Overview

All about the Har Ki Dun Trek.

The most pristine alpine lakes of Kashmir are in the Nafran Valley. But definitely, Nafran Valley has got more to offer than just the alpine lakes of Kashmir. If you believe that the most crystalline alpine lake in Kashmir is the Great Lakes of Kashmir and Tarsar Marsar, then we can bet that you must not be in the Nafran Valley.

The Kolahoi Glacier feeds the Nafran Valley throughout the year, which brings life to the meadows of the valley from July to September with lush green grassland and blooming flowers of vivid colors like red, blue, violet, purple, white, yellow, and many more. The meadows of Nafran Valley are the most beautiful among all the Kashmiri meadows compared to the Golden Meadow of Kashmir – Sonamarg, and the Meadows of Flower; Gulmarg as the snow melts in early July to unveil the silk carpets of Kashmir beneath. The terrain of Nafran Valley allows you to trek swiftly to the turquoise-blue lake of Kashmir and live to the fullest the divine creation of God. You will camp in the middle of this ever-soothing meadow, being vaster than the meadows of Lidderwat of Tarsar Marsar and Satsar of the Kashmir Great Lakes. The Kashmiri locals would prepare special delicacies for you like Kashmiri Haak (a local green leafy vegetable) and Kashmiri Pickle with their authentic ingredients. This short trek in Kashmir offers the closest view of the Kolahoi Glacier, like the Gaumukh Glacier, which adds to the beauty of this alpine Lake of Kashmir.

This 7-day trek in Kashmir has got not one but two alpine lakes – The Harbhagwan Lake and the Harnag Lake. These crystal clear lakes shimmer when sun rays penetrate through them. While during the night, it mirrors the galaxy and billions of stars making the Harnag Lake the perfect place for astrophotography lovers. The meadows of Nafran inhabit the shepherd troops, who live there temporarily from June – to October in mud houses and then descend to lower altitudes during winter. The Nafran Valley trek is one of the easy treks in Kashmir, filled with gushing streams, virgin pine forest, and above all, beautiful patches of grassy land. So, if you’re planning to seclude yourself in the valley of Kashmir, then Nafran Valley Trek should be next to your list.

Quicks Facts:

• Region- Kashmir
• Altitude- 14,127 feet
• Duration- 7 days
• Trekking Distance- 40 kilometres
• Difficulty Level- Moderate to Difficult
• Start Point & End Point- TRC Srinagar
• Base Camp- Aru
• Nearest airport- Srinagar Airport
• Last ATM- At Srinagar
• Best time to visit Nafran Valley – July to September

Highlights of Nafran Valley Trek:

1. Silky green grassland

Horse grazing alongside the river stream in the serene valley of Nafran (Image courtesy – Team Trekkers Of India)

The lush green grasslands of Nafran Valley look like a green silk carpet covering km in the landscape of Switzerland of India, Kashmir. Beside the gushing river stream, shepherd’s troops reside and let their livestock graze over these soft and green grasses from July to October.

2. Know the life of a shepherd
Temporary mud house of a shepherd, built alongside the river streams of Nafran Valley. (Image courtesy – Team Trekkers Of India)

The Nafran valley offers a deep dive into the lifestyle of shepherds’ troops who live alongside gushing river streams to feed their livestock and earn a livelihood. These people live in this wild terrain as long as it remains calm on their skin. Later, in the winter, they descend to the lower altitudes of Kashmir and leave this surreal place of divinity.

3. Camping in meadows.
This lush green meadow touches the blue sky to create a whimsical horizon (Image courtesy – Team Trekkers Of India)
The Nafran valley offers one of the vastest meadows, as compared to the Great Lakes of Kashmir, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Tarsar Marsar, where one can walk for miles in the open fields and melt in the icy and starry nights of the Nafran Valley while camping in these whimsical meadows.

How safe is the Nafran Valley Trek?

• This remote valley is known only by a few shepherds of Kashmir, making this trek very secluded and safe, and it goes through the populated towns like Bhijbera and Anantnag.
• As the country is, the same should be the guise. We always advise our trekkers to stay connected with the news and blend in the culture when in Kashmir.
• In the case of curfew, stay calm and conscious as Kashmir is prone to curfew.
• Due to high altitude, there is a risk of AMS. So, pay close attention to your body and stay alert for any signs of altitude sickness.
• If you do not feel normal after a few hours or overnight, do not proceed further on the trek and inform the trek leader.
• During a medical emergency in the Nafran Valley trek, the best exit point is to descend to Aru.
• In case of a medical emergency, the closest hospital is at Pahalgam. For serious medical attention, head to Srinagar for better facilities.

What is the difficulty level of Nafran Valley Trek?

• The difficulty level of the Nafran valley trek ranges from Moderate-Difficult, as it is a high altitude trek at 14,127ft. It requires you to have a good fitness level, as the Kashmir topography would put too much strain on your knees and ankles.
• The trek has a steep and short trail, making the ascents very difficult. A prior trek experience in the Himalayan range would make the ascend easier.
• The Harnag Pass is full of large boulders and gets slippery with the water that runs down over it, so be extra precautious.
• FITNESS THUMB RULE: If one can run 10 Kms in an hour, they are fit for the trek.

When to visit the Nafran Valley?

• The best time to visit this Kashmiri Meadow is between July-September as the entire valley starts blooming at this time due to the perennial water supply from Kolahoi Glacier.
• July – It is the melting season of Nafran Valley as the snow slowly begins to liquidize and unveil the lush green silk carpet beneath. The valley also gets high rainfall, as compared to other months, making it a perfect heavenly Kashmiri destination.
• August – The blooming season of the Nafran offers sightseers a lush green valley with horses grazing around amidst the flood of flowers. The flowers bloom miraculously throughout the month in this valley of Kashmir, giving Nafran Valley an edge over the Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar.
• September – The driest season of Kashmir, as the flower begins to shrink and lose its colors. The valley’s appearance is still very soothing, yet we don’t recommend trekking from the 2nd week of September as the terrain gets wild. But few solo trekkers do get secluded in the valley till late September