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Betaab Valley
Betaab Valley, Pahalgam Overview
Betaab Valley was originally called Hagan Valley or Hagoon. It is situated merely 15 kilometers away from the beautiful town of Pahalgam, which is located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Betaab Valley is a nature’s marvel. It offers a delightful view of the valley in the lap of the majestic mountains around it. The valley is replete with tall frees of deodar and abundance of pine trees. The Lidder river flowing through the valley makes it even more picturesque. There’s an interesting story behind the name that it got. A shot of a popular Bollywood movie, named Betaab, was shot in the valley. The valley got its name from the movie. Since then, the valley has been receiving thousands of tourists every year. It is a very popular tourist destination and offers plenty of scenic sights that delight the soul.
You will find the valley on your way to the highly revered Amarnath Temple. It is between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi. Interestingly, Betaab valley is not the only beautiful valley in Pahalgam. The Aru Valley and Chandanwadi Valley are two other valleys that deserve mention.
The valley is characterized by vast green pastures, snow-covered mountains and sparkling streams of water that traverse its chest. Together they offer a truly divine view of the valley. The valley is famous not only for its beautiful landscape but is also famous as a trekking base for tourists who want to indulge in adventure sports. It is also a camping site for devotees traveling to the Amarnath Temple. The valley is a great destination for avid photographers who want to take home beautiful memories of this heaven on earth.
The Betaab Valley is a great spot for tourists wanting to take recluse in a pollution-free environment. The place is full of beautiful and colorful flowers for various varieties. Visit the place yourself to listen to birds chirping and sparkling white water flowing.
More on Betaab Valley
History of Betaab Valley
The beautiful valley was originally known as Hagan Valley or Hagoon. This was when Kashmir was under the reign of Mughals since the 15th century. Later, it was General Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat who ruled the place on behalf of Kashgar’s Sultan Said Khan and later on behalf of Humayun, the Mughal Emperor and son of Babur.
The valley was renamed after a song from a Bollywood blockbuster ‘Betaab’, starring the then heartthrob Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, was shot here. The movie not only gave the valley its new name but also made it a popular tourist destination.
Bollywood Connection of Betaab Valley
The Betaab Valley has been a popular choice of shooting locations for decades. It got its name from the Bollywood superhit movie Betaab, but, interestingly, that is not the only movie to be shot here. The scenic valley was featured in movies like Kabhi Kabhi, Kashmir ki Kali, Silsila, Aarzoo, Satte Pe Satta, including the famous Bollywood blockbuster Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri. These Bollywood movies have earned it the popularity and people now want to visit the valley where their favorite movie stars have shot.
Things To Do at Betaab Valley
1. The valley is mainly famous for the breathtaking views it has to offer. Replete with pine and deodar trees, you can also find walnut and willow trees along with a different species of birds and colorful huts scattered throughout the valley.
2. The valley makes a great spot for horse riding. Horses are available for a ride for a small charge.
3. Avid campers and trekkers from America and Europe frequently visit the Betaab valley for its amazing trekking trails and scenic views.
4. If you want to explore further, you can take a half an hour walk along the Lidder river and absorb beautiful views of the Amarnath mountain range. There is a quaint island on Lidder that is only half a kilometer walk away and is replete with willow trees.
5. You can rent local Kashmiri dresses for as low as INR 60 per dress and get your and your family’s pictures clicked in colorful attire among sprawling trees and majestic mountains.
6. The Betaab valley something for kids too. It has an amusement park for children where they can enjoy rides.
7. You can visit Baisaran and Tulian Lake as well. They are close to the valley.
Best Time To Visit Betaab Valley
The Betaab Valley is famous for the sights it offers when it begins to snow. Try visiting the place by July. During this time, the mountains are covered in snow. When the snow melts, it looks like just another park that features streams and is among mountains.
Stay Near Betaab Valley
Since the Betaab Valley has become highly popular because of its connection to Bollywood, a number of hotels have mushroomed. Dana Pani, Troutbeat, Hotel Paradise and Restaurant, and Cafe Log Inn are some popular places to dine near the valley. There are plenty of good options to stay. You can book accommodation at Hotel Betab Palace, Maharaja Palace, Paristan Resorts, Hotel Indian Palace, and more.
How to Reach Betaab Valley
Betaab Valley can be reached on foot from Pahalgam which is why the valley has become immensely popular among tourists. For those visiting from Srinagar, there is a bus for Pahalgam that is run by JKSRTC.