At 11,575 Feet, Zojila Zero Point Becomes New Must-Visit Tourist Stop On Kashmir-Ladakh Route

Jagran Correspondent, Srinagar: Now, not only are the traditional tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley, but also some unknown and new tourist destinations are attracting tourists and local nature lovers. Gurez and Razdan Top in Bandipur in North Kashmir are attracting tourists with their picturesque snow-capped views.

Now, the Zero Point near the Zojila Pass in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir is fast emerging as a new attraction for tourists, especially those travelling between Kashmir and Ladakh. Improved road connectivity and long-term snow cover provide tourists with a safe stopover to experience the high-altitude landscape of the Himalayas.

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New Tourist Stop At 11,575 Feet

Located at an altitude of 11,575 feet, Zero Point offers panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and winding passes. It is the gateway to Ladakh. Famous for its year-round snow cover, lofty peaks, and thrilling adventure activities, it is a popular high-altitude tourist destination, accessible from Sonamarg. Since the early opening of Zojila in the past few years, hundreds of tourists stop here daily for photography and snow-related activities.

Zojila's Zero Point has become a must-see for tourists visiting Sonamarg in Ganderbal district or Ladakh, where visitors spend at least 1 to 2 hours enjoying various snow activities. Tour operators in Kashmir and Ladakh have also begun including Zero Point in their day-trip packages. Local vendors have also set up tea stalls and dried fruit shops, boosting the local economy.

Ghulam Mohammad Raina, a travel agent in Sonamarg, said, "The view of the pass and the feeling of being at the gateway to Ladakh fascinates tourists. In June, we saw families, bikers, and even foreign groups stopping here." Visitors say Zero Point is a tremendous adventure spot. They say visiting the site gives them a truly unique experience.

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Sudhanshu Mukherjee, a tourist from West Bengal, said, "Zero Point is a lovely tourist place." He added, "Coming to this high-altitude tourist spot feels like we've truly arrived in heaven." Another tourist, Ranjan, from Pune, said, "We actually came to visit Sonamarg."

There, a tourist guide told us about this place (Zero Point). We said, "Well, now that we've come this far, we'll see Zero Point too." Arriving there, we were awestruck. Such a beautiful place, snow-capped mountains, cool weather. We fell in love. We spent the entire day here. Ranjan said, "If we hadn't come here, we would have regretted it."

Officials have advised tourists to adapt to the environment and avoid littering in the surrounding area to protect the environment. They have also requested tourists to avoid staying at Zero Point for long periods of time due to the high altitude and unpredictable weather. Police teams are deployed in Gumri for assistance.