Kashmir Great Lakes Trek | Seven Lakes, Endless Wonder

Some places just seem to come right out of stories or paintings. Places where nature is so strikingly beautiful that words inadequately fall short. One such place is the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, reputed by many to be India’s most beautiful and enchanting trek. It’s a trek that goes through alpine lakes, snow-draped mountains, lush valleys, wildflower meadows, and endless skies seemingly stretching till eternity. If you love nature, adventure, and quiet landscapes speaking directly to the soul, this is the dream destination for a trek.

No two days on the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, also popularly known as the Sonamarg-Vishansar-Naranag Trek, are the same. You’re not just climbing mountains or going through forests; you see a new lake almost every single day at high altitude. These lakes lay hidden between vast green valleys and snow-laced peaks.

A Journey Through Nature’s Masterpiece

It is usually a seven-day trek, starting from Sonamarg—a beautiful meadow town that looks much as though it has been lifted from a postcard: cool air, clear rivers, and mountains rising like giants around you. As you start the actual trek, you go quietly up into the valleys; the sound of the river fades into the whistling of the breeze and the crunch of your boots on grass and stone.

Probably the most magical thing about this trek is the way the landscapes keep changing. At one moment, you are trekking through green pastures, surrounded by horses grazing lazily; at the next, you are climbing up a ridge from where you get glimpses of faraway valleys below. In another instant, you are standing in front of a still lake that reflects the sky perfectly.

The Magnificent Seven Lakes

It is, in fact, the seven lakes trek: Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar—actually a cluster of lakes—Gangabal, and Nundkol. Each one has a character, color, and setting that is different.

For most, the Vishansar Lake itself is an ample attraction on this trek. The lake looks huge, lying in the lap of nature like a sapphire, surrounded by green slopes and snow-smothered mountains. Reflections on Vishansar, especially during early morning, are mind-blowingly beautiful.

Above Vishansar lies the Kishansar Lake, and reaching it has been akin to being transported into another world altogether. It so happens that the lake is famous for the perfect reflections of mountains that form its backdrop, so much so that you cannot tell where the mountain ends and where the water begins right in the middle of a calm morning. This would be a sight nobody would ever forget because the trek inches upward toward Gadsar Pass, which is the highest point of the trek at an altitude of about 13,800 feet. Down beneath, Gadsar Lake gleams silently, a story hidden between cliffs and flowers. Further ahead comes Satsar, literally meaning “seven lakes.” Actually, it is a group of lakes spread across a meadow valley; some are large and deep, whereas others are small and charming like forest ponds. These twin lakes, namely Gangabal and Nundkol, at the foot of the mighty Mount Harmukh, are the last destinations of this trek. The tall peak stands reflected in these lakes as in a sacred mirror. Every step into this journey is like being immersed in a new painting.

When to Visit The best time for undertaking the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is during July-August of the year. These are months during which a lot of the snow begins to melt, hence opening the trails, and the valleys just burst into vibrant colors. Thousands of wildflowers bloom and carpet the meadows. The sky remains clear, and usually, the weather remains stable enough to afford smooth trekking. Of course, the temperatures are quite pleasant during the day. However, it really cools off at night. All that fresh air, open sky, and innumerable stars make it well worth it, though. Many trekkers report night skies here to be among the brightest and clearest they have ever seen. Good for first-time trekkers who are in good shape. This trek, though appearing as a fantastical beauty, is actually only a moderately difficult trek. To you, it means one need not be a super-experienced trekker to try this trek. If you are reasonably fit, patient, and like long walks, you can definitely do this trek. Yes, there are certain steep climbs and long walking days, but the reward at every turn keeps you motivated. Comfortable trekking shoes, warm clothes, and a good attitude make the journey comfortable in their own ways. You get to see fellow trekkers, share stories, and make friendships that often outlast the journey.

A Journey That Stays With You People talk so fondly of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek—not just for the lakes and mountains but for the way this journey makes one feel. Away from the milling routines and noise of the cities, you get time to breathe deep and think clearly. You begin to notice the sound of the wind, the shape of a cloud, the softness of a flower petal, and the warmth of sunlight on your face. Nature slows you down and reminds you of life’s gentle beauty. Every evening, campers sit together and share stories near a fire or inside their tents when the sky is filled with stars. Every day was a new day, and the sun showed its face, turning the lakes into masses of gold. These are the moments that stay with you far beyond the trek.