Things To Do In Udhampur

Udhampur is a city and district tucked away in the Shiwalik Range of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. The terrain is primarily mountainous with some part receiving snowfall during winter. It serves as a refreshing getaway from both Jammu and Srinagar. It offers tourists plenty of opportunities for adventure sports, trekking, hiking, nature walks and sightseeing. Let us take a brief look at the things tourists can indulge in during their stay in Udhampur.

Recreational activities are a great way to rejuvenate body and mind. The high altitude mountains, lush green meadows and exciting landscape offers ample opportunities for thrilling and exciting outdoor sports. Paragliding, trekking, aquatic sports, hiking, hot air ballooning, rock climbing are extremely popular here. Sansar, about 19 km from Udhampur is a great adventure sport site.

Patnitop is gifted with modest and gentle slopes making it an ideal destination for skiing. During winter months, Patnitop offers a number of skiing courses for enthusiasts and even people with no prior experience in skiing can indulge themselves in this fun activity. The place is equally ideal for sledging. Rent a wooden sledge and off you go! 

Udhampur has some amazing walking trials. Walking through the alpine forests or along the banks of the beautiful lakes is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating. Patnitop to Madha Top, Patnitop to Matha Top, Patnitop to Sansar, within Patnitop provide the perfect locales for romantic walks.

Surinsar Lake is a picturesque little place and offers a great bird watching experience. Several migratory birds flock here and also serve as a breeding spot for endemic birds. It has a small bird sanctuary where bird lovers and photographers can spend time watching the charming little birds in action. 

Udhampur does not disappoint the more spiritually and religiously inclined. There are a number of temples to visit during a trip to the city. The Krimchi Temples are ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva built in the 11^th and 12^th centuries. According to the legend, the Pandava brothers are believed to have made a brief stop here during their exile. The ISKON Temple or Sri Sri Gaur Radha Krishna Temple is one of the best architecturally constructed temples among all ISKON temples.  

Visit to a new place minus shopping is an incomplete trip. Udhampur like most places in Jammu & Kashmir has some great places to shop and pick up souvenirs of the trip. As a city it has several markets, bazaars and malls to visit. Patnitop in Udhampur is popular for street shopping. Dry fruits, handicrafts, Pashmina shawls are available everywhere which you can pick up as a souvenir to take back home or for gifting. 

Like most places of our country Udhampur has lip-smacking food. One of its speciality dishes is bread Kaladi. Ramnagar town specializes in Kaladi, Chhole Kulcha, Aloo Tkki, Golgappe, Kachalu and Gurgule. Another item that Udhampur is famous for is Kalari, a traditionally ripened Himalayan cheese. It is referred to as Maish Krej in Kashmiri and described as mozzarella of Kashmir. Made from goat or cow full fat milk, the cheese is delicious and a must have if you visit Udhampur.