Patnitop Travel Guide

Patnitop is located at 6,640ft, famous tourist places in India, the highest point along the highway, has led a wag to nickname Patnitop a 20th century hill station as opposed to the other kind that were discovered centuries ago and hence approached by narrow roads. Bounded by dense forests of pine and cedar, Panitop is not unlike an oasis in the desert, because in the relatively low-lying part of Jammu province, it is one of the few areas that receive snowfall in winter. Cool and bracing in the height of summer, day-trippers who hurry through the Jammu-katra-Panitop circuit as quickly as they can, only to depart by the evening, besiege Patnitop. However, to do that is to miss the charm of the place. Situated on the very top of a hill, Patnitop offers an excellent vantage point to enhoy the stunning vistas of the Chenab Gorge.

In winter, there’s a thin layer of snow covering Patnitop thin but enough for enterprising locals to run a skiing school, strictly for beginners or those unlikey to see snow again in a hurry. Ditto for sledgeing snowmen and snowball fights.

It’s easy to walk around Patnitop never hot and only 5 km in area. If you wish, there are ponies on hire and most places can be approached by car. Chinar Garden, Picnic Spot complete with swings and slides and Skating Garden are the three must visit spots. But a far better option is to head out on your won with a book and a sandwich this is one of the few places in Jammu where you’ll hear the wind soughing through cedar tress.

There are two excursions out of Patnitop. One to Madha Top the ridge opposite Patnitop and the other to Sanasar, a grassy meadow fringed by firtrees. Somewhat inevitably it has been given the sobriquet mini Gulmarg.

Place of Worship

The 6th cenury Nag Temple at Ishadhari is within Patnitop itself. The small bazaar that has sprung up around it offers some cherry-like dried fruits that double up as prasad as well as mementos. Just outside Patnitop is Shudh Mahadev ka Pahad, which houses a holy trishul. Slightly further away is Mantalai with its apple orchards and lemon and orange groves. Its religious link is that Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvati Devi here. Near Mantalai, Krimchi is the site of the oldest temples in the Jammu region.