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34°24'13.0"N 74°54'08.2"E

Gangabal Lake winter expedition

This trek is an astonishing high-elevation trail and considered as a most wonderful trek in Kashmir.
  • Kashmir
  • 5 Days
  • 30 KM
  • 12,000 FT
  • Moderate

Information

Or Call On
+91 8800332031
  • Event Type

    Trekking

  • Best Time

    December-March

  • Base Camp

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    Click to open in maps

    Naranag, Kashmir

  • Pickup Point

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    Click to open in maps

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  • Minimum Age

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    For this trek, we only allow children above this age to ensure the safety of everyone joining this high altitude trek.

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Highlights

  • The visit to Gangabal and Nandkul Lakes includes 15 km of ascending and 15 km of descending with many pits stops for rest and acclimatization. Acclimatization requires time and hence is distributed across a couple of days for nature to take its course.
  • The fourth day marks the visit to the places central to this expedition, that is, the Nandkul and Gangabal Lakes.
  • The last day includes the longest stretch for trekking because by that time, trekkers learn the drill and are slightly experienced at trekking.
  • After the long trek tourists are driven back to the the airport on the same day which wraps up their Gangabal expedition.

Overview

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.

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

As soon as you arrive at the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar after your tedious flight journey, you will be picked up with all smiles and warm gestures by our team and then driven to the village of Naranag which is 51 km away and takes approximately 2 hours to reach. Our hospitality is assured of quality and will make the drive fun and interesting as we stroll across the state. We will drive through NH1 which is one of India’s most mesmerizing highways of all time and serves some of the finest scenic and panoramic views. Enjoy the vulnerability of driving through such rare landscapes and watch for yourself the unraveling of the much tempted, desired and looked up state of India; Kashmir. We will also pass via the Wangath road which is known for the Wangath temple complex that has a rich historic significance and finally we will reach Naranag which is a village situated in the Ganderbal district of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir that serves as a place for the base camps of many treks such as the Harmukh Valley trek. Naranag Village will also serve as the base camp for our trek and so upon arrival, you may rest as you wish and then hike to nearby short distances in order to acclimatize well and prepare for the trek to be followed in the coming days. Naranag is at an altitude of 6,982 ft which is what makes it an ideal height for acclimatization especially for amateur trekkers. The village also has an old sanctuary and really welcoming locals, so you can use that opportunity to get a close and upfront perspective of the livelihood in the valleys to make your journey holistic. After a great start to the expedition and a day full of sightseeing, you will end the first day of your trip with a wholesome dinner and some hours of good sleep.
Meals : Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Homestay
Time Taken : 2 hours
Altitude : 6,982 ft.
Distance : 51 km
The second day will begin with a scrumptious breakfast meal in the mountains. Enjoy your hot breakfast as you glance through the village one last time before leaving to further destinations of the trek. After the meal you will begin your trek towards the tea point at Bhutshari top which will be our pit stop for the day. It is a 4 km trek, the tea point is located at an elevation of 10,500 ft approximately and you will take a good four hours of time to trek to the top on an average, elevating to a height of about 3000 ft. The trial for this trek passes through pine woodlands glazed naturally with fresh snow ultimately opening into the top of the valley. This day you will stroll around the valley after reaching the top, have a healthy lunch, watch a beautiful sunset, stargaze and finally bring yourself to rest with a delicious dinner meal to wrap up the second amazing day of your trip to the Gangabal and Nandkul lakes. You will be allotted tents for your overnight stay at the top.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tent/Homestay
Time Taken : 4 hours
Altitude : 10,500 ft.
Distance : 4 km
Third day will begin with the arresting views of the valley from the Bhutshari top, you will feel well acclimatized this day and this acclimatization is the prime reason for this slow yet steady trek to the lakes. An immediate elevation to a great height is very dangerous and sometime even fatal, we at trekmunk have a team of experienced and intellectual members on board who keep in mind all the aspects of mountain hiking and thus the itinerary of all treks delivered by us is well thought and planned. You will be served with a healthy and tasty breakfast to begin your day after which you will start trekking towards trunkhol which lies at a height of 10,778 ft approximately. This trek covers a distance of 5 km and takes you through beautiful snow capped meadows. You will witness snow stretched in all directions, casting its spell on almost everything. Trunkhol will be the first stop to introduce you to the great Mount Harmukh which is a part of the Himalayan ranges and thus derives it might and grit from the same, so much that you will be in a position to draw an analogy between the two. After reaching trunkhol, you will require a lot of rest; these rest breaks act as fuel and help you hike better the next day. It is important to realize the worth of these beaks and the importance of elevating slow. You cannot afford to avoid these breaks because then you will be depriving your body of the necessary time that it requires to acclimatize and which will increase the probabilities of many things going wrong on the trek. Indeed the journey is always better than the destination. So after your trek to trunkhol, you will spend the remaining day in the remote point of the valley, have your lunch, steal a quite place to be yourself and listen to nothing but the pleasant melody of nature and then bring the day to an end with a wholesome dinner and some good hours of sleep.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tents/Homestay
Time Taken : 5 hours
Altitude : 10,778 ft.
Distance : 5 km
The fourth day will be a hectic day with a lot of trekking and hiking lined up one after another. It will begin with the trek from trunkhol to nandkul which will start post a healthy breakfast. After your breakfast, you will trek along a length of about 4.6 km passing through mellow trials and eye-catching sceneries to reach the Nandkul Lake which lies in the foothills of Mount Harmukh at a height of 11417 ft. When you travel from Trunkhol to Nandkul Lake, you will elevate by a height of almost 640 ft and that is why you will continue to experience decreasing temperature and amounts of oxygen in the air, nonetheless both factors can be easily overcome by any moderately fit person with a good stamina. The Nandkul Lake is also known as the Kalodaka Lake which like the Gangabal Lake is an oligotrophic alpine lake and is ranked amongst one of the most famous lakes of Kashmir. It is the twin of Gangabal Lake since it is fed both by the melting glaciers of the Mount Harmukh as well as the Gangabal Lake itself. The lake is also full of brown trout which is a beautiful European species of Salmonid fish that are eye- catching and aesthetic in their naked simplicity. You will hike along the length of the lake and spend some time admiring the rare inky blue tones of the lake. After a short break and sightseeing you will walk towards the Gangabal Lake which lies just 1 km away from the Nandkul Lake and is situated at a height of 11,768 ft. The hike from Nandkul to Gangabal Lake is very short-lived and is covered up very quickly. In no time, you will find yourself standing before your magnificent dream destination which took you days of trekking and sweating; the Gangabal Lake, the biggest alpine lake of Kashmir. From the sea green tone of the lake to the lush green landscape hidden under the sparking powdered snow, everything about the Gangabal Lake is magical and overwhelmingly beautiful. The views of the robust Harmukh Mountain and the brown distant outlines of the unnamed mountains guarding the lake are sure to send tickles down your spine along with the new sense of wanderlust-esque emotions that will room inside your belly. Nature introduces us to many feelings and emotions that we would’ve never encountered in our lives and that is what makes us yearn and return to its vicinities. After a session of consuming and experiencing the infinite wealth and pleasing beauty of the nature we will begin our trek downwards post lunch. You will begin descending from the Gangabal Lake back to Trunkhol where you will stay for the night. Unlike the trek uphill, the journey downwards will be much simpler and less time consuming. It is in descend where the trekking pole plays a major role, besides acting as a third leg and providing support, if used rightly it also helps in protecting your spine by reducing the weight on your shoulders. After your journey back to Trunkhol you will find yourself exhausted and tired. You will then quickly eat your delicious dinner and call the day off.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tents/ Homestay
Time Taken : 8 hours
Altitude : 11,768 ft.
Distance : 11.2 km
Today will be your last day of the Gangabal winter expedition. For the last time again, you will find yourself soaking the fresh sunlight amidst mountains and the gentle calmness of nature. After a scrumptious breakfast, you will begin your trek back to Naranag village which will be a long 9 km trek along the trials of the same route that you took to reach the top. With a heart full of memories and thrilling experiences, you will walk against the will of your soul away from the valley towards your routine life. This downward trek will be your last opportunity to look deep into the clear sky, aesthetic and soothing landscapes covered with bright white snow and consume all of it in your memories that you can always look back to and after many breaks for rest and sightseeing, you will courageously travel the 9 km stretch and find yourself return to the beginning point completing the full circle of your journey to the Gangabal and Nandkul Lakes. Upon reaching the Naranag village you will find vehicles ready to pick you up which will then retrace the Naranag - Srinagar route via NH1 and Wangath road while you can still have your personal moments with the nature during the 2 hour long drive before you are dropped back to the Srinagar airport.
Meals : Breakfast Only
Accommodation : Not Included
Time Taken : 6 hours
Distance : 9 km trek, 2 hours drive

How To Reach

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:

By Air

Srinagar Airport is well connected to the major cities of the country. Frequent flights ply from Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Kolkata.


By Road

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.


By Rail

The Jammu Tawi Railway station is the most convenient stop, from where frequent buses and cabs are available for Srinagar.

Why Trek With Us ?

Twin Sharing Tents
Eco Friendly & Paperless
Finest Guides
Just Right Group Sizes
Commitment to Safety

Reviews

I had the most wonderful experience trekking through the ranges of Chandrashila with Trekmunk. The small moments of achievement were phenomenal. Chandrashila is the most astonishing peak that I've ever trekked through; I've never been so fascinated. I think I am going to go for a ...

Anwesha Chakraborty
Chandrashila Trek

I was bored with my regular 9 to 5 schedule and then I decided to seclude myself from the chaotic city life. So, I went to Brahmatal trek last month along with a couple of my friends. We went with Trekmunk and it was a lovely experience. The trek guide, Ramesh was very polite and ...

Sidhant Das
Brahmatal Trek

I chose (after a lot of research) Trekmunk for my first trek - The Hampta Pass and Chandratal Trek. And I am so really glad I did so. The trekker needs to only focus on the trek and the beautiful landscape around him/her. The rest of everything is taken care of by Trekmunk from d ...

Sreekul Nair
Hampta Pass Trek

Reviews

Chandrashila Trek
Anwesha Chakraborty

I had the most wonderful experience trekking through the ranges of Chandrashila with Trekmunk. The small moments of achievement were phenomenal. Chandrashila is the most astonishing peak that I've ever trekked through; I've never been so fascinated. I think I am going to go for another trek with Trekmunk soon enough! The kind of hospitality that is provided to us is worth appreciating. I made many new friends and have enjoyed each and every day of this trek to its fullest.

I had the most wonderful experience trekking through the ranges of Chandrashila with Trekmunk. The small moments of achievement were phenomenal. Chandrashila is the most astonishing peak that I've ever trekked through; I've never been so fascinated. I think I am going to go for another trek with Trekmunk soon enough! The kind of hospitality that is provided to us is worth appreciating. I made many new friends and have enjoyed each and every day of this trek to its fullest.

Brahmatal Trek
Sidhant Das

I was bored with my regular 9 to 5 schedule and then I decided to seclude myself from the chaotic city life. So, I went to Brahmatal trek last month along with a couple of my friends. We went with Trekmunk and it was a lovely experience. The trek guide, Ramesh was very polite and helpful. The food and snacks were amazing. The activities in the campsite during our overnight stay is something that I am gonna cherish my entire life. I am waiting for my next trek with Trekmunk.

I was bored with my regular 9 to 5 schedule and then I decided to seclude myself from the chaotic city life. So, I went to Brahmatal trek last month along with a couple of my friends. We went with Trekmunk and it was a lovely experience. The trek guide, Ramesh was very polite and helpful. The food and snacks were amazing. The activities in the campsite during our overnight stay is something that I am gonna cherish my entire life. I am waiting for my next trek with Trekmunk.

Hampta Pass Trek
Sreekul Nair

I chose (after a lot of research) Trekmunk for my first trek - The Hampta Pass and Chandratal Trek. And I am so really glad I did so. The trekker needs to only focus on the trek and the beautiful landscape around him/her. The rest of everything is taken care of by Trekmunk from day 1 till the end of the trek. Scrupulously managed logistics; no compromise on safety and security; experienced, intelligent and knowledgeable trek leaders; scrumptious meals; contingency and backup plans; etc. make Trekmunk an ideal choice to go trekking with. My trek was lead by Ashish Pathania, Prashant Reddy and Sanjay Thakur. The three are were thorough professionals. They were jolly, very helpful, experienced, knowledgeable, organized, and needless to say polite yet strict when needed. They played the most important roles in making sure our overall trekking experience was a wonderful one. Thank you Trekmunk for one of the most beautiful experiences I have had till date. Will see you guys soon.

I chose (after a lot of research) Trekmunk for my first trek - The Hampta Pass and Chandratal Trek. And I am so really glad I did so. The trekker needs to only focus on the trek and the beautiful landscape around him/her. The rest of everything is taken care of by Trekmunk from day 1 till the end of the trek. Scrupulously managed logistics; no compromise on safety and security; experienced, intelligent and knowledgeable trek leaders; scrumptious meals; contingency and backup plans; etc. make Trekmunk an ideal choice to go trekking with. My trek was lead by Ashish Pathania, Prashant Reddy and Sanjay Thakur. The three are were thorough professionals. They were jolly, very helpful, experienced, knowledgeable, organized, and needless to say polite yet strict when needed. They played the most important roles in making sure our overall trekking experience was a wonderful one. Thank you Trekmunk for one of the most beautiful experiences I have had till date. Will see you guys soon.

Sandakphu Trek
Ahmed Orabi

I had an amazing trek with Trekmunk to Sandakphu November and December 2019. From the first moment of inquiry about the trek and all my questions were answered clearly and on time thanks to Dheeraj who managed to facilitate the trek quite well with his communication. Our guide Arpan was very experienced, calm, patient and very helpful to each trekker's needs in the group. He facilitated to find and hire a porter for me once I needed one although we were in the middle of the trail. He also arranged emergency transportation when I had to cut the trek and go back home for an urgent matter. I really enjoyed their service and I would like to repeat the same trek or try other treks with them again.

I had an amazing trek with Trekmunk to Sandakphu November and December 2019. From the first moment of inquiry about the trek and all my questions were answered clearly and on time thanks to Dheeraj who managed to facilitate the trek quite well with his communication. Our guide Arpan was very experienced, calm, patient and very helpful to each trekker's needs in the group. He facilitated to find and hire a porter for me once I needed one although we were in the middle of the trail. He also arranged emergency transportation when I had to cut the trek and go back home for an urgent matter. I really enjoyed their service and I would like to repeat the same trek or try other treks with them again.

Makha Valley Trek
Ishita

I and my friends went to Markha Valley trek with Trekmunk and we all had a great time. Walking up and down the hill, coming across some beautiful sites was mesmerizing. Staying in tents was so much fun. And our guide had all the knowledge about the trek. Trekmunk is really good with its food and accommodation facilities. I highly recommend Trekmunk. Kudos to their Team.

I and my friends went to Markha Valley trek with Trekmunk and we all had a great time. Walking up and down the hill, coming across some beautiful sites was mesmerizing. Staying in tents was so much fun. And our guide had all the knowledge about the trek. Trekmunk is really good with its food and accommodation facilities. I highly recommend Trekmunk. Kudos to their Team.

FAQ's

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