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Location:
on Jammu-Srinagar Road, Jammu Region, J&K
Altitude: 1,700m To 4,800m
Main Attractions: Waterfalls, Trekking,
Sapphire Mines Of Paddar
Best Time To Visit: June To October
Well off the
Jammu Srinagar road, Kishtwar is connected to Srinagar by a trekking
route, which goes through Banderkot, Dadhpeth, Mughal Maidan, Chhatru,
Sinthan and Daksum; crossing the 3,797 metres Sinthan pass. One can
also trek from Kishtwar into Zanskar. The town is noted for its
natural beauty, history and art.
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS 
Kishtwar is
sited on a plateau above the Chenab River and below the Nagin Sheer
glacier. It is noted for the fine saffron grown in the area and for
the many waterfalls close by.
A fall only 3-km from the town drops over 700m in a series of
cascades. The Falls are a marvelous sight, visible even from the town.
Saffron, a very colourful sight in spring and summer, grows only in a
limited area and the cultivation and harvesting is accompanied by
merry festivals and ceremonies.
Sarthal Devi
The pilgrimage site of Sarthal Devi, with its 18-armed goddess statue,
is 19 km from the town. Kishtwar also has the tombs of two important
Muslim saints.
Sapphire Mines Of Paddar
Situated 115-km beyond Kishtwar at an altitude of over 4,000 metres,
are the blue sapphire mines of Paddar. There is a road leading up to
this area from Kishtwar. Sapphire mines were only discovered in the
1880s and have been worked only intermittently since this time because
of the difficult terrain and unscientific mining techniques. Now the
mines are open regularly and are more productive.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: The
nearest airport is situated in Jammu (250-km).
Rail: The nearest railhead is situated in Jammu (248-km).
Road: The road is constructed upto Ikhala, but bus services are
only operated up to Plamer, which is 20-km away, in the north of
Kishtwar
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