A 7 Days Journey to Most Beautiful Trek of India | Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
The Kashmir that I had seen until now is the Kashmir that is well connected to roads. But the Kashmir that is mentioned in stories poetries, poems that Kashmir is somewhere far from the road. Beautiful meadows, valley of flowers, falls originating from glaciers and alpine lakes. There're almost more than 150 alpine lakes in Kashmir.
And among them, we get to see 6 of them in India's most beautiful trek. The Kashmir Great Lakes. So, we were planning for this trek since last 2 years. And finally, we're at airport. Now, lot of planning & many permits were required for KGL. And when it comes to having a trip anywhere in Kashmir I always call Farhan first.
My college friend who is from Kashmir itself. He had already taken the permits and done the planning. So, now I'm in Kashmir, Srinagar.
Some time before, I had uploaded an Instagram story that those who want to travel with me they can. So, here we've some viewers with us. And we're going on The Kashmir Great Lakes trip.
Now, those who know about Kashmir Great Lake might've got org*sm. But those who don't know they'll know it soon. Now, this trek was going to start from Sonmarg. So, as we're moving from Srinagar towards Sonmarg I was astonished on seeing so many landscapes because I had seen this place in peak winters.
So, we've reached Sonmarg and our trek is going to start from here itself. This is our base camp. For now, we aren't going into our tents we're going for acclimatization walk of 1 km. So, as go at a height, we could see entire Sonmarg clearly and I get flashbacks of winters.
When I came to learn ski at the same place. It's Beautiful! There're so many beautiful views now itself on this side we've Thajiwas glacier down there entire Sonmarg is visible. And what is going to happen for the next 6-7 days which scenes are we going to see when we'll see the lake, then how are we going to feel. Today we're going to Nischay valley when we'll climb up, then you'll get to see both the highest peaks in the region - Nun and Kun. It's a great view.
We'll have lot of fun. So, KGL trek is open for 3-4 months in a year. We chose monsoon for this trek. Because monsoon is the time when this trek is at its peak beauty.
Lush green valleys, flowers along with lot of rainfall. Now, before this I'd done 2 beginner treks whose total length would be around 20 km. But KGL was going to be of 80 km. Now, whenever there's this kind of challenge I become a bit more excited.
Where you've to push your limits, break the mental barrier as we move forward, I get to understand that its not as easy as I was thinking. I feel that my bag is very heavy. Due to monsoon, I had kept a bit more clothes. I kept camera gear in the bag along with some extra batteries & power banks as there would be no electricity for next 6 days due to which my bag was very heavy. We'd an option of Off road means mules would be carrying our bags. Practically, it was very perfect.
But in between this practical approach a small thing was interfering - EGO. If I did this trek without the bag then I would never be able to call it a trek. So, after travelling around 12 km we've now got to see our campsite. But bro, what we see in youtube videos and reels it's not that easy. Think about it & then come otherwise don't come.
So, he's my school friend. I brought him along. It's his first trek he had never gone for a trek before. I said, we'll have lot of fun. It's nothing, it's easy. So - but I myself am tired, apart from the joke. I hadn't felt this happy even when I got the job as I did when I saw this camp.
So, good morning! Today is our Day 2. Today, we're going to Vishansar Lake. Below, we will pass a point at an altitude of over 4050 meters. Furthermore, Vishansar valley is there. It's a very beautiful valley.
Today we'll also see Vishansar Lake. And the portion of Vishansar valley is beautiful as well. The song that we were listening to the day before yesterday in the car that - after rocks, there's a blanket of flowers so, you'll get to see a similar scene. So, until now we were trekking in Nichnai Valley. And as we cross Nichnai pass we reach at the Vishansar valley.
Now, Nichnai Pass is also called Gateway to Great Lakes. And Shahbaz Bro had hyped us a lot about Vishansar Valley. So guys, we've reached Nichnai Pass.
This pass is at a height of 4050 meter. And honestly, it was a very difficult terrain to climb it was very steep. But now the terrain is going to be a bit easy. Now, as soon as we enter the Vishansar Valley I felt that an intro to a Pixar animation has begun that I'm experiencing in Apple's Vision Pro. Totally dreamy landscape lush green meadows, beautiful flowers falls from glaciers and sheep grazing in the entire landscape.
All these were so mesmerizing that I forgot about today's trek. In between these views, as evening begins we reach at our campsite. where the first lake of this trek Vishansar Lake was waiting for us. Dude! It feels very nice to come to such beautiful place. But there's a bit of fear in mind means these landscapes can easily manipulate.
my definition of success in life. This was the first lake. Tomorrow, we're going to see two more lakes. When Shahbaz bro said this then I became even more excited. But he didn't tell us how difficult tomorrow's trek was gonna be today we were going to Gudsar pass which was going to be the highest point of this entire trek.
And today's day was going to be the most difficult day of the entire trek. Because we had to cover almost 18-19 km. So, the last few 200m-300m patch is remaining only and the problem is height. As we're moving up in height oxygen level is decreasing.
Air is becoming thin. So, 300m was easy to listen to but it was an inclination of almost 60 degree. Little bit more. After going 10 steps forward we had trouble breathing.
Our condition is very bad. We've reached the pass but totally dehydrated. Nobody has properly drank water & whatever we had filled below is finished.
Ashyam Bro! Bro, I can't without water. At such great height, our water intake should be good so that our oxygen level is maintained. We could see the water from glacier but it was approx 4-5 km away from us. Our condition was such that we couldn't even walk 100m but we couldn't do anything. There was only one motivation to walk WATER Now while sitting at home, we don't know we easily get a glass of water.
But today, we've been trekking since last 4 hours without water. We didn't drink even a drop of water Finally, there's a river in front of me. It's such a relief to look at the river water I used to think of myself as very strong, but that day, I was on the verge of fainting.
Have it! Bro, I'm going to get drenched in water. Drink it! Gosh! This is so amazing! I mean dude, what should I say it was such a difficult stretch. On top of that - no water. And you're going towards a valley so that you'll get a camp there's a turn after which you need to pass another valley after it. Looking at that, the demotivation I felt means, I was broken from inside.
That we've to walk more! I mean, I like trekking a lot but I'm in a state of despair. I'm genuinely saying. It's paining below the legs, it disgustingly paining in my back due to carrying the bags Now, after yesterday's trek hardly anything would be felt difficult.
And on the day 4 of our KGL trek today we set out to Satsar. So, today is Day 4 of our trek and today we're going to Satsar. Today we'll get to see lot of lakes 'Sar' means 'lake' after that it has a name.
So, Satsar means 7 lakes. This meadow is looking so beautiful exactly like the wallpaper of Windows XP. And when sun rays are shining on it it is looking so beautiful. So, after covering approx 7-8 km we end today's trek at Satsar's first lake It's been 4-5 days since we showered so, we're going for a bath in it.
It is glacier water. Right! Today's day was more of a recovery day. After taking a good mud bath, we relax properly. Trekking isn't that you'll come and want to live a luxury life amidst the mountains. That is not trekking. Trekking is that you come, watch the mountain life And learn from here that the things you don't value in your own cities are incredibly valuable here. Now, we're trekking so much daily on rest of the days that we used to come back, eat and sleep.
But today *Vicky Kaushal Lite* 2.0 Without Katrina Kaif *Singing song - Tauba Tauba!* *Do it once* Himanshu Bro, broke his limits Means, even after being so sick 104 degree fever is a lot means mostly, we have to stop the individual but what he promised himself that 'I've to do this trek' and he's still there with us. By god's grace we'll complete this trek with him.
*singing national anthem* *Bharat Mata ki - Jai* *Indian patriotic slogan* So, today is 15th August and day 5 of our KGL trek. So, today is our last pass we call it Zaj pass. Its height is 4157 m. Its very beautiful. When we'll cross the pass then we'll get a very beautiful view of Gangabal lake and Nandkol twin lakes we'll get a very beautiful view of the valley we'll see Mount Harmukh. There's a low visibility today so take care of yourself.
We might get rainfall above. Now two days before, the Gadsar that we passed its trekking was difficult but trekking of Zaj pass was very dangerous. We had to pass a huge rock fall & boulder path.
Until now KGL was very beautiful. Now, it's beautiful plus dangerous. Now, I was very happy to climb on such terrain. Its not monotonous but challenging. But what happened 2 days before hit my mind. All these things, adrenaline are fine in its place.
But joking with mountains can get heavy on us. Due to rainfall, boulder had become very slippery. If legs would slip, then it would fracture. And if a boulder would fall from above then..... Dude! What a view this is! Even though Zaj pass is a bit high we've to pass few more rock fall but - views! Now, due to rainfall the scenes had become pretty but slowly, the entire landscape becomes white the view we're here for hopefully, if we get it then the view of these lakes if this fog passes by, then we'll get it but if the fog doesn't pass by we'll be the most unfortunate guys on this trip.
Is it very beautiful? Bro, that's why people come for KGL. Now, that day I realized luck is real. I don't know - how! 100-200m before Zaj pass for 15-20 minutes the entire fog goes away. What are you saying? Shahbaz Bro 'Be ready for the view' Just 10 steps sway it's near.
And... We just saw tip of Harmukh Glacier. Bro! We finally saw the twin lakes! Bro!!!! What is it, bro! Dude! So, today it was raining since morning, it was foggy visibility wasn't even for 10-20m so, it was very difficult that we would even get to see the view but Bro! Bro, I'm genuinely getting emotional after seeing this view. It is such a pretty view! In the next 15 minutes, this entire landscape becomes white again and nothing could be seen. And after descending 2-2.5 hours, as soon as the weather is clear
Mount Harmukh was directly in front of me. Mount Harmukh also has a spiritual significance. And this resembles the sacred mount Kailash. As Mansarovar & Rakshas Taal is on the foothill of mount Kailash similarly, there're two beautiful lakes on the foothill of mount Harmukh. NandKol and Gangabal Bro, the weather is so nice. Sheep & goats are grazing in the entire landscape.
Look at it. And the view here ...... Now, as the trek ended I started thinking this journey was more than just beauty of nature & mountains.
Yes! I had come here thinking that I'll get to see the beauty of mountains, lakes, falls I got to see that too but it was more than that. It was more about self discovery. Finding myself. Its something of an illusion! Hello sir! Hello Ma'am! Hi! What's your name? I'm Rajendran. I'm 70.
And where are you from? Our native place is Pudukottay in Tamilnadu. We gave 3 children. Two sons in USA and daughter is also there. We're ............ We're alone but not lonely.
And the only thing independently we can do is, only walking without bothering our children so, we used to go for walking. *One day 10 km* I suggest - No Man in India atleast should die without seeing this beauty. Its nice to see that who're older in age but their heart is young. If this trek was so difficult for me then, imagine how they would've done it. And last day, after descending around 13 km we finish this trek at Naranag.
2024-12-01 19:52
