KOLAHOI GLACIER TREK
Photo Courtesy : Ankit Naithani
Stationed in the lap of Himalayan and Pir Panjal mountain ranges, Paradise Kashmir- one of the beautiful places you will find around the sphere. Known for its eye-catching and charming beauty, valley has lot to offer to nature sweet-hearts. One can visit Mughal Gardens, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Doodpathri etc. Besides these beautiful places valley has lot to offer to its trek lovers. The Trekking in Kashmir includes wonderful scenes, white ice fields, clear pristine lakes encircled by thick and evergreen pinewoods and snow dressed mountains. Some of the best and popular trek routes in Kashmir are:

  • ·   Kashmir The Great lakes Trek
  • ·   Trek to frozen Alphater Lake
  •     Tajiwas Glacier trek
  • ·   Holy Amarnath yatra Trek
  •      Shishnaag and Betaab Valley trek in Pahalgam 
  •      Kolahoi glacier trek
  •      Naranag Mahlish Trek
  •      Tarsar Marsar trek
           

Among these popular treks Kolahoi glacier trek in Anantnag’s Pahalgam is one of the fascinating treks which every trek lover would love to trek. The Kolahoi glacier is also admired as ‘’Goddess Of light’’ for being persistent source of water to the major rivers of Kashmir like Jehlum and Lidder. Situated to the west of Himalayas Kolahoi glacier trek starts from Aru Village. Aru village is apprx.at a distance of 12kms from Pahalgam and it usually takes 5 days to complete this trek.

  •         Best season to trek   
                JULY-OCTOBER
  • ·        Duration  
                 5 DAYS

  •    Difficulty level 
             EASY-MODERATE
  • ·        Altitude    
             AVERAGE ALTITUDE - 4'700 METERS
             PEAK ALTITUDE - 5,425 METERS.

A fascinating view of Mount Kalahoi.
Photo Courtesy : Ankit Naithani

A brief itinerary of this trek:

Day1: Pahalgam to Aru valley
From Pahalgam to Aru valley (Aru village), a popular tourist destination with alluring green pastures giving Aru valley a magnificent view. Overnight stay at Aru valley


Day2: Aru valley to Lidderwat (Altitude 3049m, distance 11kms)
After night stay at Aru valley, get up early in the morning. After breakfast, start trekking towards Lidderwat, on the way cross Foot Bridge to reach on campsite.

Day3: Lidderwat to Satlanjan (Altitude 3420m, and will take upto 2-3 hours)
In the morning start trek towards Satlanjan.The trek starts from Nichnai Pass.On the way go through incredible perspectives of the mountains. Trail through the bloom strewn glades towards the Vishanasar and Kishnasar Lakes. Spend night right in the camps at Vishnasar Lake.

Day4: Satlanjan to Kolahoi peak (4140m, and will take 6 hours to reach there)
After night stay, early in the morning start trek towards Kolahoi base camp. In order to have a better view of Kolahoi peak trek a little bit higher and that is your destination. Trail back to Lidderwat on the same day and stay overnight at Lidderwat.

Day5: Kolahoi to Aru valley
After a delightful breakfast start trek towards Aru Valley, and that is your final destination.
A Google Earth Screenshot of Kolahoi Glacier


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