Best Time To Visit Patnitop
Overview
Go offbeat with Patnitop, one of the most serene hill stations of Jammu and Kashmir. Located in the Udhampur district, the town welcomes tourists from all over the country. As they are on their way to Holy Temple of Vaishno Mata in Katra, one day sightseeing at Patnitop is often enjoyed.
Patnitop is one of those places where you get to explore various temples and attractions as well as take part in a number of activities such as zip-lining, trekking, camping and photography. While these are generally accessible in the summer season, visit in winter for skiing and snowboarding. Hence, the best time to visit Patnitop depends on your preference and interests.
The town will welcome you year round. The local tourist spots in Patnitop are open to tourists in every season. It is the outdoor activities that differ according to the time of the year you are travelling.
Whenever you visit, make sure to plan everything beforehand to have a fun yet safe experience. Let Cliffhangers India help you in achieving a hustle-free trip. Here’s a guide regarding the best time to visit Patnitop. Have a glance!
A Year-Round Destination for Summer, Winter, and Snowfall
Patnitop in Summer
During summer, the temperature remains moderate, fluctuating between 20°C to 25°C. It lasts from May to September. Days are generally warm with comfortable nights.
Occasional rainfall is received in months like July and August. However, it is nowhere near to heavy rains unlike the rest of North India.
Summer is the best time to visit Patnitop for sightseeing and a number of outdoor activities.
Starting with trekking, it is the perfect time to plan hiking and trekking expeditions to embark on, starting from Shiva Garh to Kud Park. Other outdoor activities accessible during this time of the year include zip-lining, camping, photography, etc.
Tourists can spend the late evening and night, stargazing under the star-studded skies and camping around a bonfire. In this particular season, late September is the best time to visit Patnitop in summer for crystal clear views and natural photography.
There are many reasons why summer is the most convenient time for a Patnitop trip. Starting with the accessibility to different local attractions that are open to the public. Even roads and routes in and around Patnitop are motorable and safe to drive on.
If you are visiting here in summer, bring light cotton clothes like shirt, tshirt, trousers, jeans and walking shoes. Keep a light sweater or two to cover during cool evenings.
Patnitop in Winter
Winter is the peak season for tourism in Patnitop. Lasting from December to February, cold weather prevails as the region receives heavy snowfall.
The temperature drops below freezing levels and ranges between 0°C to -10°C. At night, it even goes down to -15°C, resulting in a shivering cold. As white and powdery snow accumulates, the entire region turns into a winter wonderland.
The white scenery seems straight out of a painting. It is the most popular season among honeymooners as the place remains crowded with newly wed couples, exploring different parts of it.
Tourists visit here for a range of couple friendly as well as family friendly activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledging, etc. The smooth slopes found here are ideal for beginners as well the steepy turns offer thrilling opportunities to seasonal adventure buffs.
For a few years, the Winter carnival celebrated in January/February is the prime highlight of the season.
The government organises a number of cultural events and sport competitions to attract visitors. As you come here, book hotels and taxis in advance as accommodations often remain unavailable due to heavy snowfall.
Book a thermally regulated hotel or guesthouse to fight the extreme cold conditions. Bring proper woolens like thermals, jackets, sweaters, beanie, gloves, warm socks and a pair of boots.
Patnitop for Snowfall
The best time to visit Patnitop for snowfall is from December to February.
Everything including trees, houses, local attractions, mountains are enveloped into a blanket of powdery snow. The heaviest snowfall is received in January when it snows continuously for more than 24 hours sometimes.
It lasts for twenty out of thirty days in the month. It is the perfect time to plan a winter vacation and enjoy playing with snow with your partner and family.
You can build snowmen and snow castles here. Other than enjoying live snowfall, you can learn and experience a number of snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Beginners courses are offered by different skiing schools located in Patnitop. You can easily rent the gears from nearby rental shops.
As you go in alpine regions for either skiing or snowboarding, be sure to carry avalanche gears like shovels, beacons, etc. To walk properly on the slippery snow, put on a sturdy and snug fit pair of boots.
Why Should You Visit Patnitop?
- Beautiful landscape: Well, the first and foremost reason why you should visit Patnitop is the gorgeous landscape filled with meadows, lakes and mountains, awaiting tourists. The local villages, the vibrant markets of the town and the hospitality is worth a trip.
- Adventurous activities: In Patnitop, tourists can have a thrilling experience with a number of activities available such as trekking, zip lining, camping, photography in summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter. Both beginners and experienced adventure buffs are more than welcome here.
- Spiritual tour: To add on more spiritual sights to your tour in Jammu and Kashmir, visit the holy temples like Naag Temple and Sudh Mahadev Temple in Patnitop. A number of festivals are celebrated at these spiritually significant temples, attended by locals as well as tourists.
- Year-round destination: Another reason for visiting Patnitop is that you can plan the trip anytime of the year. Whether you are looking to spend your summer vacation here or a winter getaway with family, Patnitop is the ideal option to go for.
Essential Tips for Visitors
Advance booking: Advance everything in advance via online websites like your flights, accommodations etc. It is highly suggested in the peak months when flights and hotels are packed with tourists.
Proper clothing: it is advisable to wear decent and full sleeved clothes when visiting temples and shrines, respecting the culture of the locals. When doing outdoor activities like Paragliding, neither wear too tight nor too loose to be comfortable.
Restricted photography: Some places in Patnitop like Naag Temple restrict photography inside the temple. Be sincere about that and don’t do anything forcefully. People here are very disciplined about the culture and beliefs.
Travel guide: You can surely travel to Patnitop solo but taking someone, local and experienced, along is more appreciated especially if you are going for the first time. It is safer and you get help in reaching and exploring different places.
How to Reach
The nearest airport is Jammu Airport to where major flights are available from major Indian cities. The distance between Jammu Airport and Patnitop is 110 kilometres and you can take a taxi or bus to reach the town.
Book your tickets in advance so that there is no fear of cancellation and you also save some money on them.
There are two prominent railway stations that are available if you have opted for a train journey. One is in Jammu and other in Udhampur. From Jammu, you have to cover a distance of 110 kms to reach Patnitop. If your final destination of the train is at Udhampur, then Patnitop is about 46 kilometres from here.
Cabs and taxis are available from here to reach the town. If you are travelling by car then, National Highway 44 is the route to reach Patnitop from Jammu city(110 kilometres from Patnitop) Udhampur( 46 kilometres from Patnitop) and Katra (85 kilometres from Patnitop) and many other regions of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a safe highway and you must be updated about its current condition.