Teetwal (Tithwal) Travel Guide

• The original temple here was destroyed in 1947.
• Local Muslim residents handed over the land in 2021, and the rebuilt Sharda Devi temple was inaugurated on 22 March 2023, the first day of Chaitra Navratri. The consecration (Kumbhabhisheka) followed in June 2023.
• The temple is run by the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir. A pujari is usually available from about 8 am to 8 pm for simple puja; groups wanting a specific havan bring their own priest.
• Navratri and the pilgrim season bring the biggest groups; plan stays early for those dates.

There is no direct public transport to Teetwal; shared taxis run in stages via Kupwara and Tangdhar and take much longer. A private cab is the practical option for families and groups. Plan to leave Teetwal by late afternoon so you are not on the pass after dark.

1. 1Apply on the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara e-permission portal (epass.kupwara.co.in) and choose Karnah. Other options will not give a valid pass for Teetwal.
2. 2Apply at least a week ahead: approval takes about four to five days.
3. 3Carry the original pass and four printed copies. It is checked at Chowkibal, at Sadhna Pass and at checkpoints beyond.
4. 4Carry government photo ID for every traveller.
5. 5If you cannot apply online, a manual pass can be issued in Kupwara; we tell you where when you book.
6. 6Foreign nationals and OCI card holders have their originals verified at the DC office in Kupwara. Talk to us before planning.

Permit rules for border areas can change at short notice; we confirm the current process for your dates.

• Sharda temple: the rebuilt temple on the riverbank.
• Teetwal bridge: one of the five crossing points on the Line of Control, first built in 1931 and rebuilt by India and Pakistan in 1988. Photography rules near the LoC are strict; follow what the security staff tell you.
• The Kishanganga river: the view across to the far bank is what most visitors remember.
• Tangdhar and the Karnah valley: terraced villages and orchards on the way in.
• Sadhna Top: the high pass you cross to get here, with wide views on a clear day.

Teetwal has a growing number of village homestays, opened under the district's border-tourism push, and there are simple stays in Tangdhar. Large pilgrim groups often stay on the Kupwara side and visit Teetwal in a day. Facilities are basic and heating matters for most of the year, so book ahead. We arrange the night for you as part of the trip.

• May to October: the usual window, with Sadhna Pass open.
• Chaitra and Sharad Navratri: the temple's busiest days.
• November: possible until the first heavy snow on the pass.
• December to April: the road is usually closed by snow.

Bring warm clothes even in summer: evenings by the river are cold.

We plan private Teetwal trips from Srinagar: a mountain driver who knows Sadhna Pass, the e-pass steps explained before you travel, the road checked the day before, and a homestay night in Karnah. A typical plan is two days (Srinagar to Teetwal with the temple in the afternoon, back the next morning), or three with Lolab or Bangus on the Kupwara side. Send your dates and group size through the form for a fixed, itemised quote.

Plan your Teetwal trip

Send your dates and group size. We explain the Karnah e-pass, check Sadhna Pass and quote the cab and homestay.