Jammu & Kashmir
Crossing over from Ladakh into Jammu & Kashmir, the landscape transforms slowly but dramatically. Leave the browns of Ladakh’s cold desert to enter a postcard of alpine forests overwritten with glacial streams, a land that was famously deemed ‘paradise’ in Sufi poet Khusro’s immortal lines. And paradise it is indeed, for there is something about the landscape, its people, and culture, that I have not experienced in other parts of the Indian Himalaya. If it weren’t for its politically volatile situation, Kashmir would be a world-leading trekking destination.
Hidden gems in Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir
Tosa Maidan trek
Difficulty: ModerateMax Elevation: 3,700 metres Duration: Seven daysStart/end point: Tosa Maidan / Yusmarg Accommodation: Camping A good alternative to Kashmir’s stunning (but increasingly popular) Great Lakes trek, this is a hidden gem of alpine meadows, coniferous forests and lakes. Close to Gulmarg, a place that draws the winter skiing crowd, Tosa Maidan in the Pir Panjal range is your quiet gateway to the still untouched beauty of Kashmir that I was privy to when I first went there a decade ago. It is also away from the Amaranth pilgrim trail that attracts crowds of domestic pilgrims in the summer. Another major advantage is that you still get to see some gorgeous glacial lakes, but without toiling across high passes. Need to know Kashmir is a special place for its unmatched natural beauty, but it comes with plenty of political baggage. Check your insurance covers travel here, and get an update on its latest situation to find a peaceful window for your travel to the region. For this trek, you can fly to Srinagar and then drive two hours to the trailhead.
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Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir
Crossing over from Ladakh into Jammu & Kashmir, the landscape transforms slowly but dramatically. Leave the browns of Ladakh’s cold desert to enter a postcard of alpine forests overwritten with glacial streams, a land that was famously deemed ‘paradise’ in Sufi poet Khusro’s immortal lines. And paradise it is indeed, for there is something about the landscape, its people, and culture, that I have not experienced in other parts of the Indian Himalaya. If it weren’t for its politically volatile situation, Kashmir would be a world-leading trekking destination.
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Tosa Maidan trek
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