari”. Drangyari in local parlance means a place where there is a confluence of Nalas. The valley has a major nala which flows along the roadside named Drangyari Nar. Three other small nalas also merge into this and this flows towards the town Chowkibal. The place is loaded with beautiful meadows, springs and snowmelt streams.
As you continue snaking your way along the Chowkibal-Tangdhar Road, after about 6 kms you will enter Drangyari Valley.
This attractive, worth seeing place is located in the west if Chowkibal on the way to Karnah.There is rest house facility provided by District Administration.

LOLAB VALLEY

Considered for its lush green meadows and spheroid, this valley is 9km away from kupwara, the valley is lined for the Lalkul or Lahwal green tree path and provides a good tourist spot here with walnuts apples, Fruits such as chola, cherry and peach which are grown here, this valley extends for about 30 villages. This valley is spread over 25km which provides beautiful waterfalls and natural beauty, thus making it easy to roam in Kashmir.
This attractive and beautiful valley full of magnificient blue prints has been praised by many poets .Dr. Allama Iqbal says, “pani teray chashsmoon ka tadapta hua seemab,´murgani sahar teray fizawoon main hai beetab aye wadiya Lolab’’, Fazil says, “wesiye su gulfam yad aam yad aam, yad aam Lolab Sogam yad aam yad aam”. Varnow village is home to renowed Kashmiri Islamic scholar Allama Anwar ShahRA Kashmiri. Sogam, Chandigam, Diver, Anderbug, Lalpore and Kalaroos are some of the noteworthy areas with rest house facilities. Historical LOV Nag spring is in Anderbug.

Satbaran Kalaroos

One of the most attractive places in the area of Lalob Valley is a cave located in the jungles of Madmadow, Kalla Ross, where you will see the ancient architecture, there are ancient caves where pictures of ancient times can be seen  It is said that these caves on Satbaran Peeth open near Russia in Central and North Asia, thus you will get to see the vastness and natural features of Lolab Valley here. Apart from this, you can visit the nearby Sadhana viewpoint where you will get to see the legend of blind and def fairies.

Sadna pass

Sadhna Pass, previously called as Nastachun pass, is a mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in the Himalayas and connects Karnah tehsil of Kupwara district with the rest of the Kashmir valley. It is approximately 30 km away from Kupwara main town. It is located in the vast Shams Bri mountain range. It is about 3130 m above sea level. The pass is best known for its generation-old mythological legend of Blind and Deaf Fairies. And the center or heart of karnah is kandi village located barely 1 km from tangdhar.

JABDI

Jabdi is a village at extreme in block Teetwal, tehsil Karnah of the district. It is located about 30 km towards west from tehsil headquarter Tangdar, 92 km from district headquarter Kupwara and about 180 km from srinagar city. Jabdi is surrounded by hills from three sides towards south and Jabdi village has its own natural beauty of forest, plains and fields. We can have a view of Shamsbari mountain from this place. A P.W.D rest house has been constructed there.

KERAN VALLEY

It is a charming valley located on the banks of sacred river Kishan Ganga. To reach the valley we have to cross 8000 feet high pass of Farkyan. Kishan Ganga forms the actual line of control between India and POK at Keran. Keran is a Village in Kralpora Block in the district. It is located 37 KM towards west from District headquarters Kupwara. 23 KM from Kralpora. 118 KM from State capital Srinagar. It’s a beautiful place to visit in the month of May to August. Keran is surrounded by Trehgam Block towards East , Kupwara Block towards East , Ramhal Block towards South , Rajwar Block towards East .There is rest-house in Keran for the visitors.

MUQAM SHAH WALI

The shrine of famous Saint Zaiti Shah Wali, located in village known after him as Muqam Shah Wali has been selected as a spot of tourist pilgrimage and is being developed accordingly. Zaiti Shah had been an army commandant of famous Chak ruler, Ali Shah Chak and a disciple of Hazrat Hamza Makdoomi. A three day mela is held at the Shrine in May every year in which Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs participate.
It is located 7 KMs towards East from District headquarters Kupwara, 82 KM from State capital Srinagar.

BADRAKALI

Ancient holy place of Hindus located on a motorable road leading from Handwara to Rajwar. There is a dormant volcano in the vicinity and Hindus revere it and is known by the name Soyamj.

MACHIL

The Machil valley is to the east of Kupwara. To reach there we have to cross the Noonwani Gully which is motorable in summer, but cut off in winter. There are rest-house facilities for the visitors.