KASHMIR GREAT LAKES TREK

 Kashmir; the epitome of beauty, has always had a soft spot in my heart. The tenderness, magic and not to overemphasize but refreshing charm cradled and nourished in the region is simply surreal. And it is precisely because of this fascinating grandeur that I continue to return to Kashmir to seek comfort and contentment despite having been there several times.

Although there are plenty of trekking expeditions that can be taken up to thoroughly explore and enjoy this unbelievably interesting region, the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek remains my personal favourite of all. Everything from the thrilling itinerary, gripping trails and soul-stirring lakes to the exotic locations and topographic diversity of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek make it the most sought after trekking expedition of all times.

It was the arrival of July that jarred me with the idea of bumping back to Kashmir since the best time to head onto this expedition is between the months of July and September. July is when the region is lush green, vibrant, most-colourful and absolutely refreshing. It is also during this month that wildflowers bloom and stretch far and wide all over the surroundings; a sight to die for! My mates and I were quick enough to embark on this expedition and in no time, there we were, on our way to Sonmarg, excited, thrilled and eager to relive fresh waves of adrenaline rushes.

Sonmarg lies at a distance of 90kms from Srinagar and it took us almost 3 hours of swift drive to reach the campsite located at a height of 9,200 ft. The site came as a breath of fresh air and we quickly unbuckled to relax and enjoy the freshness around us. We spent the remaining day hiking and chilling and packed up early to sleep as well as rest well.

We trekked towards Nichnai; the first stop on the itinerary, the next morning. The trek from Sonmarg to Nichnai stretched over 11kms with ascents and descents at different intervals. Gladly, we caught clear glimpses of the Sonmarg Valley and also of the Thajiwas Glacier. We also traversed thick Maple and Pine forests and traced the trail via Shekdur with the Nichnai stream accompanying us to finally reach the campsite at Nichnai, situated at an elevation of 11,500 ft. It was an electrifying day brought to a good end.

We woke up to a bright and fresh morning, and buckled up quickly to trek towards Vishansar Lake. All of us were desperate, thrilled and high on energy that day. At first we trekked along a gradual ascent up to the Nichnai Pass located at a height of 13,600 ft, after which descended up to the Vishansar Lake situated at a height of 12,200 ft. The lake was astonishingly beautiful and left us spellbound, momentarily. We then did some fishing and camped by the lake for the night.

Most expeditions to the Kashmir Great Lakes demand spending an additional day at the Vishansar campsite to acclimatize and engage in gradual elevation so we did just the same. We spent that day hiking around and we also climbed up to Khishansar Lake to indulge in what it is most known for; trout fishing.

Next up on the itinerary was the trek to Gadsar Lake. The trail from Vishansar to Gadsar stretches over 12kms approximately and it took us nearly 9 hours to cover the same. At first we trekked along a steep climb all the way up to the Gadsar Pass situated at an elevation of 13,700ft; it was daunting, thrilling and all things exciting which was followed by a steep descent towards the vast, refreshing Inky blue Gadsar Lake and like always we were simply tongue-tied and mesmerized by its beauty!

Next day marked the trek towards Satsar Lakes. We trekked from one valley to another and witnessed the stark shift in the topographies of the two valleys as we enthusiastically trekked towards the seven interconnected lakes. The landscape was more vibrant than ever with wildflowers growing all over the place. We thoroughly enjoyed the sceneries traced by the trail towards the Satsar Lakes and after nearly 9kms of intense trekking, it was overwhelming as well as deeply satisfying to watch the exceptionally engrossing seven interconnected lakes unfold before us.

We woke up full of zeal and excitement to trek towards the Gangabal Twin Lakes and witness their drool-worthy beauty. It took us 9 kms of steady trekking through boulders and rock terrains before we could steal the view of Gangabal and Nandkol twin lakes from a top-far distance. We then traversed meadows to finally reach the teal-coloured Nandkol Lake followed by the enchanting and pristine Gangabal Lake. We relished the beauty of the landscape, camped by the lake and indulged in intense star-gazing that night.

The next morning marked the last day of the expedition. With heavy hearts we descend towards Naranag. The trail was steep as well as tricky but also equally thrilling. We trekked past thick Pine forests and after trekking for nearly 15 kms, we finally brought end to the Kashmir Great Lakes trekking expedition!