Quick Answer
Patnitop is a hill station in Udhampur district, Jammu, at about 2,024 m, roughly 112 km from Jammu and about 90 km from Katra by road. Snow usually falls from December to February; Nathatop, about 12 to 14 km further on, holds it longest. Since the 9.2 km Chenani-Nashri tunnel opened in 2017, the Jammu-Srinagar highway bypasses Patnitop, so plan it as a day trip from Katra or Jammu, or ask your driver to take the old road over Patnitop on the way to Srinagar.
Patnitop sits on a forested ridge above the Chenab and Tawi valleys. For decades every Jammu-Srinagar traveller drove over it; today most go straight through the tunnel and never see it. That makes it quieter than it used to be, and easy to add to a Vaishno Devi and Kashmir trip if you plan for it.
How to reach Patnitop
| From | Distance | Time by road |
|---|---|---|
| Jammu | About 112 km | About 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Katra (Vaishno Devi) | About 90 km | About 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Udhampur | About 50 km | About 1.5 hours |
| Srinagar | About 165 to 170 km | About 5 to 6 hours |
Approximate, by road. Snow on the old road in winter adds time.
The nearest railway stations are Udhampur and Jammu Tawi; Katra also has a station. The nearest airports are Jammu and Srinagar.
Patnitop and the Chenani-Nashri tunnel
The Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnel, also called the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, is 9.2 km long and runs under the ridge from near Chenani to Nashri. It cut 31 km from the Jammu-Srinagar drive and keeps the highway open in snow, but it skips Patnitop completely.
- Through the tunnel: faster, and the default for most drivers.
- Over the old road: leaves the highway near Chenani, climbs through Kud and Patnitop, and rejoins near Batote and Nashri. It adds the 31 km and the climb, so allow roughly an extra hour plus your stop.
- On our Jammu to Srinagar taxi you can ask for the Patnitop route when booking, and the driver will plan the day around it.
Things to do in Patnitop
- Nathatop: about 12 to 14 km beyond Patnitop and a little higher, the most reliable snow in winter and open meadows in summer.
- Sanasar: a meadow with a small lake, roughly 20 km away, known for paragliding in fair weather.
- Patnitop ropeway: the Sanget-Patnitop ropeway has run commercially since July 2020 and turns a 1.5 hour drive into a 15 minute ride.
- Nag Devta temple: the old temple at Patnitop that many families stop at.
- Forest walks: short trails through the deodar and pine around the hill top.
Ticket prices for paragliding and the ropeway change each season; our blog keeps a dated note of them.
Patnitop snowfall: when to go
- December to February: the snow season. Nathatop usually holds snow longest; the old road can close for a day or two after heavy falls.
- March and April: snow melts off the lower slopes; cool and clear.
- May to June: green and pleasant, a break from the Jammu heat.
- July to September: monsoon rain and some landslides on the hill roads.
- October and November: clear, cold mornings, very few visitors.
If you want snow in Kashmir proper, compare with live snowfall at Gulmarg.
Planning Patnitop with Via Kashmir
- Day trip from Katra: after the Vaishno Devi yatra, a private cab to Patnitop and Nathatop and back in a day.
- On the way to Kashmir: Jammu or Katra to Srinagar over the old road with a Patnitop stop; the Jammu to Srinagar cab starts at ₹6,000, and the Patnitop route is quoted when you book.
- A night in Patnitop: added to a Vaishno Devi and Kashmir package, quoted for your dates.
Send your dates and where you start through the form; we reply with a fixed, itemised quote.
Plan Patnitop with your trip
Tell us where you start (Jammu, Katra or Srinagar) and your dates. We route the cab over Patnitop and send a fixed quote.
Further reading from Kashmir Pulse
- Patnitop Paragliding and Gondola Price 2026-27: What You Will Actually Pay
Tandem paragliding at Patnitop, Sanasar and Nathatop costs about ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per person in 2026-27, and the Patnitop gondola about...
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Patnitop from Jammu?
About 112 km by road, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours.
How far is Patnitop from Katra?
About 90 km, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by road, so it works as a day trip after Vaishno Devi.
When does it snow in Patnitop?
Usually from December to February. Nathatop, a little higher and about 12 to 14 km away, holds snow the longest.
Does the Jammu-Srinagar highway still go through Patnitop?
No. Since 2017 the Chenani-Nashri tunnel bypasses it. To see Patnitop, take the old road through Kud and Patnitop, which adds about an hour plus your stop.
Is Patnitop worth visiting?
Yes for a short stop or a day trip: pine forest, snow in winter at Nathatop, and meadows at Sanasar. It is smaller and quieter than Gulmarg or Pahalgam.
What is the altitude of Patnitop?
About 2,024 m (6,640 ft).
Can Patnitop be added to a Kashmir trip?
Yes. We route your Jammu or Katra to Srinagar cab over Patnitop, or add a night there to a Vaishno Devi and Kashmir package.
Written by Via Kashmir Editorial Team
Last checked October 2026
Via Kashmir is a Srinagar-based travel company built around one goal: giving travellers the best possible Kashmir experience. Our team puts together the best-priced hotels, cabs, Kashmir tour packages, and adventure packages with real sports activities, drawing on daily, on-the-ground knowledge of Kashmir's roads, weather, and seasons. Every guide on this site is written and checked by our local Srinagar team.