Gangabal Lake Trek

Gangabal lake is the biggest alpine lake in Kashmir. This is the best highlight of the Gangabal Lake Trek. Hence the trek is given its name after this gorgeous lake. The lake stands at an altitude of 3587m. The lake is situated at the base of Harmukh Mountian. It has a religious significance. The lake is considered the Ganges of Kashmir. Every year lot of Kashmir Hindus visit this lake for prayers and blessings.

Gangabal Lake is also one of the high-altitude lakes here in Kashmir which is very much famous for trout fishing. If you are interested in fishing you can spend a couple of more days here fishing. However, there needs to have proper permission from the fisheries department for fishing. Cliffhangers India arranges permission for fishing here.

Gangabal Lake Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Srinagar – Naranag

• Altitude: 2,130m
• Time taken:3 hours drive

A three-hour drive from Srinagar to Naranag base camp. This is a rewarding drive. The drive will take you through villages, orchards, and rice plantations. The day is spent in acclimatization. Once you reach Naranga village, after evening snacks at the homestay, you will be taken on a walk in the evening towards the Dhumail region. The walk has the ancient ruins of a Shiv temple. The site is an archeological site in India. You will see the best stone-cut temple here with the basic structure of the temple still intact.

The temple has a short flight of stairs and one can offer prayers here in this open temple. Beside it, there is a spring which also has small Shivlings near the opening of it. One can drink its water. It is the main water source for the local population.

Walk further towards the Dhumail area. The walk goes through the jungle and then ends at a confluence of two rivers. This is an easy acclimatization walk of around 3km. Return in the evening and spend the night at a homestay. You will be provided with a delicious dinner.

Day 2: Naranag – Trunkhol Meadow

• Altitude: 3,200 m
• Time taken:5 hours

On this day start early after a hearty breakfast. The gradient of the day is moderate to difficult. The trail starts with an ascent and becomes a sharp ascent toward the top of butshree mountain. The entire trail of this ascent is in the jungle. On the way, one can see towards the other side, the towering snow-capped mountains. Butshree top is at an altitude of 3200m. You will have to ascend an altitude of 1000m until this top.

From Butshree top there is a gradual ascend of around 200m more along the wavy meadows. Take your lunch break at the butshree top and then head further towards the campsite.

Trunkhol meadow is situated at an altitude of 3400m. We camp at Trunkhol meadow that cozily sits in the forest beside a bakerwal house made of mud and logs. The place is serene and gives a view of the surrounding thick mountains of pine.

Day 3:Trunkhol – Gangabal

• Altitude: 3,400 m
• Time taken: 3 hours drive

On this day we start with a mild trek that winds further into the Gangabal Valley. The gradient of the day is easy. You will be walking through the lush grasslands of Gangabal valley. The walk starts with a fresh breeze that is mostly passing here in this meadow. After crossing a couple of mounds of grasslands one sees the breathtaking Nundkol Lake.

The lake is calm and fascinating. The river streams come out of this lake dancing and go towards the Trunkhol meadow. Nundkol lake is just at the base of Mount Harmukh. You will see the campsite situated just in the vicinity of the lake.

Once you reach the campsite, explore the Nundkol lake. The lake has a variety of trout fish. Take a tour around the lake and reach the base of Mount Harmukh where you will see the glacier from where the water comes down to the lake.

After the hot lunch at the campsite, walk towards Gangabal Lake. The lake is just half an hour’s walk from the campsite. You will have to cross a small ridge and on the other side of this ridge is Gangabal Lake. This lake is the largest alpine lake in Kashmir. One of the best lakes in Kashmir, Gangabal is the Ganges of Kashmir.

This lake is wide and long and is abound of colorful trout fish. One can do fishing in this lake. However one needs to have permission from the fisheries department before doing any fishing activity here. The altitude of the lake is 3587m. This lake is also at the base of Mount Harmukh. It is from the glaciers of Harmukh, that this lake gets its water. The water is cold and clean. One can drink its water. You will see a large water stream coming from this lake.

After exploring this lake, return to the campsite at Nundkol lake. Spend the night here at this beautiful campsite.

Day 4: Gangabal – Naranag – Srinagar

• Altitude: 2,130 m
• Time taken: 6 hours

This is the last day of the trek. On this day descend to Naranga village. The trail follows the same route as you took for ascending. The trail first goes to Trunkhol meadow, then to Butshree top, and then to Naranag village.

The gradient of the day is easy to moderate. It has a sharp descent from the Butshree top to the Naranag. From Naranag village drive to Sringar. This ends our Gangabal Lake Trek.