Lidder River

The Lidder is formed from two streams — one draining the Kolahoi glacier above Aru, the other from Sheshnag lake above Chandanwari — that meet at Pahalgam. From there it runs south-west through the Lidder valley for about 70 km to join the Jhelum near Anantnag.

In Pahalgam the river is the centre of everything: hotels line its banks, families picnic on the boulders, and the sound of it is constant. The water is glacier-cold even in July.

Things to do on the river

White-water rafting runs on stretches below Pahalgam in summer, with grades ranging from easy family runs to more challenging sections when the snowmelt is high. Operators supply helmets and jackets; ask about the stretch and grade before you pay.

The Lidder is one of Kashmir’s best brown-trout rivers. Fishing is regulated: you need a permit from the Fisheries Department for a specific beat, and the season runs roughly from April to September. We can arrange permits and a local ghillie.