Lolab Valley: The Land of King Lolo
The Lolab Valley, an oval-shaped sub-valley of Kashmir is an excellent destination that remains unexplored to this day. This strikingly beautiful valley is one of the best, less-visited valleys in Kashmir. Lolab gets its name from the Maharaja Lolo, who may have ruled here at any point in history, however not much is known about him.
The Valley surprises the visitor with its verdant forests of coniferous vegetation, charming streams and rivers, heavenly springs, vast fields of crops and oxygen-rich air. All of this is set forth on a background of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
Lolab: An Offbeat Valley
Lolab in the past was a conflict-ridden area for the reason of being close to the border. The Machil sector, in the vicinity of Lolab, is where the borders meet and clashes would often happen, affecting the peace of the area. Some years back, the government was satisfied with the peaceful situation in the area and converted the place into a tourist attraction. Now, it has rested among the best less-visited valleys in Kashmir.
Geography
The Sylvan Lolab Valley comes under the Sogam block of the Kupwara district. It has an elevation of around 1600 metres and is 114 kilometres away from Srinagar. The Valley, situated in the Greater Himalayan mountain range is formed by the Lehwal River that flows through it. Lolab has abundant forests, natural springs, meadows, rice fields and fruit orchards. Discussed below is the Lolab Valley off-beat travel.
Fruit Bowl of Kashmir
Another name given to the Lolab Valley is the ‘Fruit Bowl of Kashmir’ for obvious reasons. The land of Lolab produces apples, apricots, cherries, peaches and walnuts in good numbers. You can bring home these in the Lolab Valley off-beat travel.
Kalaroos Caves and Sattbaran
Among the most famous spots of the Lolab Valley off-beat travel are the Sattbaran rock structure and the fabled Kalaroos caves. Sattbaran is a rock carved with seven small doors and there is no clue about its history. Kalaroos caves are located near Sattbaran and present numerous passages that appear to be caves in various rocks in the area. The local legend says that the caves were a passage to Russia in the olden times, for which various attempts were made to check the fact but to no avail, it remains a mystery.
Allama Iqbal About Lolab
In his lifetime, the much-revered poet and philosopher, Allama Iqbal had visited the Lolab Valley which fascinated him so he wrote some lines to it.
Your springs and lakes with water pulsating and quivering like quicksilver,
the morning birds fluttering about the sky, agitated and in turmoil,
O Valley of Lolab! O Valley of Lolab!’
Allama Shah Kashmiri
A reputed personality in the Islamic world, Allama Shah Kashmiri was born in the Lolab Valley. The house of this great scholar has become a place of attraction although it is not in its original form. It is a spiritual one in the Lolab Valley experiences.
How To Reach?
At a distance of 114 kilometres from Srinagar, Lolab can be accessed from Kupwara which is the main route. You can also make a shortcut from Handwara which will cut short 50 kilometres but it is an under-process road that can be bumpy.
For a Lolab Valley off-beat travel, you can take a taxi from Srinagar to Kupwara and another from there to Lolab. Secondly, you can take a private taxi straight up to the destination. It can take 3-4 hours to reach.
Trekking
The sport of trekking has endless opportunities here. You can trek to pristine alpine lakes, vast meadows and other stunning locations. Some famous meadows are Amari, Trumukh, Nagmarg, Keemsar, Nichan and Lushkoot. Trekking is among the top in the Lolab Valley experiences.
Mountain Biking
This adventurous activity is also available with abundant scope in the Lolab Valley off-beat travel. Ride among the dense forest, on the naughty trails that lead you to amazing beauties.
Photography
The Lolab Valley off-beat travel is incomplete without capturing some of the most scenic and memorable photographs. The rice fields, rivers and mountains of dense vegetation are perfect for photography.
Bike Touring
Among the famous Lolab Valley experiences is roaming on a bike in Lolab. There is a huge difference between riding a car and a bike when you can take in the scenes and silent environment of Lolab. Many biking groups visit Lolab in search of an amazing biking tour.
Visit the Spiritual Shrines
In the Lolab Valley off-beat travel, you can visit shrines of spiritual saints which are found everywhere in Lolab. That can be a reason for its tranquillity and spirituality. After roaming the best places in Lolab you can have a resting session at the shrine.
Accommodations
Being among less-visited valleys in Kashmir, there are no luxury hotels in this place but you can enjoy a satisfactory stay at the Tourist Bungalows owned by the Tourism Department. Alternatively, you can have a cosy stay in the hotels which are a handful in the Lolab Valley.
Beyond Lolab!
Explored every corner of Lolab and thought that’s all. That is a mistake when you can move upward through the Zamindar Gali or Z Gali, landing you at the border touching the Machil area. You have to get prior permission though, from the DC office in Kupwara.
Bottomline
If you are thinking of visiting the place in the best season, the summer season is perfect. That was all for this blog, which was a creation of Kashmir Online, a trip planner and travel partner of thousands of people.
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Author is a student who loves to explore new corners of learning. He likes writing and travelling while taking challenges that question his abilities and skills. His hobbies are helping people and spending time in nature.