Warwan Valley Trek

by Sabeela Shabir A Travel Writer

Warwan Valley Trek- An Introduction

The picturesque appearance of the mighty Himalayas clicks on the traveler mode within a wanderlust. The Himalayas serve different purposes for different types of travelers. While some would enjoy the mesmerizing mountains from a distance, others would be more adventurous to go for a trek. Though trekking may look a bit arduous for those who have never experienced it before, the beauty of trekking can be very well understood by adventure lovers.

Today, we have brought before you a new and exciting trekking destination in Jammu and Kashmir, this is none other than the Warwan Valley. The captivating beauty of this valley incites you to have a closer look and if you are searching for a destination that gives you a thrilling experience, then trekking in the Warwan valley would suit your intended purposes.

About Warwan Valley-

Named after the Warwan River, the Warwan valley is located at an altitude of 7000 feet. This high-altitude valley is located in the Kishtawar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The highest point is the Bhatkol Pass, which is 4390 meters in height.

The Warwan valley trek or the Srinagar Warwan Panikhar Trek is a Himalayan crossover trek. This means that the Warwan valley provides the best of two landscapes. In other words, the Warwan valley connects the Ladakh Himalayas from the Suru valley to the Kashmir Himalayas. The gradual transition of landscape i.e., from the desert mountains of Ladakh to the lush green mountains of Kashmir is fascinating.

The Warwan valley trek documents icy paths, moraines, meadows, river basins, and cutting edges thus, constantly giving you an adrenaline rush. The trek covers a total distance of 100 km. The difficulty level of this trek is labeled to be moderate. This trekking opportunity could be undertaken solo or as a couple or even as a family.

How to reach Srinagar?

To reach Warwan valley, one has to start their journey from Srinagar. There is an international airport in Srinagar that can be easily accessed by international travelers as well. Apart from the airport, the Jammu Tawi railway station is well-connected to the other parts of India.

Both the airport as well as the railway station have ample taxi and bus options, the travelers can choose their mode of transportation according to their convenience.

Trekking Journey

From Srinagar, the first stoppage is Panikhar village (Kargil district). This place reflects Zanskari customs. The trail moves to Sumdo/Denora, where we see an intermingling of two rivers. Trekkers would be enchanted by this spellbound scenery. The next stop is Kalapari. From Kalapari to Kainthal via Lomvilad Pass is the most difficult part of the whole trekking journey since as you move further in this journey, you would witness boulders, and extensive moraine sections (traces of rock left behind by a mass of ice). One experiences glacier walks and the ascent and descent of roads could be witnessed at different parts of the journey. The expedition continues to reach Humpet.

Traversing on the route, you will come across Kota i.e., the shepherd's hut. These huts are made with a combination of rock and mud. Blooming colorful flowers and tree lines could be seen the moment you enter Humpet. As one continues to move further, the desired destination i.e., the Warwan valley gets nearer. One of the fascinating things that you would find here is- a cluster of golden brown rodents, termed ‘marmot’. The valley has a narrow track (which gets wider after a few kilometers) and is bordered by silver birch trees. The expedition then reaches Sukhnai village. The final stoppage to this trekking adventure is Chaudraiman. The village displays large tracts of land with flourishing crops. From Chaudraiman, you can return to Srinagar.

Best time to visit

The location of Warwan valley is at a high altitude and so it becomes too cold during the months of the winter season. The whole terrain is covered with snow therefore, the region becomes inaccessible during this particular season.

From June to September, the temperature is ideal and so you can go trekking during these months. The snow is almost melted (barring a few places) and the meadows are blooming with flowers.

The key concern that may arise in your mind is that the months of June to September overlap with the monsoon season. So, would it be a difficult time for the trekkers to trek? The answer is- no. This is because the Pir Panjal range acts as a barrier for the moisture-laden winds to traverse to Kashmir valley.

Staying options

Since you are going for a trekking experience, there are several travel agencies that offers you camping options. You can choose the tents according to your needs.

Precautions-

Throughout this trekking journey, you would find several ascents and descents thus, demanding a higher fitness level from you. This issue can be dealt if you undergo some kind of physical training.

The temperature in this region can drop down to 3 to 7 degrees at night so it is advisable that you have ample warm clothes.

At the end of this journey, the only thing that will be with you is- a sense of accomplishment.