Aru village is a tourist village which is located around 12 kms from Pahalgam. The journey from Pahalgam to Aru village has probably the best views of the Valley, beautiful meadows, mountain, lakes and river on one side. Sometimes the journey is more beautiful than the destination, which is applied for this road trip. The village is the bank of Aru River and has beautiful views all around. Must visit place when travelling to Kashmir.

The least beautiful valley One thing in whole Kashmir I like is the fixed rate of taxi in Pahalgam.No bargaining and you have to choose your type of vehicle according to price, but most of the time they say that lower end vehicles are not available and you have to take SUVs, which costs you 3200/- for 3 spots(Betaab Valley, Chandanwari and Aru Valley).Betaab Valley and Chandanwari is in same route and worth seeing. But you may skip Aru Valley. It is on another route, long distance nothing to see there. Here to mention that in Pahalgam, you can’t take your cab from Srinager to visit places in Pahalgam.You have to take local taxis like in Sonamarg. Aru Valley is the last scenic village of the Lidder Valley.On the way to valley, you see the spots which are there in the list shown by cab driver for whole day visit of Pahalgam.So no need to take a whole day visit.The vechicles are parked at some distance.River Point is quite nearby and good to visit. You can walk on your own till that point very easily. Why I wrote you can skip it as most places are fenced off.The place where people are allowed is too crowded.

Don’t miss this valley. And don’t go on the ponies. It is a16 km drive but worth it with 2 or 3 scenic photo shoot points. Go before the sun sets. The valley gets very dark. It is really beautiful. Words cannot describe this place.

Aru valley is relatively small compared to other valleys like Betaab or Baisaran. But I must say that its worth visiting Aru skipping Baisaran! All these ABC valleys can be easily reached via Pahalgam local taxi which is hassle free. Road to Aru valley is really beautiful with snow covered mountains, crystal clear water streams everywhere. Once you reach the parking area you will have 1 hr to explore it (you can spend more time but need to pay extra to taxi). As usual, local ponywalas start bugging us saying actual Aru valley is behind which you need to go on Pony. I suggest don't bother about these sugar coated talks and just enjoy full 1 hour.

A very picturesque valley tucked away in Pahalgam a few kilometers upstream of the crystal clear Lidder River, the road to reach the valley however, is not easy to navigate. But while the quality of the road is not great, the road meandering along the contours drawn by the Lidder River is extremely scenic and is a treat for the eyes. In fact I would go on and say that the drive to Aru Valley is probably a better experience than the end point itself. At the end of the drive, one will be treated to a magnificent vista of the Aru River gently flowing through with some towering Himalayan peaks in the backdrop. The views from Aru valley are quite breathtaking. Since there is some elevation gain to get to this point, the Aru Valley can be pretty chilly and more often than not, one can find snow on the ground, thus it is recommended to layer up accordingly. Even when there is snow on the ground, you wouldn't be requiring snow boots here, unless you're planning to trudge on the snow. There are a number of people offering pony rides, and saw quite a few ponies around. There is a bustling marketplace at Aru Valley - some local vendors, eateries and shops, selling things from keychains to shawls and Kashmiri punchoos.

A hidden gem nestled in Pahalgam, the journey to Aru Valley unveils nature's splendor. Despite the challenging road, the scenic drive tracing the Lidder River's curves is a visual feast, surpassing even the destination itself. Arriving at Aru Valley rewards with a majestic panorama: the serene Aru River winding amidst towering Himalayan peaks. Its beauty is truly breathtaking, making the journey an unforgettable experience. Aru Valley stands as a testament to nature's grandeur, a place where every twist of the road unveils another marvel, leaving travelers in awe.

Aru Valley is a little distance away; we recommend you begin early & visit it the first thing. When we visited, its approach road was bad. We hoped it better be worth the trouble & it was. Aru Valley was surrounded by high green mountains on all sides, offering a panoramic view that took our breaths away. The calm & serenity was more than welcome. On a bright day, you can spend hours here. It was raining when we visited but the beauty was not diminished.

Among the 3 (ABC) Points, this is on an opposite direction, and takes extra time to reach here. It can be avoided ( You would be seeing similar valleys in Sonamarg). The route to the valley is scenic, and place is quite Kashmirish - but nothing that is a must see. Would recommend to cover Betaab valley if you have to choose one.

Out of the three point of attraction in pahalgam. I have loved aru valley the most. My experience is described as below:- 1. Perfect place for couples to spend some wholesome time amidst lush green meadows & and glacier meltdown. 2. Peace, serenity, soulful experience. 3. Lovely vies & instagrammable picturesque point

If you ask me about a valley of heaven on earth, I'd say Pahalgam. This place has my heart. We had little time on our hands and stayed a night at Aru Valley and visited Betaab Valley and Chandanwadi during the day. For the people who are in a hurry to visit these spots, I'd recommend leaving Chandanwadi out to spend more time at Aru Valley. Even while visiting during summer, pack enough warm clothes. And be prepared to leave a part of you here.