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Jammu and Kashmir

Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)

Lalitaditya's ruined 8th-century sun temple on a karewa plateau

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Best time to visit Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May and September to October
  • Shoulder: June to August and November to March, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: no month is a write-off here

Planning a specific month? AprilMaySeptemberOctober

Martand Sun Temple (Mattan) season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Dec-Feb the snowed colonnade is the best photograph in the valley, but it is near 0 C and the site empties by 4 pm.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar is still bare and grey; Apr-May is ideal at 18-25 C with almond and mustard on the karewas and the lawn to yourself.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

Jun-Aug is warm and hazy rather than wet, near 30 C by midday on the open plateau; Sep cools and the light goes hard.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct is the best all-round month with paddy turning gold below the plateau; Nov is cold and the site shuts earlier.

What Martand Sun Temple (Mattan) is actually like

An ASI ticket, a caretaker and usually nobody else; sleep at Anantnag or Pahalgam, there are no beds at Mattan.

Things to do in Martand Sun Temple

The local places worth your time in and around Martand Sun Temple, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Mattan Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Spring fed tank of sacred fish beside the bazaar, a Kashmiri Pandit pilgrimage stop; shoes off at the tank, fish feed on sale.

  • Aishmuqam Ziarat

    Shrine · 18 km out

    Cave shrine of Zain ud din Wali built into a cliff on the Pahalgam road; steep steps up, huge torch procession at Zool.

  • Padshahi Bagh, Bijbehara

    Garden · 16 km out

    Mughal chinar garden on the Jhelum at Bijbehara, the old town's shaded riverfront; free, and full of school groups by noon.

  • Achabal Mughal Garden

    Garden · 12 km out

    Terraced garden whose spring drives the cascades down three levels; small ticket, come on a weekday for the chinar shade.

Getting to Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)

Anantnag railhead 9 km, Srinagar 60 km; buses to Mattan run all day, then a 15-minute walk up the plateau.

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
1750 m
State
Jammu and Kashmir
Coordinates
33.7456, 75.2203

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)?

April to May and September to October is peak season in Martand Sun Temple (Mattan). June to August and November to March is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. No month is a write-off here. Mar is still bare and grey; Apr-May is ideal at 18-25 C with almond and mustard on the karewas and the lawn to yourself.

How many days do you need in Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)?

1 day is the usual stay. An ASI ticket, a caretaker and usually nobody else; sleep at Anantnag or Pahalgam, there are no beds at Mattan.

How do you get to Martand Sun Temple (Mattan)?

Anantnag railhead 9 km, Srinagar 60 km; buses to Mattan run all day, then a 15-minute walk up the plateau. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Martand Sun Temple (Mattan) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Martand Sun Temple?

Mattan Temple, Aishmuqam Ziarat, Padshahi Bagh, Bijbehara and Achabal Mughal Garden. Spring fed tank of sacred fish beside the bazaar, a Kashmiri Pandit pilgrimage stop; shoes off at the tank, fish feed on sale.

Nearby, and where to go next

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