Main Info
Sopore is a small town that is located 48 kms away from the Srinagar district. It is situated on the banks of the beautiful river Jhelum of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is said to be founded in as early as 880 AD by the then ruling King Avantivarman of the Utpala Dynasty. In the modern times, Sopore is famous as the Apple town of Asia because of its high yield of fruits. It is the second largest fruit market in Asia. It is also the place in the North Kashmir where trade takes place and is, therefore, of significant importance.
It has some famous monuments, such as Said Mouj Mundji, Jamia Masjib, Khan-kah Shah-i-Hamdan, and more shrines that speak of its religious culture. The town is easily accessible from Anantnag. One can reach Sopore from there in less than 2 hrs by cab. The place is well planned and has abundant arrows and landmark assistance along the way to help tourists reach there without much difficulty. Sopore also has adequate fooding and lodging facilities, so tourists can stay there and take a good night’s rest on their way to further destinations. Of course, the travel time is dependent on traffic and road conditions as well.
More about Anantnag Sopore
Anantnag is quite populated as compared to the 22 districts of Jammu andKashmir. It is locally called Islamabad and was the third most populous district in J&K as in 2011. Jammu and Srinagar were first and second, respectively.
Administration and Tourism
The Anantnag district has earned its name among the most preferred destination spots in India. Tourists have plenty of places to visit here. They can visit Achabal, Daksum, Pahalgam, Dandipora, Martand, Sinthan top and more. All these places are famous for the natural Diaspora and architecture, Pahalgam and Kokernag being the most famous and easily accessible because they are not far from the main town of Anantnag. Among all the natural beauty and monuments of historical importance is the holy shrine of Amarnath Temple, in Pahalgam, where lacs of people visit every year during the Amarnath Yatra to catch a glimpse of the nature-made Shivalinga.
Climate
The climate in Anantnag varies vastly from season to season. While the temperature is normally moderate, it is affected by the geographic location as well. The hilly areas of Anantnag in the East are cooler than the flat part in the north. The weather is cool in spring and autumn. A lot of tourists visit then. Winters are very cold and sees snowfall. Tourists from around the world visit Anantnag during winters to enjoy skiing and the beauty of snowfall. Though the temperature in Anantnag is usually low, the month of July is the hottest, with mean maximum temperature of 32 degree Celsius. The end of the year and the beginning, i.e. the months of December and January, are the coldest. Temperature can drop to as low as -15 degree Celsius. Till date, the lowest temperature has been -18 degree Celsius and the maximum has been 33 degree Celsius, which is still low as compared to other parts of India. In January 2012, emergency was declared and the entire valley observed two days of off on Jan 6 and Jan 7 because of extremely turbulent weather conditions that left the district in chaos.
Other Facilities
Since the weather is generally cold, you will find adequate arrangement for bonfire and barbecue. A lot of families and groups visit the place to enjoy the wonderful moments spent here. Online connectivity, however, is weak.
Tips for Visitors
Tourists are advised to carry winter clothes because the weather is often very cold and get chilling at times. Blanks and warm clothes help keep visitors warm during travel, which can take over 2 hours to travel the distance of 104 kms from Sopore to Anantnag.
Connectivity to Sopore
Sopore is well connected by train and road. There are airways too nearby.