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.
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.
Price Includes
Neat, clean, hygienic accommodation on Triple / Quad Sharing as per your preferences. Accommodation during the trek will be in camps
Inclusive of transport services for 3 Nights & 4 Days. All toll, tax, parking and driver allowances are included.
Veg Only All Breakfast & Dinner. Note:(Lunch is not included.)
All point to point sight-seeing as per given program possible in time frame.
Price Excludes
A three-hour drive from Srinagar to Naranag base camp. This is a rewarding drive. The drive will take you through villages, orchards, and rice plantations. The day is spent in acclimatization. Once you reach Naranga village, after evening snacks at the homestay, you will be taken on a walk in the evening towards the Dhumail region. The walk has the ancient ruins of a Shiv temple. The site is an archeological site in India. You will see the best stone-cut temple here with the basic structure of the temple still intact.
The temple has a short flight of stairs and one can offer prayers here in this open temple. Beside it, there is a spring which also has small Shivlings near the opening of it. One can drink its water. It is the main water source for the local population.
Walk further towards the Dhumail area. The walk goes through the jungle and then ends at a confluence of two rivers. This is an easy acclimatization walk of around 3km. Return in the evening and spend the night at a homestay. You will be provided with a delicious dinner.
On this day start early after a hearty breakfast. The gradient of the day is moderate to difficult. The trail starts with an ascent and becomes a sharp ascent toward the top of butshree mountain. The entire trail of this ascent is in the jungle. On the way, one can see towards the other side, the towering snow-capped mountains. Butshree top is at an altitude of 3200m. You will have to ascend an altitude of 1000m until this top.
From Butshree top there is a gradual ascend of around 200m more along the wavy meadows. Take your lunch break at the butshree top and then head further towards the campsite.
Trunkhol meadow is situated at an altitude of 3400m. We camp at Trunkhol meadow that cozily sits in the forest beside a bakerwal house made of mud and logs. The place is serene and gives a view of the surrounding thick mountains of pine.
On this day we start with a mild trek that winds further into the Gangabal Valley. The gradient of the day is easy. You will be walking through the lush grasslands of Gangabal valley. The walk starts with a fresh breeze that is mostly passing here in this meadow. After crossing a couple of mounds of grasslands one sees the breathtaking Nundkol Lake.
The lake is calm and fascinating. The river streams come out of this lake dancing and go towards the Trunkhol meadow. Nundkol lake is just at the base of Mount Harmukh. You will see the campsite situated just in the vicinity of the lake.
Once you reach the campsite, explore the Nundkol lake. The lake has a variety of trout fish. Take a tour around the lake and reach the base of Mount Harmukh where you will see the glacier from where the water comes down to the lake.
After the hot lunch at the campsite, walk towards Gangabal Lake. The lake is just half an hour’s walk from the campsite. You will have to cross a small ridge and on the other side of this ridge is Gangabal Lake. This lake is the largest alpine lake in Kashmir. One of the best lakes in Kashmir, Gangabal is the Ganges of Kashmir.
This lake is wide and long and is abound of colorful trout fish. One can do fishing in this lake. However one needs to have permission from the fisheries department before doing any fishing activity here. The altitude of the lake is 3587m. This lake is also at the base of Mount Harmukh. It is from the glaciers of Harmukh, that this lake gets its water. The water is cold and clean. One can drink its water. You will see a large water stream coming from this lake.
After exploring this lake, return to the campsite at Nundkol lake. Spend the night here at this beautiful campsite.
This is the last day of the trek. On this day descend to Naranga village. The trail follows the same route as you took for ascending. The trail first goes to Trunkhol meadow, then to Butshree top, and then to Naranag village.
The gradient of the day is easy to moderate. It has a sharp descent from the Butshree top to the Naranag. From Naranag village drive to Sringar. This ends our Gangabal Lake Trek. This is the last day of the trek. Trek to Naranag and then drive to Srinagar.
Make your booking 15 days prior in advance. If you cancel the trek due to any reason, it is mandatory to notify us. Cancellation charges will only be effective from the date we get your request to cancel the trek.
If the trek gets cancelled from our side due to any reason (heavy snowfall, rainfall, natural disaster etc.) then the refund will not be initiated but we will arrange another trek.
Note :- If your trek starts once, and in between 2 or 4 days at the time of the trek, the weather gets bad or the trek route is closed for some reason due to which the trek cannot be done, then the company will not refund the any money to you.
The cancellation charges are as follows –(Bank charges deducted are not Refundable)
(Refund is initiated within 7-8 business days)
To reach Gangabal lake one has to reach the Naranag base camp first. It is a drive of around 2 hours from Srinagar. From Naranag it is a trek to Gangabal lake which takes around 3 days to reach a moderate pace.
From Sonamarg to Gangabal lake one has to get a cab from Sonamarg which will drop you at Naranag base camp. From Naranag base camp it is a trek of around 3 days to reach the Gangabal lake.
Gangabal Lake trek distance is around 30 km to and fro. The trek has a sharp ascend on the first day of the trek and one covers a distance of over 11 km on the first day. The last day of the trek is tiring which one covers around 13 km from Gangabal to Naranag.
The best time to do Gangabal Lake Trek is from May to December. If you want to explore this lake in the snow then December and November are the best months. In summer the best months are July, August, and September.
After landing in Srinagar, the cab from Cliffhangers India will ferry you to the base camp situated near Naranag.
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