Budget Travel Guide to Patnitop and Sanasar Lake

Patnitop Temperature can get as low as -2 degrees Celcius in winter.

Are you searching the internet for a holiday destination outside India?

There are cheaper options available within India to play with snow and click pictures, and one of them is Patnitop.

I have listed a few pointers in this article for Budget Travel to Patnitop from Katra, and more useful information for you to read.

This article will help you Save Time & Money

Usually, after visiting Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine most of the tourists do a one-day journey to Patnitop. The distance from Katra to Patnitop is approximately 85 kilometers. Travel time via a bus is approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Patnitop

Budget Options to Reach Patnitop from Katra

Budget Option 1: Shared Private Bus

• The first way to reach Patnitop is via a bus &  the bus will charge approximately 300 to 400 rupees per person for a two-way trip
• This is a one-day trip to Patnitop, where you leave Karta in the morning and leave Patnitop on the same day in the evening around 6 pm to return to Katra.
• You will have limited time to discover Patnitop.
• It is important to note that this charge is a two-way fare, now that is not expensive, meaning you are paying 400 rupees for a two-way trip from Katra to Patnitop and back to Katra from Patnitop.
• If you are traveling by bus then you will get only one halt of 20 minutes only for washroom or food.
• The bus will drop you at the taxi stand at Patnitop and from there you have to travel further to visit major attractions in and around Patnitop.

Budget Option 2: Shared Tempo Traveller

The second budget option to reach Patnitop from Katra is via a Tempo Traveller, the Tempo Traveller will charge somewhere between 450 to 600 rupees for a two-way trip.

Not so Budget Option to reach Patnitop from Katra

One Day Return Journey (Private Taxi)

If you are not on a tight budget then you can also go for a private taxi that will charge you somewhere between 2000 to 3000 rupees for a two-way trip, to book your taxi you can go to the taxi stand next to Katra circle

In and around the Katra bus stand you will find offices of multiple travel agents who will help you or assist you in booking to your travel from Katra to Patnitop

Two-Day Journey (Private Taxi)

• If you have a slightly higher but then you can go for a taxi package directly from Katra.
• This package will cost you somewhere between 3500 to 5,000
• On Day 1, for the full day, they will take you to various attractions in and around Patnitop and at the night you have to stay at your own cost at one of the hotels in Patnitop where you have to pay somewhere between 1500 rupees to 4000 rupees for a night
• On Day 2, the same taxi will take you to the rest of the places and then drop you either back to Katra or to Jammu wherever you wish to go

After You Reach Patnitop

In Patnitop, you can also hire snow dresses and snow shoes for approximately 200 to 300 rupees but usually, you do not need them.

You will have to hire another taxi in Patnitop to visit attractions in and around Patnitop and for that approximately you will have to spend 200 rupees per person after bargaining and striking a group deal (for a group of 11 people)

You may also choose to walk to all the attractions in and around Patnitop but then it will be very time-consuming and you may not be able to cover all the places

Attractions in Patnitop

The local taxi that you hire in Patnitop will first take you to:

Children’s park

• Here you will find a lot of snow to play with and click pictures
• There are lots of activities for children here
• You can also do bungee jumping
• For food, you can have masala Maggi and momos

Padora Park

• The next place where your local tourist taxi guide will take you is the “Padora Park” (this is the biggest park in Patnitop)
• Here you can do a zipline activity for approximately 150 to 200 rupees per person and you can also enjoy a small Buggy ride for which you will have to pay somewhere between 10 rupees to 20 rupees per ride
• You may also book a room to stay overnight here in J&K tourism Huts.
• You may eat a small size Chole Kulcha for INR 25

Naag Mandir / Temple

• The next tourist place where your local taxi tourist guide will take you his Naag Mandir
• This is the only temple in Patnitop.
• The Shivling in this temple is believed to be an incarnation of Naag Baba.
• It is believed that this temple fulfills the wishes of everyone.

Sky View Point

The next point will be the Sky View Point from where you can take a ropeway ride which is also called the “Gandola Ride” for which they charge INR 110 for a two-way ride

More useful information about Patnitop

1. The nearest airport is Jammu Airport at a distance of 115 kilometers. Taxi fare from the airport to Patnitop is approximately INR 2500-3000
2. The nearest Railway Station is Udhampur which is just 45 kilometers away. Taxi fare is approximately somewhere between INR 1000 to INR 1500. Bus fare is around INR 60-70
3. You can book cottages online on the website of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism website
4. You can take a horse ride to see 4 to 5 short-distance sights in Patnitop for approximately INR 500
5. You may book a ropeway ride online from www.skyviewpoint.com
6. A lot of adventure activities like snowboarding are available in the ECO Park in Patnitop
7. “Mathatop” near Patnitop is famous for its trekking.
8. “Nathattop” also offers various adventure activities to tourists.
9. Sanasar Lake near Patnitop offers adventure activities like Paragliding, Horse Riding and also has a Golf Ground
10. If you wish to see snow at Patnitop, then December, January, and February are the best time to visit. Else you may visit anytime during the year.

Patnitop Temperature / Weather in Patnitop

The Best Time to visit Patnitop is between April to June. In summer, Patnitop temperature does not rise above 18 degrees Celcius. In winter it may go down up to -2 degrees Celcius. If we exclude winter, the Patnitop weather is pleasant all year round.

A brief note about Sanasar

• Sanasar is 20 kilometers from Patnitop
• If you are coming to Sanasar in the winter or while snowfall, It is recommended that you have an SUV as is it easy to navigate in the snow
• Small cars may have a tough time on the roads in and around Sanasar during heavy snowfall.
• The name “Sanasar” is derived from the names of two small villages, “Sana” & “Sar”.
• Sanasar lake freezes after Heavy snowfall, usually in the month of January.

Where to stay in Sanasar?

• There are multiple options available, however, I prefer and recommend you stay at Travel Tales Eco Stay – Sanasar
• This homestay option is just 300 meters from the Sanasar Bus Stand
• Travel Tales Eco Stay, Near Sanasar Bus Stand, Sanasar, Jammu, and Kashmir, Pincode: 182142
• For online booking, Click Here

Why did I recommend this option?

• 1. Pet Friendly
• 2. No need to search for food outside, you may use their kitchen and cook food for yourself (100% healthy option than readymade food)
• 3. This is a HomeStay and not a regular Hotel.

Activities to do at Sanasar

Sanasar will not disappoint you in terms of scenic beauty and adventure, you may do the below activities

1. Boating,
2. Sledge Rides
3. Horse Riding
4. Feed the fish in Sanasar lake
5. Trek from Sanasar lake upward toward Shankpal temple
6. From Sanasar Lake you may also choose to visit Nathatop and the TV tower on the highest point

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