Gangabal Lake

The Gangabal Lake, also called Haramukh Ganga, is an alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake situated at the foot of Mount Haramukh in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.[1][2] The lake has a maximum length of 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) and maximum width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs and is home to many species of fish, including the brown trout.[3][4] Water from the lake outflows into the nearby Nundkol Lake[5] and then into the Sind River via Wangath Nallah.[6][7][8] This lake is considered sacred in Hinduism as one of the abodes of Shiva, and Kashmiri Hindus perform an annual pilgrimage to the lake called Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra.

Gangabal Lake
view of Gangabal lake
Gangabal Lake at the foot of Harmukh
Location of Gangabal lake within Jammu and Kashmir
Location of Gangabal lake within Jammu and Kashmir
Gangabal Lake
Location in Jammu and Kashmir
LocationGanderbal, Jammu and Kashmir
Coordinates34°25′50″N 74°55′30″E
Typeoligotrophic lake
Primary inflowsMelting glaciers
Primary outflowsNundkol Lake which drains into the Sind River
Basin countriesIndia
Max. length2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi)
Max. width1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
Surface elevation3,575 metres (11,729 ft)
FrozenNovember to April

History

Gangabal has been mentioned in Hindu texts like the Nilamata Purana as well as Rajatarangini. Authors like Walter Roper Lawrence and Francis Younghusband also mentioned Gangabal lake and its association with Hindu rites. In 1519 around 10,000 Kashmiri Brahmans died possibly due to landslides and early snowstorms near Mahlish Meadow during their pilgrimage to Gangabal as they had gone to immerse the ashes of Kashmiri Hindus who were killed by Mir Shams-ud-Din Araqi on the day of Ashura.[9]

Religious significance

Gangabal Lake is sacred for Hindus. In the past Kashmiri Hindus would immerse the ashes of the dead after cremation in the lake.[10] The Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra, an annual pilgrimage starting from Naranag, was revived in 2009.[11][12]

Access

Gangbal Lake is approached from Srinagar 45 kilometers by road via Ganderbal up to Naranag and then a trek of 15 kilometers upslope leads to the lake, which can be covered by a horse ride or by foot. The gujjar shepherds can be seen during the trek with their flocks of sheep and goats. Another trek (25 kilometers long) leads to the lake site from Sonamarg via the Vishansar Lake crossing three mountain passes Nichnai pass, Gadsar pass and Zajibal pass of an average elevation of 4100 meters.[13] It can also be accessed through a trek from Bandipore via Arin.[14] The trek to the lake Gangabal takes place in an alpine environment, (cut crossing) with meadows, (cut from) and huts of Gujjars with their herds crossing through two passes over 4,000 m to get to the lake Gangabal.

References
  1. "Trekking Kashmir". gaffarakashmir.in. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  2. Raina, HS; KK Vass (May–June 2006). "Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India" (PDF). J. Indian Inst. Sci. 86: 287–291. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  3. "Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar". Fao.org. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  4. Petr, T., ed. (1999). Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia. Rome: FAO. p. 72. ISBN 92-5-104309-4.
  5. "Harmukh Gangbal". kashmirfirst.com. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  6. "Indus projects". nih.ernet.net. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  7. Raina, Maharaj Krishen. "Know Your Motherland – Gangabal Lake".
  8. "Kashmir tourism". public.fotki.com. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  9. Bhatt, Saligram (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace: Proceedings of National Seminar by Kashmir Education Culture & Science Society (K.E.C.S.S.), New Delhi. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-313-0402-0.
  10. "Braving Unrest, Pandits Perform Gangbal Yatra in Kashmir". 12 September 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. "Harmukh Gangabal lake pilgrimage performed in Kashmir due to Covid-19". 28 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. Raina, Irfan. "Annual Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra commences". Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  13. "Trek to Gangabal". kashmirtreks.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  14. "Tracks of Kashmir". kashmirmount.org. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
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