Overview
About Chatpal
Chatpal lies in the Shangus area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir, about 88 km from Srinagar airport. It is a small forested valley of meadows, pine slopes and streams with very little commercial development, visited mainly for nature walks, birdwatching and photography.
Published guides recommend April to June, and September to November for autumn colour. Snow makes winter access difficult.
On the ground
What to look for
- Undeveloped meadow and pine forest
- Streams running through the valley
- Autumn colour in September and October
Best time
When to go
Off-season now · best Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct
Best months: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct.
Know
Good to know
- Very limited accommodation and no reliable food supply; plan as a day trip from Anantnag
- Road access degrades badly after rain and in snow
- Mobile coverage is patchy
Getting there
From Srinagar
- Nearest town
- Shangus
- Road ends at
- Chatpal village