Bounded by dense forests of pine and cedar, Patnitop is one such hill station which comes in the dreams of all those who love nature.... Its lush green cover, natural charm and climate has made it one of the best resorts of Jammu. The cool and bracing, located on the top of the hill, Patnitop offers an excellent vantage point to enjoy the stunning vistas of the Chenab Gorge. In the winters this hill station gets carpeted with snow and offers such view that leaves the spectators spellbound and make them reach to a conclusion that its not always Switzerland..............

Seeing Is Believing

The Naag (Cobra) Temple :
The pride of Patnitop is its 600-year-old Naag (cobra) temple. Though small in size, it reflects the faith and reverence shared by millions of Indians all over. The evenings in Patnitop are quite cold. The mountains are covered by fog and visibility can drop to a mere 10 feet. The small bazaar that has sprung up around it offers some cherry like dried fruits that double up as prasad as well as mementos.

Chinar Garden, Picnic Spot and Skating Garden and three fresh garden springs are certain other sights that are worth visiting.

The Daring

Take out those rough and tough shoes and get ready for a ride full of fun, excitement and thrill because you are in Patnitop. There are a number of activities available for all those who are born with adventurous instincts. Here one can enjoy:

Trekking - Patnitop is a good starting place for many short or longer treks into the nearby mountains. An attractive one-day walk is to Shiva Garh, about 11-km from Patnitop at an altitude of almost 3,500 metres.

Skiing - Skiing courses are conducted at Patnitop in the months of January and February. During the winter months, there are introductory courses for tourists/beginners at the gentle gradient slopes of Patnitop. At Madhatop (5 km from Patnitop on Sanasar Road) excellent possibilities for all kind of skiing exist.

Paragliding - Paragliding has been introduced at Sanasar and Jammu. The months from May to June and September to October are best suited for paragliding. Other aero sports like Parasailing and hot-air ballooning are also becoming popular.

Shopping

Shopping in Patnitop shares a charmingly contradictory aspects where among the age -old dry fruit shops, one can find designer accessories. One can take back home Kashmiri handicrafts, traditional Dogra jewellery and various dry fruits. The Basmati rice one gets here is also of great quality. Pashmina shawls and exquisite hand - knotted carpets of silk and wool are some of the popular take aways.

Restaurants

There are no free standing restaurants in Patnitop but there are hotel dining areas where on e can satisfy one's hunger for food.

Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation facilities in Patnitop. Some of them are:

• Subash Palace
• Asia- The Oasis Resort
• Green Tops
• Vardaan Resorts

Climate

Patnitop is a beautiful hill station in Jammu. It has a pleasant weather all through the year. In summers the temperature ranges from 23.4 to 39.9 degree C and in winters the temperature fluctuates from 20.2 to 4.5.