1. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek is located in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu & Kashmir. The KGL trek starts from Shitkadi village in Sonamarg and ends somewhere around Naranag village, which covers a total distance of 70 to 75 km within 7-10 days. Seven high-altitude lakes and endless alpine meadows filled with wildflowers are some of the highlights that make KGL one of India’s most beautiful and iconic Himalayan treks.
How to reach
The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport, which is well connected to most of the airports, i.e., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, etc., and there’s a drive from the airport to Shitkadi Village, Sonamarg, which covers approximately 80 km within the duration of 2 to 3 hours. Additionally, the nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi, and Srinagar comes out as the nearest major city.
Ideal time
The start of July to the middle of September comes out as the ideal time for the KGL trek. In all the other seasons, the trail is completely covered with snow. By the start of July, the snow started melting over the passes and lakes, and the days were getting pleasant with chilled nights. Yet, July comes out as the hottest month in Kashmir, and the white desert again converts into lush green meadows. During the daytime, the temperature is somewhere between 15°C and 20°C, and at night, the temperature goes down to between 4°C and 8°C.
Highlights
The main highlights of the KGL trek are
- Seven major alpine lakes on the trek – Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gadsar Lake, Satsar Lakes, Gangbal Lake, Nundkol Lake, and Nichnai Lake.
- A great experience of walking over the carpet of wildflowers.
- Three high mountain pass crossings – Nichnai Pass (13,100 feet), Gadsar Pass (13,800), and Zaj Pass or Satsar Pass (13,400 feet).
- Endless open meadows and starry nights.
- Interaction with Gujjar & Bakarwal Culture.
Difficulty
The difficulty level of the trek is marked as moderate to difficult, with a maximum altitude of 4,200 meters; however, you spent many days above 3,500 meters, which increases the chance of AMS. The KGL trek demands good physical fitness as well as endurance.
Items to carry
There are the following items must be carried for the KGL trek
- 1 – Down Jacket
- 3 to 4 Pairs of socks
- 2 – Trekking pants
- 2 – Thermals
- 2 – Fleece
- 1 – Woolen cap
- 1 – waterproof gloves
- 1 – Trekking shoes
2. Tarsar Marsar trek
Overview
The Tarsar Marsar Trek is located in the region of the Aru Valley in the Anantnag district, Kashmir Himalayas. The trek starts from Aru village, which is 12 km from Pahalgam and 100 km from Srinagar, and ends at the same point by covering the distance of 32 to 36 km within the duration of 4-7 days. The trek difficulty level is marked somewhere around easy to moderate, with the maximum altitude of 4,100 meters, and it is known for its most photogenic alpine lake valleys.
How to reach
The Srinagar International Airport is the nearest airport, which is well connected to most of the airports, i.e., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, etc., and there’s a drive from the airport to Aru Valley, 12 km from Pahalgam, which covers approximately a total of 102 km within the duration of 3 to 4 hours. Additionally, the nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi, and Srinagar comes out as the nearest major city.
Ideal time
July to September comes out as the only ideal time for the Tarsar Marsar trek because of the deep snow all over the trails in the other seasons. Valleys and meadows are completely green; additionally, there are wildflowers, crystal-clear lakes and stable weather, which comes out perfect for photography; however, nights are very cold.
Highlights
The main attractions of the Tarsar Marsar trek are
- Twin Alpine Lakes, Tarsar and Marsar Lake
- Aru Valley comes out as a charming base village, which is surrounded by tall pine trees and wooden houses made in a traditional style.
- Chance to experience a nomadic culture and interaction with local communities like Barkarwal.
- The best views and photogenic spots are from the campsites at Lidderwat, Shekwas, Tarsar, and Sundersar.
Difficulty
This is one of the easiest high-altitude treks without any technical section, which fits best for first-timers as well as beginners. However, the trek difficulty level is easy to moderate, yet rewarding enough for experienced trekkers. The trek leads to the max altitude of 4,100 meters at Marsar viewpoint, although campsites lie somewhere around 2,000 and 4,000 meters.
Items to carry
There are the following items must be carried for the Tarsar Marsar trek:
- 3 – Quick-dry t-shirts
- 1 – Fleece
- 1 – Light Jacket
- 2 – Trekking pants
- 3 – Pairs of socks
- 1 – Set of thermals
Conclusion
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek is an ideal choice for trekkers who are seeking challenging terrain with long trekking days and to experience iconic lakes; however, the Tarsar Marsar trek fits for trekkers who are seeking a moderate-level trek with no technical trails and also for first-timers and beginners. Yet, both the treks offer the best experience of Kashmir’s alpine beauty.