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34°24'13.0"N 74°54'08.2"E
Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a city cradled by the river Jhelum which quietly yet passionately blends a sense of magic into the air such that the moment you inhale your first breath in this city, you find yourself pleasantly astonished by the overwhelming yet consuming beauty of the city starting from the sheer moisture content in the air that gently brushes away strokes of your hair, the eye-capturing landscapes that leave you speechless and awestruck in the moment, the pleasant sound of the gushing waters in the nearby rivers and lakes to the sheer comfort of having brisk wind tenderly slide across your skin. The city is a crazy package of flavors of life that almost instantly add liveliness into you and bring you in a very close proximity to yourself. And that is probably why people who are introduced to mountains always find themselves eager and desperate to quite occasionally return to the mountains over and over again. It is indeed a special kind of solace that is encountered in the midst of wilderness which cannot be found elsewhere.
The trek begins from Naranag village and rests itself in the lap of Mount Harmukh an abode of Lord Shiva which is also popularly known as the �¢??Kailash of Kashmir�¢??. It passes through a variety of trails some of which also demand courageous steep uphill climbs. The trek also demands sufficient time to acclimatize to the rapidly decreasing temperatures to keep all the mountain sicknesses away. Along with the extreme temperatures many other factors like consuming alcohol, drinking insufficient amounts of water, taking unhealthy meals on the trek quite strongly influence mountain sicknesses which can be otherwise rationally avoided. The Gangabal Lake is the prime attraction because of its alpine and Oligotrophic nature but before the trek brings you to this mesmerizing and arresting view of the heavenly Gangabal Lake it lands you to the Nandkul Lake which is the twin Lake of Gangabal. The Nundkul lake too is just as appealing and engaging as the Ganagabl lake since it is fed both by the melting glaciers of the Mount Harmukh as well as the Gangabal Lake itself. Besides, the lake is full of brown trout which is a beautiful European species of Salmonid fish that are eye-catching and aesthetic in their naked simplicity. The distance between the two lakes spans to a kilometer and a half amidst the quite beauteous Mount Harmukh which is easily viewable and gaze-able from standpoints of both lakes. Mount Harmukh is a part of the Himalayan Range which is precisely where its robust and mighty features hail from. It releases major energetic and ferocious vibes leading one to contemplate deep and observe it from as much proximity as possible. The magnificence, richness and colors explored in the overall experience of this tour are beyond comprehension and remain etched on your hearts for a lifetime.
Overall, the 30 kilometers trek to the lakes is a tiresome yet enthralling journey which unfolds layers and layers of exquisite natural astonishing beauty which can be experienced either between the months of May and July or between the months of September and November each of which have their own surprises. But if you wish to walk over a blanket of snow-covered meadows under the gloomy sky with the view of sparkling snow sprinkled above the different mountain peaks in sight then the winter expedition serves you just about right and exactly that what you are looking for. The freezing temperatures as you go higher and higher kick in adrenaline rushes that fuel your will power to make it to the top despite all odds. On another note, the trials on the trek are not very tracked and thus give a punch of offbeat trekking experience which again is a major aspect that attracts trekkers from around different corners of the world to this expedition since it gives a sense of accomplishment along with other sensuous experiences. Anyhow, the most central thing in the Gangabal winter expedition are the Nandkul and Gangabal lakes for which the 30 km trek is organized which inclusive of both elevation and descend. The two lakes are indeed worth the blood and sweat that it takes to reach the foothills of Mount Harmukh. The sea green and inky blue tones of the twin lakes sooth the soul quite literally. Besides the lakes it is the journey to the lakes that is so rich and full of diversity that pleases tourists and makes them return to the place over and over again. The humble locals, the astonishing views, the comfortable weather and the offbeat experience together make for a crazy and happening tour to the mountains.
Day 1: Pick up and Drive to Naranag
Day 2: Trek from Naranag to Bhutshari top
Day 3: Trek from Bhutshari top to Trunkhol
Day 4: Trek from Trunkhol to Nandkul, Nandkul to Gangabal and finally from Gangabal back to Trunkhol
Day 5 : Trek from Trunkhol to Narang
We will arrange a cab for you from the pickup point in Srinagar. For communications purposes, we will create a Whatsapp Group before the departure date of the trek and will share the details regarding the transportation. The drop at Srinagar after the trek will be arranged in a similar way.
How To Reach Gangbal Lake Trek in Kashmir:
Srinagar Airport is well connected to the major cities of the country. Frequent flights ply from Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Kolkata.
Srinagar is accessible from the other parts of the country via the National Highway 1D. The Srinagar Bus Stand is well connected to Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu.
The Jammu Tawi Railway station is the most convenient stop, from where frequent buses and cabs are available for Srinagar.
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