Lakes of Kashmir have always enchanted people from the plains. The fairy tales of Indian Cinema were, at one point of time, woven around the ethereal beauty of Dal Lake, with the vast expanses of the valley forming the backdrop of many a romance. What remains largely unknown to the larger audience is the presence of lakes beyond the valley, of the kind you can only imagine in the most beautiful of your dreams. Kashmir lakes trek, offers you an opportunity to step deep into the mountains and explore vast meadows and pristine lakes which retain a sense of serenity and tranquility which has vanished from our lives today. You go to places where time has stood still, against backdrops which leave you speechless. Each of the lakes on the Kashmir lakes trek offer remarkable views and are religiously and symbolically important to the people of this region.
Lake Stats: Kishansar Lake – Oligotrophic* Lake Length - 950 meters Breadth – 600 meters Altitude – 3710 meters Primary outflow – Vishansar Lake Vishansar Lake - Oligotrophic* Lake Length - 1000 meters Breadth – 600 meters Altitude – 3710 meters Primary outflow – Neelum River(which merges into Jhelum in POK) *Oligotrophic - It is a lake with very low Organic compounds & nutrient content and thus, consequentially, very less Algae production. These lakes, therefore, have very clear waters with high drinking-water quality. With ample oxygen content, these lakes support a lot of fish species. Oligotrophic lakes are most common in cold regions.
Lake Stats: Gadsar Lake - Oligotrophic Lake Length - 850 meters Breadth – 760 meters Altitude – 3600 meters Primary outflow – A tributary to Neelum river
Lake Stats: Satsar lake - Alpine Lake Length - 3200 meters (from 1st to 7th) Breadth – 900 meters (width of the valley) Altitude – 3610 meters Primary outflow – An underground stream
Lake Stats: Gangbal Lake – Oligotrophic Lake Length - 2700 meters Breadth – 1000 meters Altitude – 3575 meters Primary outflow – Nundkol Lake Nundkol Lake - Oligotrophic Lake Length - 1200 meters Breadth – 500 meter Altitude – 3505 meters Primary outflow – Wangnath nullah, which flows into Sind river Apart from these major lakes, a few more small lakes also lie of the Kashmir Lakes trek.
Nichnai Lake lies just before the Nichnai pass, at a distance from the trekking trail, on the left side.. This small lake is visible from the top of the pass and its turquoise green colors enchant the trekkers as they cross over to the other side of the pass towards the twin lakes of Vishansar & Kishansar. There is a smaller yet unnamed lake, above the Kishansar lake, which feeds into it, thus forming a triple cascade along with the Vishansar Lake. Yamsar Lake, which lies after the Gadsar pass, on the left side is a very small lake and is considered poisonous by the local people. We cross it over on the way towards Gadsar lake. The astounding beauty of all these lakes make the Kashmir Lakes trek, a once in a lifetime opportunity to come face to face with the nature and become one with it, in all its glory. |
AuthorWildBoots Adventure Team CategoriesArchives
February 2017
|