We’ve been missing the band of adventurers that made Skyview Patnitop feel like a home. So, here’s a short experience of one of the fellow travelers who dropped by and journaled their experience here!
It was October 2019 when I had recently shifted back to my home-town Jammu after an 8-year professional stint in Delhi. While I was in the national capital, I would escape the chaos of the city by traveling to popular tourism spots. Having covered over 100 destinations of India and South Asia, I always wanted to explore the tourist destinations of Jammu and Kashmir. I had returned to Jammu for good and was having a few weeks in hand before I was supposed to start my new professional assignment. I concluded that this was the best time for me to explore the places to visit in north India, particularly Jammu and Kashmir.
My trip started by visiting The Amar Mahal Palace, built in the 19th century for the Dogra King Raja Amar Singh, by a French architect on the lines of a French Chateau.
Next, I visited Bagh-e-Bahu which boasts of having India’s largest underground aquarium.
This was followed by a visit to other local sites like Mansar lake, Surinsar lake, and Mubarak Mandi Palace. All nearby historical palaces and lakes were covered, so now I was looking forward to visiting Patnitop, a hill station 2.5 hours drive away from Jammu city and one of the several less explored places to visit in north India. Before hitting the road, I wanted to check what all is to be explored in Patnitop, and to my surprise, the name Skyview Patnitop by Empyrean popped up on my browser. It was one of the upcoming adventure places in India featuring a gondola ride, adventure activities, and dining options. There was no way I was missing out on it!
The next morning, I set to explore Patnitop with its scenic landscape, culinary delights, and the recently launched adventure destination. On reaching the destination, the first aspect that stood out for me was the grandeur of the place amidst a scenic location. I realized how much I missed this while I was away in Delhi. I took my own sweet time to just sit there and absorb the natural setting around me. An executive from Skyview Patnitop handed over a pamphlet to me and I was overjoyed to know that the multi-entertainment destination had so much to offer. It truly was a complete getaway and I was ready to explore! First, I glided upon India’s first magic carpet (a modern and rugged conveyor belt that takes you uphill). On reaching the top of their “Adventure Mountain” I experienced the first zig-zag zipline in India. Having experienced that, it was time to swirl down the Adventure Mountain on a dry tubing sledge.
Next in line was experiencing the culinary offerings of this adventure destination. To begin with, I ordered a portion of buttery popcorn, Kalari sandwich, a portion of freshly made noodles and topped it up with a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee. Now was the time to experience the main attraction of Skyview Patnitop i.e. the gondola or cable car. Heading towards the lower terminal, I could not help being amazed at the state-of-the-art infrastructure. I was briefed about the way all this was set up and built in a record 2 years and 4 months! The 2.8km ropeway was built collaboration with POMA and adhered to the highest ropeway safety norms. The cable car takes you from Sanget to Patnitop. With all the necessary information I boarded the spacious cabin and was ready for the experience that awaited ahead. Words will not do justice to the scenic view from the gondola hovering lush green forests. You have to actually experience to understand the serenity of the ride.
On reaching Patnitop, I checked into one of the several hotels of the serene hill station. The next morning, I explored the meadows and other tourist places in Patnitop and it was now time to grab some much-awaited lunch. I headed back to Skyview Patnitop’s lower terminal via the ropeway and was again in awe of the picturesque view that the gondola offered. On reaching the terminal, I headed towards Banana Leaf. The ambiance of the restaurant is wonderful, to say the least. My meal consisted of one of the best Indian cuisines that I have tried in a long time. Someone at the restaurant recommended me to check out Sanasar and Mantalai as well but that would have to wait. I had such a memorable experience here that there was no more room for more. I wanted to cherish my experience to the fullest. By the afternoon, I headed back to Jammu pledging that I would be back here in December when the area gets covered by a sheath of milky white snow. Skyview Patnitop had now become a destination that I would recommend to anyone planning an itinerary for places to visit in north India
Skyview Patnitop by Empyrean is India’s latest adventure destination that offers adventure activities, gondola ride, and dining options. In 2019, it was awarded the Best Adventure Tourism Destination of India by The Travel & Tourism Excellence Award organized by FICCI and Ernst & Young. You can know more about what Skyview Patnitop has to offer by visiting www.skyviewpatnitop.com.
