Summer is considered the best time to visit Kashmir. However, snow-lovers and particularly winter trekkers throng Kashmir during December and January. It is because the snow-laden mountains become even more challenging to trek during winters and this precisely intrigues most trekking enthusiasts across the globe. If winter trek in Jammu and Kashmir is on your cards this year, you may consider these five places famous for winter trekking activities in J&K.
5 Places for Winter Trekking in J&K
1. Naranag Gangabal Trek
Situated at the foothills of Mount Harmukh, Gangabal offers a mesmerizing view of the turquoise blue lake. The site is a feast for photographers, who can spend some time clicking photographs of the surrounding nature. The place comprises breathtaking ridges and gorges that make the trek challenging and simultaneously, an exciting affair. The trekking site lies at an altitude of around 3,600 meters, and it offers a moderate difficulty level.
2. Kolahoi Glacier Trek
Also referred to as the Goddess of Light, the Kolahoi Glacier takes you through an exciting trek-tour comprising lakes, forests, streams, and the Liddar riverbank. Although moderate, the trek puts your trekking abilities to test with a staggering altitude of 12,600 feet. The five-kilometer trek located below the Kolahoi Mountain, above the Liddar Valley, takes around five to six days to complete.
3. Sonamarg Vishansar Naranag Trek
If you want to indulge in a trek at a site proximal to Srinagar, the Sonamarg Vishansar Naranag Trek can form an excellent choice. The trekking tour takes you through Vishansar and Naranag via the Nichnai Pass. It is an opportunity for trekkers to enjoy the heavenly views of the snow-clad mountains, valleys, alpine forests, and above all, a fantastic view of the valley that leaves everyone spellbound.
Additionally, trekkers can experience serenity on the banks of Satsar, Gadsar, and Gangabal. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate, and it takes around seven to eight days to complete it.
4 .Naranag Mahlish Trek
The Naranag Mahlish Trek is an all-year-round trek that comprises touring the alpine lakes of Nundkol and Gangabal, situated on the foothills of the Harmukh mountain. The tour involves cutting through the dense pine forests and exploring this picturesque place. The location of the moderately challenging trek is Naranag-Trunkhol-Gangabal-Naranag and the altitude to scale is 3,800 meters.
5. Frozen Alpather Lake
Alpather is another significantly popular winter trekking destination in Kashmir. The lake, situated in Gulmarg, remains frozen from November until mid-June. It is situated at the foot of the twin Apharwat Peaks at almost 4,400 meters. The trek to Alpather Lake starts from Gulmarg. However, trekking isn’t the only activity that trekkers might want to indulge in here. The lake forms an excellent site for snow skating as well!
While trekking to the lake point enthralls every trekker, the sight of this stunning lake is something to experience and not to be described in words! So, prepare yourself for a fantastic trek at Alpather Lake.
Conclusion
Whether it is summer or winter, Kashmir is a paradise that stuns everyone with its majestic mountain peaks, which appear lush green in summers and snow-covered during the winters. However, the places discussed above prove that during winters, Kashmir turns more than just a place to throw snowballs but enjoy something more exciting and gratifying, and that’s trekking!
By now, we hope you have decided where to travel this winter for trekking in Kashmir. Nevertheless, remember, out there, it will be chilling (in some places, the temperatures might plunge beyond expectations!). So, prepare well for the cold weather and its challenges.
