Kashmir great lakes trek
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is a mesmerizing and challenging trekking expedition that takes you through the picturesque landscapes of the Kashmir Valley in India. This multi-day trek offers breathtaking views of high-altitude lakes surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush meadows, and dense pine forests. Let’s embark on a virtual journey through the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.
One of the most paradisiacal places on Earth is without a doubt, Kashmir. The Kashmir Big Lakes Trek, also known as KGL, explores these high-altitude lakes and is one of the most popular treks in the area. These lakes include Gadasar, Satsar, Nundkol, Gangbal, Vishansar, and Krishnasar.
The journey takes you past lakes at a high height, burning pine forests, and mountain peaks covered in snow. The walk to the Seven Lakes of Kashmir is heaven on earth. It offers a magnificent lap of everything that nature has to offer. Offers stunning high mountain roads, lush green valleys, gushing streams, blooming wildflowers, and sputtering glaciers, among other lovely natural features. The amazing views of the mountains, Glacier lakes full of trout fishes, uncommon high altitude birds, and interaction with natural life. The breathtaking Harmukh Peak, which rises to a height of 5,400 meters, and the old temple ruins from the eighth century at Naranag Valley are only a few examples of the wildlife and flora of the north-western Himalayas. From Sonmarg to Naranag valley, the track follows the Gujjars’ (the nomadic shepherds of Kashmir) usual route.
Best Time to Visit
Between the months of July and September, trekkers can begin the Kashmir Big Lakes trip. Because of the severe weather that Kashmir experiences throughout the other months, which makes it challenging to travel over the snow, this is the case. While the majority of the country, including the trails in Uttarakhand like the Valley of Flowers, suffers the rainy season around this period. Kashmir is an exception, though. This is mostly due to the monsoons being blocked by the Pir Panjal range, which divides Kashmir from the rest of the Indian subcontinent. In actuality, the peak summer months, which transition into autumn, are from July through September. This is another factor contributing to Kashmir’s spectacular beauty throughout these months.
Difficulty Level
The journey’s difficulty level is one of the most frequent queries we hope to answer in this frequently asked questions blog post for the Kashmir Big Lakes trek. The KGL trek begins in Sonamarg, which is located at an elevation of 9,186 feet (2,800 meters) and ascends gently to the peak elevation of 13,800 feet (4,200 m). We classify this walk as moderate based on our prior experience and the terrain. Seven days of trekking will be followed by one day of rest. Every day, an average distance of 12 Km will be traveled. This also implies that you will climb for anywhere from 5 to 8 hours each day. Depending on your level of fitness and the group’s pace, this may fluctuate. The climbs are difficult, so anyone who wants to embark on this walk needs to be in good physical shape. Every day of the walk involves a combination of climbing and lowering 1500 feet.
Weather and Temperature
Weather and temperature are some of the most critical elements one should consider before starting out on a hike. As was already noted, Kashmir is in an area of reduced precipitation because of the Pir Panjal mountain range. This is the reason Kashmir experiences light rainfall at this time of year (July to August). Peak summer is in July when we begin the Kashmir Big Lakes journey. The highlands are comfortable, despite the fact that days on Srinagar’s plains can be warm (between 25 and 30 °C). When it is overhead throughout the day, the sun can be harsh. Evenings and nights are mild hovering around 5 to 8° C at the high campgrounds.
How to Reach?
By Air-Srinagar may be reached most easily via air. Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Lucknow are additional departure points.
By Bus-From the airport to the Srinagar tourist information center, the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Company offers a low-cost bus service. Otherwise, a pre-paid taxi should cost around 1,000 rupees (2018 prices). Uber and Ola are two examples of app-based taxi services that don’t exist in Kashmir.
By Train-If you’re on a tight budget and up for the challenge, consider riding an Indian Railways train to Jammu before taking a shared jeep or taxi to Srinagar (traveling time around eight hours). Buses are also available, although the travel takes about 11–12 hours and they are much slower.
It is safe to hike to Kashmir’s Great Lakes. The walk route is in a tourist-friendly yet far-flung area of Kashmir, far from the violence and unrest. Also, there are around 3 army camps along the journey route, ensuring the safety of the trail. In Kashmir, political instability is a possibility, but if it does, we are prepared to protect our trekkers without sacrificing this principle. We only travel outside of curfew times and take all required precautions to transport hikers to and from the airport.