Introduction :-Kousarnag, known as the crown jewel of Alpine Lakes, is the second largest high-altitude lake in the Kashmir Valley with an area of 110 Hectares. Literally ‘Kausar Nag’ means a spring which gifts life in Islamic literature and Hindus call it ‘Vishnu Pad’, meaning, ‘Foot of Lord Vishnu’. Nestled in the lap of Pir Panjal Range, this beautiful lake is located at an altitude of around 3500m ASL with around 2.75 kms in length and 700m at the widest point. Surrounded by the mighty peaks of the Pir Panjal by east and west, this high-altitude enchanting lake, apparently has no visible water outlet. The Ice bergs remain floating in the lake for the whole summer on Its magical sapphire blue water. The beaten track starting from Gurwattan and passes through different scenic meadows and pastures leading to this pristine lake, gives spectacular views of nature on the way. The trek is almost moderate up to Mahinag, but the trail ahead ascending to the top is a bit challenging.
▶️Jammu & Kashmir, India 🇮🇳
▶️Kulgam District 📌
▶️Best season to visit the lake is June to September.
▶️Aharbal to Gurwattan (01.00km)
▶️Gurwattan to Sangam (03.5 km)
▶️ Sangam to Kongwattan (03.5 km)
▶️ Kongwattan to Mahinag (09.5 km)
▶️ Mahinag to Kausarnag (03.5km)
Journey:-Embarking on a journey through the heart of Kashmir's wilderness, our trek to the serene Kausarnag Lake began on the crisp morning of July 25, 2023. As the sun peeked over the horizon at 07 am, my companions—Aadil Ahmad ,Mir Aamir, Jahanger, Ummer, and myself —set out from the quaint village of Gurwattan Aharbal. Our path wound through an enchanting alpine forest, leading us to the confluence known as Sangam, where we paused to capture the moment in photographs.
Our ascent continued towards Kongwattan, an alpine meadow celebrated for its camping grounds and recognized as the first base camp of the Kausarnag trek. Here, amidst the tranquil expanse, we indulged in a brief coffee break, savoring the warmth of the brew against the cool mountain air.
The trail from Kongwattan grew increasingly arduous, marked by large boulders and areas prone to rockfalls. Hours into our climb, we arrived at Mahinag—another 10 kilometers conquered. This second base camp offered a welcome respite, where we enjoyed a meal and documented our progress with more photographs.
As we ventured forth from Mahinag, the skies opened up, necessitating our rain gear. The mountain's trail to Kausarnag was a challenging zigzag with steep inclines. Yet, undeterred, we reached the lake's base by late afternoon, just as the rain ceased, revealing the path ahead.
At approximately 5:20 pm, the sight of Kausarnag Lake greeted us, a reward for our perseverance. Our group's spirits soared at the view, and we quickly set up camp. As twilight descended, we gathered around steaming cups of tea and a hearty meal of rotis and chicken, the comforts of home in the wilderness.
The night at Kausarnag was spent under a canopy of stars, with coffee in hand, as we marveled at the nocturnal beauty of the lake. The following morning, the lake's splendor was magnified by the dawn light, inspiring us to capture its essence through videos and photographs.
Reluctantly, we bid farewell to Kausarnag at 11 am, retracing our steps to Kongwattan. The journey back was a reflection of our outbound trek, culminating in our arrival at Aharbal by 3:15 pm. With hearts full of memories and a sense of accomplishment, we concluded our adventure, already dreaming of the next one.
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