Sinthan Top in Summer 2026: The Kashmir Drive Most Visitors Never Make

There is a road that leaves the Anantnag highway near Kokernag and climbs south into the Breng Valley. Most people who know Kashmir by the usual circuit — Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg — have never driven it. The road ends at Sinthan Top, 3,748 metres above sea level, and then drops down toward Kishtwar on the other side. The whole mountain section is roughly 90km. If you want to understand what Kashmir's high country looks like when there is nobody else in it, this is the drive.

At a Glance: Sinthan Top Drive, Summer 2026

• ✓Route: Anantnag to Kishtwar, via Breng Valley
• ✓Altitude at pass: 3,748m
• ✓Distance from Srinagar: ~130km to the pass
• ✓Typically opens: Late May to early June (BRO clearance)
• ✓Closes: October–November
• ✓Drive time, Srinagar to pass: 4–5 hours
• ✓Road condition: Paved up to pass; narrow above Daksum

Is Sinthan Top Open in June 2026?

The road from Daksum up to the Sinthan pass is cleared by the Border Roads Organisation after winter. In most years the pass opens by late May or the first week of June, depending on snowfall depth. The 2025–26 winter brought above-average snowfall in South Kashmir, and the BRO confirmed clearance in the last week of May 2026. As of early June 2026, the road is accessible.

Conditions at the top still carry snow patches on the shoulders through June. The pass itself can be cold and windy even when Srinagar is warm. Verify the road status at the Daksum checkpoint before the final climb.

What Does the Breng Valley Actually Look Like?

The approach from Anantnag through Kokernag is agricultural — paddy fields, poplar rows, the flat terracing of South Kashmir. Kokernag itself is a spring garden that most people drive past without stopping; if you have time, the natural springs there are worth 30 minutes.

After Daksum — a forest rest area with a stream and a government tourist hut — the road starts climbing in earnest. The pine forest thins as altitude rises. By the time you pass 2,500m the landscape opens into the kind of high meadow country that characterises the Pir Panjal and Kishtwar ranges: grass-covered slopes, no tree cover, wide sky.

At Sinthan Top the meadow is broad and flat around the pass marker. In June there is usually still snow on the north-facing slopes above. The wind at the top is persistent and cold even in July. Bakarwal families move their flocks through here from May onward, and the high pastures below the pass carry their camps through summer.

Sinthan Top vs Mughal Road: Which Drive Should You Do?

Both are high-altitude mountain road drives from Kashmir. Both are open in summer and close in winter. If you have one day, Mughal Road is more manageable from Srinagar — the entry at Shopian is only 60km from the city and the return via the NH1 is straightforward. Sinthan Top requires a longer drive (130km from Srinagar), passes through South Kashmir which is off the standard tourist circuit, and has no hotels, restaurants, or activity infrastructure at the top. It is a drive to a pass and nothing else — which is exactly why locals who know it value it.

The most accurate description of Sinthan Top: it looks like what you imagine the world would look like before roads existed. Wide, quiet, open in every direction.

How to Drive Sinthan Top: A Practical Route

1. Leave Srinagar early — by 6:30am. Srinagar to Anantnag is 60km; allow 90 minutes.
2. Stop at Kokernag (optional) — the spring gardens are 5km off the main road. A 20-minute stop is worth it.
3. Drive through Daksum — a forest rest stop with basic dhabas. The last place to eat on the mountain section. Fuel up on food here.
4. Check the BRO checkpoint above Daksum for road conditions and fresh snow updates.
5. Drive to the pass and stop. Take your time on the final 20km of climb. At 3,748m, wind will be strong.
6. Plan your return — most Srinagar visitors return the same way through Daksum and Anantnag. Via Kashmir cabs for this route know the timing well.

The high section above Daksum has no food, no fuel, no phone signal on most networks, and no shelter. Bring water, food, warm layers, and a fully charged phone. Even in June, the temperature at the pass can drop to 5–8 degrees Celsius and wind chill makes it feel lower. Via Kashmir arranges drivers who know the Sinthan Top route and can advise on the right vehicle for the crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sinthan Top, Kashmir

When does Sinthan Top open in 2026 and is the road passable now?

The road typically opens between late May and the first week of June after BRO snow clearance. In 2026, the pass was cleared in the last week of May. As of 3 June 2026 the road is accessible, though snow patches remain on slopes near the top. Verify at the Daksum checkpoint before the final ascent.

How long does it take to drive from Srinagar to Sinthan Top?

From Srinagar, allow 90 minutes to Anantnag, then roughly 2.5 hours from Anantnag through Kokernag and Daksum to the pass. Total: 4–5 hours driving. A return trip from Srinagar, including stops, is a full day out.

Is Sinthan Top accessible without a 4WD vehicle?

In summer when the road is fully clear, a standard vehicle can manage the climb on the Kashmir side. The road above Daksum is narrow with no crash barriers on exposed sections. A vehicle with decent ground clearance (Innova, Scorpio, Thar) is more comfortable. On the Kishtwar side, higher clearance is advisable.

Is there accommodation at Sinthan Top?

There is no hotel at the pass itself. Daksum has a J&K Tourism rest house (book in advance) and a few basic dhabas. Most visitors do Sinthan Top as a day trip from Pahalgam or Srinagar. Via Kashmir can arrange Daksum rest house bookings for custom itineraries that include the route.

Why do so few tourists visit Sinthan Top compared to Gulmarg or Sonamarg?

Sinthan Top requires a longer drive, passes through South Kashmir off the standard tourist circuit, and has no gondola, no pony ride, no ski resort. It is a drive to a pass and nothing else — which is exactly why locals who know it value it.

Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel — written by locals, not agencies.

Kashmir Pulse Editorial

Travel Writer

Writing about Kashmir from the inside — hotels, culture, seasonal travel, and the stories that don't make it into guidebooks.