Patnitop

112 kms from Jammu. This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the   mountainscape of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for   various snow games  including skiing. It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. The occupancy of the huts and Dak Banglow is full in summer months. There is ambitious plan of Patnitop Development Authority to develop Patnitop, Kud, Sud-Mahadev, Mantalai circuit. The costruction work of Mall Road at Kud is also proposed to be taken up. Trekking route from Kud to Patnitop-Sanasar has already been completed. The complete tourist circuit covers Jammu-Katra-VaishnoDeviji, Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop-Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantali, extending upto Latti-Dhuna.

Accommodation :

There are a large number of huts and Tourists Bunglows, all managed by J&K TDC, Having facilities of Drawing room/Dining room and fully equipped kitchen in all huts and LPG facility.

Visiting Time
Although Patnitop is an 'anytime' place, the best time for a visit are summer, during May-June, and autumn, September-October. If seeking snowboard joys, December to March is the time to be here.

CLIMATE
Due to altitudinal variation from 600 meters to 3000 meters within the PDA area these is a wide variation in temperature and climate. The temperature varies between 40O C and – 5O C. it has been observed that these is a fall of 1O C atmospheric temperature in the hills for every 270M rise in altitude upto 1500M, beyond which the fall is more sharp. Since these is an altitudinal variation of approximately 3,8000M a minimum difference of 14O C or more can be expected at any given time. December, January and February are the coldest months. July to September is the rainy season. 

The circuit gets the benefits of both winter & summer precipitation. The Patnitop circuit receives major portion of the precipitation from January to March during winter, both in the form of snow at higher regions and rains in the lower regions. The precipitation is mostly in the form of rains during the summer months of July to September.

April to June and September are comparatively drier months of year. Frost and mist are uncommon within the area as compared to the Kashmir valley. Radiation frost is common in the region. Sunny days are warm and occur frequently. The drought are of rare occurrence in the region.