India is blessed with the gorgeous Himalayas, which provide an incredible stunning platform for all trekkers, travellers, and nature lovers to spend some of their most memorable and fascinating moments in the Himalayas. Many states have excellent trekking opportunities; for beginners, the Manali region is ideal, while for adrenaline seekers, Uttarakhand is the place to be.
Comparing and selecting the finest of the rest on the basis of tranquil canvas and enormous mountains, with a silent shadow reflection on the lakes at the foot of massive peaks, is unrivalled. The Great Lakes of Kashmir trip is India’s most beautiful. When it comes to choosing a hike in Kashmir, the Kashmir Great Lakes are always the first choice. Everyone seems to see things differently, but when it comes to nature and trekking options in Kashmir, the big lakes of Kashmir remain a popular choice, since the majesty of Kashmir will take you by surprise, as will the grassland, meadows, and lakes.
My trekking family, Treks & Trails India, was already quite acquainted to me. I was resolute in my resolve to hike with them to Kashmir after completing my second Himalayan trek and many more in the Sahyadri’s. I was travelling alone, yet it seemed like home to me. These men were great company, and we were a family as a whole. Between June and September is the optimum time to go on this hike. When we left Mumbai, it was raining, but by the time we got to Jammu and then Srinagar, the weather had changed, and nature had welcomed us with amazing views. We arrived in Sonamarg in the afternoon. We checked into our hotel rooms after a long journey and rested for the day.
Early morning wake-up call was given in order to prepare for the practise journey. Everyone should go on a practise trek to allow their bodies to acclimate to their surroundings. The most important part of the hike is body acclimation.
Adventurous:
We were familiar with all of our fellow trekkers after this short journey, but we had an orientation session where we got to know them better than their names. The next day, we were all set to go out for Nichnai camp, which was one of the hikes. The distance between Sonamarg and Nichnai camp is around 11 kilometres, and it takes 8 to 9 hours to reach the campsite. The trail is passable; there are no hard climbs, only steady up and down hikes. We arrive at the tabletop, which is a flat terrain that was the perfect spot for us to take lunch after some partial climbing.
We ate our lunch, took a little break for 10-15 minutes, and then resumed our march towards camp one. The path ahead of us was extremely intriguing. It required us to cross streams with boulders in the path, making the trail a little more challenging. We arrived at the campsite after a nine-hour journey, which took us to a height of around 3570 metres above sea level. The weather was cold, so we had hot tea and soup at the camp to keep warm. We unloaded our belongings and headed out to acclimate and take in the sunset.
Kishansar:
When we awoke the next day, it was raining, so we asked to stay in our tents only. Breakfast was given in our tents with tea and Pakoda. The weather cleared up quickly, and we set out for camp two, Vishansar, through the Nachnai pass. Camp two was a 12-kilometer hike that took us 7-8 hours to complete. We had to cross multiple streams when traversing the Nachnai pass in this trial. We were now in the presence of little patches of snow and glaciers.
The water in the streams was so cold that we took off our boots and crossed the stream if our shoes got wet, which might cause severe hypothermia and make trekking difficult for the next few days. We arrived at our second campground, Vishansar, after a seven-hour journey. Kishansar Lake, which is about a 45-minute walk from the camp, is a comparable lake to Vishansar. It’s almost at the same elevation of 3660 metres. We were exhausted, so we decided to take a cup of tea and retire to our tents for a while. We didn’t get to view the sunset because the weather was cloudy, so we relaxed and played some games with the family.
Gadsar, Satsar, Gangbal twin lakes:
We were on our way to Gadsar, Satsar, the Gangbal twin lakes, and finally Narang in the coming days. In Kashmir, every day was a long day for us, and the track wasn’t particularly difficult. It was a bit of a walk, and endurance was the most important factor to consider. Any trail in the Himalayas should never be underestimated. You should be prepared for anything, and if you aren’t, you may face difficulties. We must consider the conditions while walking in Kashmir.
The Kashmir journey is incredible; there is constantly something going on. It had us on our toes the entire journey. Kashmir may appear to be in a tumultuous political and news situation. As a result, double-check before making your vacation plans. Always have a backup plan in place in case the political scenario in Kashmir changes. The kindness of the Kashmiri people and the natural beauty of the state will keep me coming back. They make you feel protected and allow you to go at your own pace on your hike. We learned a lot on this walk, and it gave us a greater understanding of the highlands as well as a check mark for the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek journey. I’ll be skiing in Gulmarg in January and returning to Kashmir soon after.
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Difficulty:
The Great Lakes Journey in Kashmir is not a challenging trek, but rather an easy to moderate one. The hike takes place in Kashmir’s Sonamarg region. Gadsar Pass, at 4150m, is the highest point on the trail, with a mix of ascents and descents. The altitude climb, on the other hand, is modest, allowing trekkers to acclimate quickly. If the trip begins at Sonamarg, the highest altitude of the walk is reached on the fourth day, providing ample time and distance for the trekker to adjust to the altitude. Another factor that makes this walk simple is the time it takes to complete it. It takes 7 days to accomplish.
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Guide:
This post is a must-read for anyone planning a trek to the Kashmir Great Lakes. The data was acquired after doing the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek a dozen times. The Great Lakes Hike in Kashmir is India’s most pristine and picturesque trek. This journey, which begins in Kashmir Valley’s Sonamarg area and lasts seven days, takes an average of five hours every day. It consists of 11 huge alpine lakes surrounded by wavy meadows and snow-capped mountains in total. This trek is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Kashmir Great Lakes Valleys:
Let’s face it: the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is diverse. It is scenic, with varying levels of natural beauty. This hike includes not just mountains, but also meadows and lakes. The meadows are wavy and flat at the same time. Gangbal Lake, Kashmir’s largest alpine lake, is located there. It features stunning, snow-capped mountains and offers views of some of Kashmir’s top peaks along the way. One of the best things about the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is that it takes you through a variety of valleys.
Speciality:
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek has a lot to offer. It is picturesque enough to be considered India’s best trek. Unlike other Indian treks, this one offers unrivalled beauty and landscape diversity. It greets trekkers with a bouquet of alpine lakes, beautiful green meadows, snow-capped mountains, several valleys, and diverse Himalayan wildlife. This journey is known as the “Crown of Kashmir Trekking.” The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is a must-do when trekking in India.
