High Altitude Lakes of Kashmir…….Vishnasar, Krishnasar, Gadsar, Gangabal……..2019

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Day 5- 16th July 2019: Vishnusar and Kishansar Lake

I woke up early as per the regular routine but today we were in no hurry as it was a rest day. After finishing the breakfast at 9.00 am, we started late to explore both the lakes. It took hardly 20-30 minutes to reach Vishnusar Lake. I was really restless to see the first lake. Till the last minute the lake was not visible and suddenly when we reached at the top of one small mountain, the magical lake appeared and it was one of the most spectacular scenes of my life. We spent more than an hour at the lake and then started to climb towards Kishnsar lake. It was half km away from here and almost 500 ft above the vishnusar lake. It was equally beautiful as compared to vishnusar lake and surrounded by giant mountains. After exploring the lake we returned back to the tents to have lunch. In the afternoon, one of our team mate caught fish from the streams. Now the big discussion started in the evening whether to cross Gadsar pass or to explore some other nearby lakes next day and then return to Sonamarg as some horsemen were not ready to cross the pass considering the snow on the other side of the pass. However our guide Zahoor convinced them to move further as some other groups left today and crossed the pass successfully. They also planned to move Gangabal directly from Gadsar without staying at Satsar and to have one rest day at Gangabal.

 

[adsatinder]

Great Trek !
Great Team !
Great Colours !
Great Translator !
Great Landscapes !
Great Presentation !

 

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Day 6- 17th July 2019: Vishnusar to Gadsar via Gadsar Pass

On Day 5 when we visited Kishansar lake, we came to know the thin line trail visible like big Z shape to reach Gadsar pass Top on next day. We woke up early in the morning to start early considering the long distance to Gadsar Camp site. After finishing the breakfast we started again towards Vishnusar lake and from there onwards to Kishansar Lake. We reached Vishnusar lake at 8.15 am and we could see the reflection of entire mountain range in the lake. We clicked some photos and started again towards Kishansar lake. I decided to climb the pass on my horse today till the top and so as informed I waited for luggage horses to arrive at the kishansar lake. The other team members already started to climb the pass. The weather was sunny and I expected a beautiful sight of both lakes together from the top. Around 9.45 am my crew came and we started to climb the pass and believe me it was extremely difficult ascent even for the horses. The trail was so narrow and trekkers had to give way to luggage horses also. We were lucky to have sunny weather otherwise it would be more difficult to hike on wet trails. After an hour’s climb both the lakes could be seen together which is enough to attract any trekking enthusiastic for this trek. I reached at the top at around 11.00 am and stunned with the 360 degree view from the top. Absolute speechless. After spending sometime with the team at the top we started steep descent on the other side and it was difficult due to thick layer of snow on that side. On the Gadsar side, first lake was visible on the left from the top filled with crystal blue water. The Gadsar lake was also visible at some distance after sometime. The entire landscape was changed on this side. Series of snow clad mountains on left and Green Meadows on the other side. After the complete descent we noticed the beautiful blue flowers in the green meadows. We were almost at Gadsar Lake and I can say it is the prettiest lake of this trek. I was so fortunate to have absolutely clear weather to enjoy the beauty of Gadsar Lake. The lake is situated at the base of snow clad mountains. Our guide and support staff did not allow us to go very near to the lake, they had their own stories like the lake of demon, freshwater Octopus etc. and we also followed their instructions. After enjoying the views of the Gadsar lake we moved further in the Green Valley to reach the camp site. We expected the army camp near the camp site but it was not yet operational as informed to us. We reached at the camp site around 3.30 pm. In the late evening and night it rained hard.

 

[adsatinder]

Great Lakes !
Great Visuals !
Great Trekking !
Great Daytime Pics !

 

[Gurusathy]

Awsome!!!! no words to describe beauty of nature!! you're really lucky to have come out before the lockdown there!! keep pouring in more please

 

[Shaq]

Fabulous!

 

[eskay]

Great going, Prasiddh! Missed the trek last year due to the situation in August.

 

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Day 7- 18th July 2019: Gadsar to Gangabal via Satsar (Very Long Day)

We started early today around 7.45 am from Gadsar Camp site to reach Gangabal lake. As informed to us by the guide due to unpredictable weather at Satsar at that time of the season would not make us comfortable for night stay at Satsar. We started on the trail that went up the mountains. Trees and River valley was visible to our right side. After some time we turned left leaving the river valley and now walking on the flat trail surrounded by the mountains. The place is known as Maengandob. After going ahead we could pass near the first Satsaran Lake. It was very difficult for our luggage horses to cross on the other side of the lake due to boulder terrain. One of our horses slipped there once in front of my eyes. The weather was also now changing and soon it started drizzling. We had to climb the Zaji pass in that weather. I again started with my horse till the top of the pass as the climbing was very difficult in that weather. Last stretch of climb was too difficult due to snow. Finally I reached at the top at 2.00 pm and I could see the two lakes together from the top. There was also one other lake visible at distance at some height. The weather was cloudy and after spending 10-15 minutes we started descent. Now both lakes could be visible more clear and I realized the real size of the lakes. We took a small break for the lunch at 3.30 pm and finally reached at the campsite exactly at the Nundkol lake shore. It was the best camp site of the trek. Soon I realized the camp site was full of trekkers and more local visitors due to vacation time in Kashmir. We all were exhausted due to long trek including the horses. It rained hard in the evening and in the night. The next day was rest day for us to explore the lakes.

 

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Day 8- 19th July 2019: Rest day at Gangabal lakes

It was bright sunny morning and exceptional views of the Harmukh peak and lake from the tent itself. After late breakfast we all went to explore bigger Gangabal Lake which was just 20-30 minutes away from our tents. We crossed stream to go to Gangabal from Nandkol. After exploring the lake we came to our tents for lunch and rest for the day. I met some local tourists who came from Naranag side for camping here which is more difficult climb. The weather changed in the evening and it rained in the evening for some time.

 

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Day 9- 20th July 2019: Gangabal to Naranag and Drive back to Srinagar.

It was very tough day for the knees due to steep descent to Naranag. We started around 9.00 am along with the stream towards tree line. The Harmukh peak looks beautiful when I looked back. It was huge never ending green meadows. We reached at the Army Camp around 9.45 am and it took almost 30-40 minutes for the registration process due to so many groups. After that we entered the forest and it was steep descent. There were so many local Kashmiri people climbing from here. After more than 3 hours at around 1.00 pm we reached at the main road of Naranag. Our guide arranged the Sumo for us to return back to Srinagar from there and I again stayed in the Hotel Pride inn in Rajbaug area. I was really happy to complete the entire trek in good health.