Best time to visit : February to June
Patnitop (also known as Patni Top) is a beautiful hill-station with breath-taking views of natural scenery in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in North India. Patnitop is a small picturesque rural holiday destination perfect for nature lovers especially because of the absence of the scorching heat. It is nestled in the Shivalik belt of the mighty Himalayas on a plateau. Patnitop was originally called ‘Patan Da Talab’ which means “The Pond of the Princess”, which once existed in the meadows where a princess used to bathe. Part of the fabled pond still exists in Patnitop within the premises of the Youth Hostel.
Facts
Patnitop falls in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and is about 2024 metres above the sea level. The town is surrounded by the magnificent, dense coniferous forest - primarily containing Cedar and Deodar trees. The River Chenab also flows close to the town. Patnitop offers great options of adorable picnic spots within its lush foliage where one can spend the day at leisure. These picnic spots can also be located on the way to a trek to the nearby Nathatop, which is amongst the prime attractions of Patnitop. While walking near the mountainside, one can admire the Chenab basin which forms a spectacular backdrop to the hills. The unparallel charm of the pine forests, snow covered peaks, a thrilling trek, myriad of adventure sports and the serene mountainside makes Patnitop a desirable tourist destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, adventurers as well as trekkers.
Patnitop is famous for a sweet by the name of ‘Patissa’. “Melting in the mouth” quality of this sweet endears it to all food lovers and the best Patissa is available in a nearby town called Kud. The sweet shops here make fresh Patissa from the scratch every day. You can also enjoy great food at Bistro or “The Restaurant”. There are a few dhabas near the main taxi stand, which offer simple and delicious food.
Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its handicraft items, so you should include a tour of the local handicraft shops for some souvenirs in your sightseeing itinerary. For this, you can visit the ‘Padora Enclave’ near the Naag temple.
Nearby Places:
- Sansaar Meadows: Located about 19 km. away from Patnitop is famous for its lush green meadows and also for the variety of adventure sports which the tourists can participate in. Patnitop and Sansaar are known for adventure sports. "Extreme Himalayan Adventures" is a well-known company which conducts these adventure sports in Sansaar.
- Madhatop: This is a perfect tourist attraction for skiers as it remains covered with snow throughout the winter. It also has three fresh water springs which are renowned for their healing properties. Madhatop is 5 km. away from Patnitop along the Sansaar Road.
- Paragliding is conducted in Dawariyai located on the Patnitop-Sansaar road. The participators are equipped with a pilot to accompany them on the flight which lasts for around seven to fifteen minutes depending on the wind conditions.
- Patnitop is near to Katra (about 80 km. away) and tourists visiting Vaishno Devi, generally prefer to cover Patnitop during their visit.