Seven days. Zero network bars. 75 Kilometers. This is not a vacation; it is a pilgrimage for anyone who loves the mountains. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek is the crown jewel of trekking in India.
We started from Sonamarg. The first climb is brutal, a test to see if you really want this. But when you cross the first ridge and see the Vishansar Lake, turquoise and still like glass, the pain vanishes.
The Twins: Vishansar and Krishansar
These two lakes sit side by side, fed by glaciers. The water is so clean you can drink straight from the stream. We camped right by the shore. At night, the Milky Way reflects in the water, so you are sleeping between two heavens.
"Walking for 7 days teaches you that you need very little to be happy. Good shoes, dry socks, and good friends."
The Gadsar Pass
This was the hardest day. Crossing the pass at 13,800 feet. The air is thin. Every step requires effort. But the view from the top—looking down at the frozen Gadsar lake—is a memory etched in my mind forever.
If you plan to join us next year, start training now. The mountains are generous, but they demand respect.