The Meadow of Gold
Sonamarg is one of the most important places of tourism in Kashmir. A huge number of people are attracted towards this beautiful hill station to witness the picturesque scenes, youthful streams of clear water, and mighty peaks of the Himalayas. Sonamarg is also a famous destination for an adventurous vacation that has a huge scope of camping, trekking, angling and river rafting.
Today we have picked a legendary trekking destination in Kashmir, which is among the most majestic pristine lakes in Sonamarg. It is none other than the Gangabal Lake Sonamarg. Let us dip our hands into exploring the details of this sacred and mighty alpine lake of Kashmir.
Gangbal: Largest Alpine Lake
There are many glacial or alpine lakes in Kashmir. The Gangbal Lake takes the title of the largest alpine lake in Kashmir. It is also known as the Harmukh Ganga as it is situated at the foothills of the mountain of Harmukh, which is one of the highest peaks in Kashmir. Gangabal Lake Sonamarg is a heavenly place of peaceful environment and unmatched beauty.
Geography
The Gangabal Lake is 2.5 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide, making it large enough to be called the largest alpine lake in Kashmir. This Lake is situated at an elevation of 3,575 metres. It is located in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir.
Gangabal Lake Sonamarg is fed by glaciers, precipitation and springs. The water from the lake flows into the nearby lake of Nundkol, which is a small alpine lake in the same area. The water then flows into the Sind River afterwards. This lake has many species of fish, the most common among them being the trout.
History
Gangbal Lake, which is among the largest pristine lakes in Sonamarg, has many mentions in the history books of Nilmath Purana and Rajtarangini. The deep history of this lake relates to Hindu rites and the travelogues of Walter Lawrence and Francis Younghusband also mention this holy place.
Religious Importance
The Harmukh Ganga, another name for the lake, is a very sacred place near Hindus, which they consider to be one of the abodes of the Hindu deity Shiva. Many Hindus, especially Kashmiri Pandits make a pilgrimage to this lake every year. The Hindus immerse the ashes of their loved ones in the lake as a sacred rite.
Gangbal Trek
The Gangbal Trek is one of the most sought treks in the valley of Kashmir. The most famous trek of Kashmir, ‘The Great Lakes Trek’ also includes this lake in its journey. The Gangbal Trek is around 30 kilometres back and forth and can take 3-4 days to complete. This trek goes through amazing areas of divine beauty and drives the trekkers crazy with the amount of adrenaline that it provides.
Best season
The best time for Gangbal Trek is from April to September. The alpine surroundings of Kashmir are covered in snow for a long time and that is the reason for this. The temperatures in the said best period remain warm and the green meadows and flowers are visible everywhere.
Precautions and advice
Before starting the journey to Gangabal Lake Sonamarg, you need to keep this piece of advice in mind. You should take prior permission from the local police station before heading to the location. Also, the weather is unpredictable and you will need to carry warm clothes and raincoats as well. Last, but not least is to be together as a group all the time, camp near other campers or tribal people, if possible and do not litter around your camp as wild animals may get attracted towards it.
Trek with Kashmir Online
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