What to Eat in Sonamarg Today?

Roadside Kashmir

Sonamarg's restaurants and dhabas line the highway, feeding day-trippers from Srinagar, trekkers, truck drivers on the way to Ladakh and, in summer, thousands of Amarnath pilgrims. The food is Kashmiri and North Indian, cooked in large pots and served hot.

The dishes to try

Rogan josh is the Kashmiri dish most places do well: lamb in a red gravy coloured with Kashmiri chilli, rich rather than hot. Wazwan is the full Kashmiri feast of slow-cooked mutton dishes. In Sonamarg you will usually find a few of its dishes on the menu rather than a full spread. Kashmiri dum aloo, potatoes simmered in a yoghurt and chilli gravy with fennel, is the vegetarian standby.

At the glacier

Tea stalls at Thajiwas Glacier and along the meadows serve hot Maggi and kahwa. A steaming bowl of noodles and a cup of saffron tea after an hour on the snow is a Sonamarg ritual. Prices are higher at the glacier than in the market, which is fair given how everything gets there.

Kahwa

Kahwa is green tea with saffron, cardamom and almonds, offered everywhere. It is warming and light, and helps with the dry mountain air.

On the road to Zoji La

Food beyond Sonamarg is limited to a few dhabas at Baltal and near Zero Point, and they may be closed out of season. Eat in Sonamarg before going up, and carry water and snacks.

During the Yatra

In July and August, many pilgrims eat vegetarian food, and langars, or free community kitchens, run at Baltal for registered pilgrims. Restaurants in Sonamarg are crowded at every meal in these weeks.

Practical notes

Most kitchens close early. Outside the main season, fewer places are open, so ask your hotel before heading out. See where to eat in Sonamarg for specific places.