This Trek in India Surrounded by Lakes and Meadows Will Transport You to Austria's Countryside!

"Gar firdaus bar rue zameen ast/hameen asto, hameen asto, hameen asto"

Believe them when they say Kashmir is paradise, 'coz it really is!

To be honest, I always felt that people get way too excited when then describe this place, but when I was there, I could relate why they do so.

And the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek would surely transport you to a divine, never-seen-before landscape - and you might possibly end up comparing the beauty and simplicity of this untouched terrain with that of Austrian countryside.

Why is KGL Trek so special?

Well, this is the only trek in the Himalayas that packs three high altitude passes, five river valleys along with seven alpine lakes, each having an astonishing shade of green, blue and turquoise - all within an impressive span of 8 days!

Here's a brief itinerary of the trek:

Day 1

A gradual ascent begins at Sonmarg from where one can see the Thajwas Glaciar. The trek continues towards the Nichanai Valley where we camped amid the meadows for a night.

Day 2

A steep ascent brought us to two picturesque lakes - Kishansar & Vishansar, resting beautifully at the helms of the mountain peaks. Serenity redefines itself here!

Day 3

We crossed the Kishansar-Vishansar Valley, trekking through the Gadsar Pass, touching 4,200m, the highest altitude that one reaches on this trek. We stopped by the beautiful Gadsar Lake, gazing at the clouds kissing the peaks before descending to our campsite by the glacial stream.

Day 4

This day is all about walking through the valley with breathtaking views of the mountains and the rumbling of rivers, from Gadsar to Satsar.

Day 5

With gradual uphill climbs followed by steep descents, the fifth day took us through the Zajibal Pass connecting Satsar to Gangbal & Nundkhol Lakes, and we camped right at the foot of Mt. Harmukh.

Day 6

The last day was all about descending through the forest trails, leaving behind the postcard-perfect valleys, and driving back to Srinagar from Naranag.

The combination of the breathtaking lakes and the spectacular mountain ranges of the Greater Himalayas left me in awe at the beauty of this planet.

What is the best time for KGL Trek?

The best time to do Kashmir great lakes trek is from July to the end of September. During this time, the meadows painted in all shades of green with flowers blooming everywhere.

How difficult is the trek?

The Great Lakes trek is a moderate difficult trek and on every Himalayan trek mental and physical strength is needed. This highest altitude of Kashmir’s great lakes trek route is at Nichnai Pass 4130 meters above sea level and the toughest route and terrain of the trek is from Satsar to Gangabal Lake.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is a feeling to seep in, a sensation to decrypt, and a rainy eve song to listen to. It’s s a symphony of every trek which exists in India.

A rare chance to drift off to a voyage which you wish never to end and an opportunity to ooze out every life you contain. With vistas larger than your dreams, your imaginations, and your life, this trek symbolizes perfectly the famous saying, ‘It’s always the journey to relish not the destination to vanquish'.

Just pause for a while and imagine yourself strolling on a warm sunny morning in the middle of lush green meadows, blooming with yellow-pink flowers, opening over broad-wide bare mountains with heavenly looking brown and white horses grazing over!

If you have been dreaming of exploring the Austrian countryside but that feels heavy on your pocket, then maybe you can plan for the KGL trek this year! Trust me when I say this, you won't be disappointed!

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