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Voykit pocket guide · India
Anantnag
Half a day for the Martand Sun Temple and Mughal gardens; use it as a base for Pahalgam and Sonamarg, not a destination itself.
Anantnag is the second-largest city in the Kashmir Valley, 53 km south of Srinagar. Its main draw is the Martand Sun Temple, a 8th-century ruin, and several Mughal gardens (Achabal, Kokernag, Verinag). Most travellers pass through on the way to Pahalgam or Sonamarg. Half a day covers the city; one night is enough if you arrive late.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (snow, road closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Thali meal | ₹150–300 |
| Auto-rickshaw within city | ₹50–150 |
| Taxi Anantnag–Pahalgam | ₹800–1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SXR · Srinagar Airport
- About 53 km (33 mi), 1.5 h by taxiAbout 33 mi (53 km), 1.5 h by taxi
Typical fares
- Srinagar Airport → Anantnag
- taxi about ₹1,500 (check)
- Bus Srinagar → Anantnag
- about ₹150
- Auto-rickshaw within city
- ₹50–150, negotiate
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws are the main option; negotiate the fare before getting in. Taxis and buses also available. Motorcycles can be rented.
See and do
Known for
- Martand Sun Temple
- Mughal gardens (Achabal, Kokernag, Verinag)
- Gateway to Pahalgam and Sonamarg
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pahalgam | Taxi or bus, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Sonamarg | Taxi or bus via Srinagar, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Gulmarg | Taxi or bus via Srinagar, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
| Srinagar | Taxi or bus, about 1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- City centre
- Near the bus stand and main market; most hotels and guesthouses.
- Near NH 1A
- Convenient for onward travel to Pahalgam or Sonamarg.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | کتنا ہے؟kitna hai |
| Thank you | شکریہshukriya |
| Where is the bus stand? | بس اسٹینڈ کہاں ہے؟bus stand kahan hai |
| I need a taxi | مجھے ٹیکسی چاہیےmujhe taxi chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Negotiate rickshaw fares in advance; drivers rarely speak English.
- Roads to Pahalgam and Sonamarg can be blocked by snow in winter.
- Carry small notes for rickshaws and market purchases.
Anantnag is generally safe for tourists. Standard precautions: avoid isolated areas after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and negotiate prices in advance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Anantnag yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Martand Sun Temple
- Mughal gardens (Achabal, Kokernag, Verinag)
- Gateway to Pahalgam and Sonamarg
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Anantnag, revision 3702149 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3702149
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/anantnag). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.