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34°24'13.0"N 74°54'08.2"E
Gangabal Lake winter expedition
This trek is an astonishing high-elevation trail and considered as a most wonderful trek in Kashmir.
Highlights
- The visit to Gangabal and Nandkul Lakes includes 15 km of ascending and 15 km of descending with many pits stops for rest and acclimatization. Acclimatization requires time and hence is distributed across a couple of days for nature to take its course.
- The fourth day marks the visit to the places central to this expedition, that is, the Nandkul and Gangabal Lakes.
- The last day includes the longest stretch for trekking because by that time, trekkers learn the drill and are slightly experienced at trekking.
- After the long trek tourists are driven back to the the airport on the same day which wraps up their Gangabal expedition.
Overview
Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a city cradled by the river Jhelum which quietly yet passionately blends a sense of magic into the air such that the moment you inhale your first breath in this city, you find yourself pleasantly astonished by the overwhelming yet consuming beauty of the city starting from the sheer moisture content in the air that gently brushes away strokes of your hair, the eye-capturing landscapes that leave you speechless and awestruck in the moment, the pleasant sound of the gushing waters in the nearby rivers and lakes to the sheer comfort of having brisk wind tenderly slide across your skin. The city is a crazy package of flavors of life that almost instantly add liveliness into you and bring you in a very close proximity to yourself. And that is probably why people who are introduced to mountains always find themselves eager and desperate to quite occasionally return to the mountains over and over again. It is indeed a special kind of solace that is encountered in the midst of wilderness which cannot be found elsewhere.
The trek begins from Naranag village and rests itself in the lap of Mount Harmukh an abode of Lord Shiva which is also popularly known as the �¢??Kailash of Kashmir�¢??. It passes through a variety of trails some of which also demand courageous steep uphill climbs. The trek also demands sufficient time to acclimatize to the rapidly decreasing temperatures to keep all the mountain sicknesses away. Along with the extreme temperatures many other factors like consuming alcohol, drinking insufficient amounts of water, taking unhealthy meals on the trek quite strongly influence mountain sicknesses which can be otherwise rationally avoided. The Gangabal Lake is the prime attraction because of its alpine and Oligotrophic nature but before the trek brings you to this mesmerizing and arresting view of the heavenly Gangabal Lake it lands you to the Nandkul Lake which is the twin Lake of Gangabal. The Nundkul lake too is just as appealing and engaging as the Ganagabl lake since it is fed both by the melting glaciers of the Mount Harmukh as well as the Gangabal Lake itself. Besides, the lake is full of brown trout which is a beautiful European species of Salmonid fish that are eye-catching and aesthetic in their naked simplicity. The distance between the two lakes spans to a kilometer and a half amidst the quite beauteous Mount Harmukh which is easily viewable and gaze-able from standpoints of both lakes. Mount Harmukh is a part of the Himalayan Range which is precisely where its robust and mighty features hail from. It releases major energetic and ferocious vibes leading one to contemplate deep and observe it from as much proximity as possible. The magnificence, richness and colors explored in the overall experience of this tour are beyond comprehension and remain etched on your hearts for a lifetime.
Overall, the 30 kilometers trek to the lakes is a tiresome yet enthralling journey which unfolds layers and layers of exquisite natural astonishing beauty which can be experienced either between the months of May and July or between the months of September and November each of which have their own surprises. But if you wish to walk over a blanket of snow-covered meadows under the gloomy sky with the view of sparkling snow sprinkled above the different mountain peaks in sight then the winter expedition serves you just about right and exactly that what you are looking for. The freezing temperatures as you go higher and higher kick in adrenaline rushes that fuel your will power to make it to the top despite all odds. On another note, the trials on the trek are not very tracked and thus give a punch of offbeat trekking experience which again is a major aspect that attracts trekkers from around different corners of the world to this expedition since it gives a sense of accomplishment along with other sensuous experiences. Anyhow, the most central thing in the Gangabal winter expedition are the Nandkul and Gangabal lakes for which the 30 km trek is organized which inclusive of both elevation and descend. The two lakes are indeed worth the blood and sweat that it takes to reach the foothills of Mount Harmukh. The sea green and inky blue tones of the twin lakes sooth the soul quite literally. Besides the lakes it is the journey to the lakes that is so rich and full of diversity that pleases tourists and makes them return to the place over and over again. The humble locals, the astonishing views, the comfortable weather and the offbeat experience together make for a crazy and happening tour to the mountains.
Brief Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and Drive to Naranag
As soon as you arrive at the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar after your tedious flight
journey, you will be picked up with all smiles and warm gestures by our team and then driven to the
village of Naranag which is 51 km away and takes approximately 2 hours to reach. Our hospitality is
assured of quality and will make the drive fun and interesting as we stroll across the state. We will drive
through NH1 which is one of India’s most mesmerizing highways of all time and serves some of the
finest scenic and panoramic views. Enjoy the vulnerability of driving through such rare landscapes and
watch for yourself the unraveling of the much tempted, desired and looked up state of India; Kashmir.
We will also pass via the Wangath road which is known for the Wangath temple complex that has a rich
historic significance and finally we will reach Naranag which is a village situated in the Ganderbal district
of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir that serves as a place for the base camps of many treks such
as the Harmukh Valley trek. Naranag Village will also serve as the base camp for our trek and so upon
arrival, you may rest as you wish and then hike to nearby short distances in order to acclimatize well and
prepare for the trek to be followed in the coming days. Naranag is at an altitude of 6,982 ft which is
what makes it an ideal height for acclimatization especially for amateur trekkers. The village also has an
old sanctuary and really welcoming locals, so you can use that opportunity to get a close and upfront
perspective of the livelihood in the valleys to make your journey holistic. After a great start to the
expedition and a day full of sightseeing, you will end the first day of your trip with a wholesome dinner
and some hours of good sleep.
Meals : Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Homestay
Time Taken : 2 hours
Altitude : 6,982 ft.
Distance : 51 km
Day 2: Trek from Naranag to Bhutshari top
The second day will begin with a scrumptious breakfast meal in the mountains. Enjoy your hot breakfast
as you glance through the village one last time before leaving to further destinations of the trek. After
the meal you will begin your trek towards the tea point at Bhutshari top which will be our pit stop for
the day. It is a 4 km trek, the tea point is located at an elevation of 10,500 ft approximately and you will
take a good four hours of time to trek to the top on an average, elevating to a height of about 3000 ft.
The trial for this trek passes through pine woodlands glazed naturally with fresh snow ultimately
opening into the top of the valley. This day you will stroll around the valley after reaching the top, have
a healthy lunch, watch a beautiful sunset, stargaze and finally bring yourself to rest with a delicious
dinner meal to wrap up the second amazing day of your trip to the Gangabal and Nandkul lakes. You will
be allotted tents for your overnight stay at the top.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tent/Homestay
Time Taken : 4 hours
Altitude : 10,500 ft.
Distance : 4 km
Day 3: Trek from Bhutshari top to Trunkhol
Third day will begin with the arresting views of the valley from the Bhutshari top, you will feel well
acclimatized this day and this acclimatization is the prime reason for this slow yet steady trek to the
lakes. An immediate elevation to a great height is very dangerous and sometime even fatal, we at
trekmunk have a team of experienced and intellectual members on board who keep in mind all the
aspects of mountain hiking and thus the itinerary of all treks delivered by us is well thought and
planned. You will be served with a healthy and tasty breakfast to begin your day after which you will
start trekking towards trunkhol which lies at a height of 10,778 ft approximately. This trek covers a
distance of 5 km and takes you through beautiful snow capped meadows. You will witness snow
stretched in all directions, casting its spell on almost everything. Trunkhol will be the first stop to
introduce you to the great Mount Harmukh which is a part of the Himalayan ranges and thus derives it
might and grit from the same, so much that you will be in a position to draw an analogy between the
two. After reaching trunkhol, you will require a lot of rest; these rest breaks act as fuel and help you hike
better the next day. It is important to realize the worth of these beaks and the importance of elevating
slow. You cannot afford to avoid these breaks because then you will be depriving your body of the
necessary time that it requires to acclimatize and which will increase the probabilities of many things
going wrong on the trek. Indeed the journey is always better than the destination. So after your trek to
trunkhol, you will spend the remaining day in the remote point of the valley, have your lunch, steal a
quite place to be yourself and listen to nothing but the pleasant melody of nature and then bring the
day to an end with a wholesome dinner and some good hours of sleep.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tents/Homestay
Time Taken : 5 hours
Altitude : 10,778 ft.
Distance : 5 km
Day 4: Trek from Trunkhol to Nandkul, Nandkul to Gangabal and finally from Gangabal back to Trunkhol
The fourth day will be a hectic day with a lot of trekking and hiking lined up one after another. It will
begin with the trek from trunkhol to nandkul which will start post a healthy breakfast. After your
breakfast, you will trek along a length of about 4.6 km passing through mellow trials and eye-catching
sceneries to reach the Nandkul Lake which lies in the foothills of Mount Harmukh at a height of 11417 ft.
When you travel from Trunkhol to Nandkul Lake, you will elevate by a height of almost 640 ft and that is
why you will continue to experience decreasing temperature and amounts of oxygen in the air,
nonetheless both factors can be easily overcome by any moderately fit person with a good stamina. The
Nandkul Lake is also known as the Kalodaka Lake which like the Gangabal Lake is an oligotrophic alpine
lake and is ranked amongst one of the most famous lakes of Kashmir. It is the twin of Gangabal Lake
since it is fed both by the melting glaciers of the Mount Harmukh as well as the Gangabal Lake itself. The
lake is also full of brown trout which is a beautiful European species of Salmonid fish that are eye-
catching and aesthetic in their naked simplicity. You will hike along the length of the lake and spend
some time admiring the rare inky blue tones of the lake. After a short break and sightseeing you will
walk towards the Gangabal Lake which lies just 1 km away from the Nandkul Lake and is situated at a
height of 11,768 ft. The hike from Nandkul to Gangabal Lake is very short-lived and is covered up very
quickly. In no time, you will find yourself standing before your magnificent dream destination which
took you days of trekking and sweating; the Gangabal Lake, the biggest alpine lake of Kashmir. From the
sea green tone of the lake to the lush green landscape hidden under the sparking powdered snow,
everything about the Gangabal Lake is magical and overwhelmingly beautiful. The views of the robust
Harmukh Mountain and the brown distant outlines of the unnamed mountains guarding the lake are
sure to send tickles down your spine along with the new sense of wanderlust-esque emotions that will
room inside your belly. Nature introduces us to many feelings and emotions that we would’ve never
encountered in our lives and that is what makes us yearn and return to its vicinities. After a session of
consuming and experiencing the infinite wealth and pleasing beauty of the nature we will begin our trek
downwards post lunch. You will begin descending from the Gangabal Lake back to Trunkhol where you
will stay for the night. Unlike the trek uphill, the journey downwards will be much simpler and less time
consuming. It is in descend where the trekking pole plays a major role, besides acting as a third leg and
providing support, if used rightly it also helps in protecting your spine by reducing the weight on your
shoulders. After your journey back to Trunkhol you will find yourself exhausted and tired. You will then
quickly eat your delicious dinner and call the day off.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tents/ Homestay
Time Taken : 8 hours
Altitude : 11,768 ft.
Distance : 11.2 km
Day 5 : Trek from Trunkhol to Narang
Today will be your last day of the Gangabal winter expedition. For the last time again, you will find
yourself soaking the fresh sunlight amidst mountains and the gentle calmness of nature. After a
scrumptious breakfast, you will begin your trek back to Naranag village which will be a long 9 km trek
along the trials of the same route that you took to reach the top. With a heart full of memories and
thrilling experiences, you will walk against the will of your soul away from the valley towards your
routine life. This downward trek will be your last opportunity to look deep into the clear sky, aesthetic
and soothing landscapes covered with bright white snow and consume all of it in your memories that
you can always look back to and after many breaks for rest and sightseeing, you will courageously travel
the 9 km stretch and find yourself return to the beginning point completing the full circle of your journey
to the Gangabal and Nandkul Lakes. Upon reaching the Naranag village you will find vehicles ready to
pick you up which will then retrace the Naranag - Srinagar route via NH1 and Wangath road while you
can still have your personal moments with the nature during the 2 hour long drive before you are
dropped back to the Srinagar airport.
Meals : Breakfast Only
Accommodation : Not Included
Time Taken : 6 hours
Distance : 9 km trek, 2 hours drive
How To Reach
We will arrange a cab for you from the pickup point in Srinagar. For communications purposes, we will create a Whatsapp Group before the departure date of the trek and will share the details regarding the transportation. The drop at Srinagar after the trek will be arranged in a similar way.
How To Reach Gangbal Lake Trek in Kashmir:
By Air
Srinagar Airport is well connected to the major cities of the country. Frequent flights ply from Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Kolkata.
By Road
Srinagar is accessible from the other parts of the country via the National Highway 1D. The Srinagar Bus Stand is well connected to Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu.
By Rail
The Jammu Tawi Railway station is the most convenient stop, from where frequent buses and cabs are available for Srinagar.
Why Trek With Us ?
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Traveling with these people is surely an insanely enthralling experience. This is my second backpacking trip with these people and the way I had imagined backpacking to be has been fulfilled by them and they have given me surely more. The best thing about travelling with these pe ...
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I and my friends went to Markha Valley trek with Trekmunk and we all had a great time. Walking up and down the hill, coming across some beautiful sites was mesmerizing. Staying in tents was so much fun. And our guide had all the knowledge about the trek. Trekmunk is really good w ...
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