Page 37 - Seniorstoday March 2022 Issue

camera and be open to a little bit of roughing Lake, which is the source of the Veshu
out. You will be rewarded many times over.
AHARBAL FALLS & KAUSARNAG LAKE
Aharbal lies in the Kulgam district of
Kashmir. This is one of the pristine areas
of the beautiful Pir Panjal range of the
Kashmir Himalayas. Located just 50 kms
from Srinagar this is one of the must-visit
places of South Kashmir (very close to the
apple orchard area of Shopian). The thickly
forested alpine valley is covered with pine
and fir trees within the Pir Panjal Mountains
make it a beautiful and refreshing place to
visit – especially with a nice picnic hamper.
Located on the Veshu River- a tributary of the
Jehlum River - the 2260 metres mesmerizing
high falls are known as the ‘Niagara Falls of
Kashmir’. The roar of fast flowing white water
gushes and falls about 26 metres to form a
deep pool.
Aharbal is a base for adventure tourism. The
Veshu River is stocked with trout and is one of
the best places for angling in Kashmir. Apart
from the falls and fishing, this is a fantastic
area for short treks. The alpine meadow of
Kungwatan lies at the halfway point of the
two-day trek to the high-altitude Konsernag
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #33 | MARCH 2022
River. The lake is situated at an elevation of
3962 metres (13,000 ft) above sea level. The
lake feature itself is rather special as it is an
oligotrophic lake or water body which has
a relatively low productivity due to the low
nutrient content in the lake. The waters of
these lakes are usually quite clear due to the
limited growth of algae in the lake – hence of
high-drinking quality. Surrounded by snow
covered mountains, this is one of the most
beautiful places in all of Kashmir valley.
DAKSUM & SINTHANTOP
Just 3 hours from Srinagar past Anantnag,
lies another of Kashmir’s hidden gems –
Daksum. A beautiful picnic spot, situated at
an altitude of 2438 metres above sea level.
This too is a trekker’s paradise covered with
thick coniferous forests, fast gushing streams
and grassy meadows. The gushing Bringi
River adds to the charm of this stunning place
- as well as being an excellent place for trout
fishing. The general area is known for plenty
of camping spots and from Daksum the trail
rises fairly steeply to the Sinthan Pass located
at the height of 3748 metres. With a few hotels
available, this is a place which should be on
the bucket list of every outdoor enthusiast
visiting Kashmir.
The Sinthan Pass (Top) is midway on the
newly opened Anantnag-Kishtwar road
which offers some awesome views of the area.
At the top of the pass you get a 360 degree
view of snow-covered mountains and peaks.
On the way to Daksum you can stop at a
lesser known Mughal Garden – Achabal.
This was the pleasure garden of the Mughal
Empress Nur Jehan. Built between 162–1640
AD, the garden’s design is a typical Mughal
interpretation of the traditional Persian
chahar bagh (four gardens). The chahar
bagh takes its inspiration from the Quranic
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