Gangabal Lake Trek

Gangabal Lakes Trek is the best all-season trek in India. Unlike other treks in India, this trek offers a bouquet of lakes, lush meadows, thick jungle walks, and snow-covered peaks. The trek is famous for its many attractions. It has one of India’s largest alpine lakes (which is Kashmir’s largest alpine lake), Gangabal Lake, in its trail. The lake is fed with water by the glacier of Mount Harmukh – a legendary mountain considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

Mount Harmukh (towering at the height of 5142 meters) is known as the Eiger of Kashmir. It was from Mount Harmukh that Thomas Montgomery, a great trigonometric surveyor, first discovered the K1 and K2 mountains in 1865.

Book: Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

The trek has Trunkhol meadow, too, where the mud huts of the Gujjar community comfortably rest. The camping location is unique in this trek, it gives a panoramic view of mountains that circle the Gangabal Valley and hold more than six alpine lakes each within a day of distance. The trek has a religious significance, too, and is called the Ganges in Shaivism.

The first day of the Gangabal Lake trek is a drive from Srinagar to Naranag village. The drive goes through the national highway and the road runs parallel to the famous Sindh River. The drive is rewarding as you see the breathtaking mountain ranges of Sindh valley. The drive goes through the quaint and serene villages and winds upward till it reaches the Naranag village.

Naranag village is the base of this Gangabal Lake Trek. The first night is the stay is a homestay in this village. Naranag is the last village in this area and thereafter the trail to the Gangabal trek starts. On the first stay take an evening walk to the ruins of the ancient Shiva temple here in Naranag. The temple is a big one with Shivlings at different locations of the temple. The temple is an 8th-century temple and has a perennial spring located beside it. The first day hence is dedicated to acclimatization. Naranga village is situated at an altitude of 2130m.

The second day of the trek is an uphill trek toward the Trunkhol meadow. The trail starts from the base of Butshree mountain. The entire trail of this mountain is in the jungle. The pine and deodar jungle is thick and gives shade from the sunshine during summer.

The trail is an all-ascend until the trail opens onto the beautiful large meadows of Trunkhol valley. The meadow is wavy. The campsite is beside the tourist department hut at Trunkhol. There is a small population of shepherds here that live in the mud and wood houses on the hems of the mountains.

The third day of the trek is a walk through the wavy meadows. It is a delightful walk and gives the reward of seeing the towering peaks in the surrounding with the lush grass in the surroundings. There is a shimmering river stream that runs towards the right side of the trail. 

On this day, you will see the first lake of the trek i.e Nundkol lake.

Nundkol lake is a glacier-fed lake that receives its water from the Glacier of Harmukh mountain. This is the gorgeous campsite in the vicinity of Nundkol Lake. On the same day visit the beautiful Gangabal Lake. The lake is the largest alpine lake in Kashmir situated at the base of Mount Harmukh. The campsite will be at Nundkol Lake.

The fourth day of the Gangabal Lake trek is a descent to the Naranag village via the same trail. The day is an easy walk until the Butshree mountain top and then a sharp descent to the village.

Book: Tarsar Marsar Trek

Gangabal Lake:
Gangabal lake is the biggest alpine lake in Kashmir. This is the best highlight of the Gangabal Lake Trek. Hence the trek is given its name after this gorgeous lake. The lake stands at an altitude of 3587m. The lake is situated at the base of Harmukh Mountian. It has a religious significance. The lake is considered the Ganges of Kashmir. Every year lot of Kashmir Hindus visit this lake for prayers and blessings.

Gangabal Lake is also one of the high-altitude lakes here in Kashmir which is very much famous for trout fishing. If you are interested in fishing you can spend a couple of more days here fishing. However, there needs to have proper permission from the fisheries department for fishing. Cliffhangers India arranges permission for fishing here.