Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Deepank Ranka · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
The Martand Sun Temple is an eighth-century shrine to Surya — Martand is one of the Sanskrit names of the sun — built on a plateau above the Kashmir valley near Mattan village in Anantnag district. It was raised under Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty, and its plan is what draws people: a central shrine standing inside a long colonnaded courtyard ringed by 84 smaller cells, the largest peristyle courtyard known in Kashmir, in a style that mixes Gandharan and Gupta elements. The temple was demolished in the reign of Sultan Sikandar Shah Miri in the early fifteenth century and further broken by earthquakes, so what stands today is a ruin — massive limestone walls, trefoil arches and fluted columns, open to the sky. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance, and pilgrims and Kashmiri Pandit families come to it as much for memory and heritage as for worship.
April to October is the sensible window, with May-June and September-October the most comfortable — clear light on the open plateau and easy road access. July-August brings the heaviest tourist traffic in Kashmir generally, though the temple itself stays quieter than Srinagar's lake circuit. November to February is cold and can bring snow, and the site is entirely unsheltered, which is hard on elders. There is no major annual festival held at the temple itself; visit early morning or late afternoon for the best light.
Nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport (Sheikh ul-Alam), roughly 60-70 km away, about two hours by road. Nearest railhead is Anantnag station on the Kashmir valley line, roughly 12-15 km from the site; Anantnag town itself is about 9-10 km away and Mattan village about 4 km. The temple sits just off the Srinagar-Anantnag road via Mattan and is reached by taxi or local bus; the last stretch is a short drive up onto the plateau. Travellers arriving from outside the valley by train usually come via Jammu Tawi and then continue by road.
This is a protected archaeological ruin, not a working temple — there is no sanctum, no idol installed for daily worship and no regular puja or darshan, and religious ceremonies are not routinely permitted at ASI-protected non-living monuments. Families who want an active shrine in the same trip should plan for the Martand tirtha and spring at nearby Mattan village. The site is open ground with uneven stone, no shade and few facilities, so carry water, sun cover and warm layers, and take care with elderly walkers. Confirm access and any entry conditions locally before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Can we do puja or get darshan at Martand Sun Temple?
No. It is a ruined eighth-century temple under Archaeological Survey of India protection, with no consecrated deity in regular worship and no daily puja or darshan. Visitors come to see the monument. If you want to offer worship on the same day, the active shrine and sacred spring at Mattan village are a few kilometres away. Confirm current arrangements locally before you travel — no travel operator can arrange or speed up worship at a protected monument.
How far is Martand Sun Temple from Srinagar, and can it be done as a day trip?
Yes. It is roughly 60-70 km from Srinagar, about two hours each way by road via Anantnag and Mattan, so a half-day or full-day trip works comfortably. Many people combine it with Achabal Gardens, about 9 km away, or with Pahalgam, which lies further up the same valley road.
Is the site suitable for elderly parents?
There is no climb or long trek — the plateau is reached by road and the walk into the enclosure is short. But the ground inside is uneven broken stone, there is no shade and no seating, and the sun on the plateau is strong in summer while winter is bitterly cold. Go early or late in the day, keep the visit short, and have someone walk with anyone unsteady on their feet.
Plan your Martand Sun Temple yatra
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