| Gangabal Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ganderbal, Kashmir Valley |
| Max. length | 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 kilometre ( 0.62 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) |
Gangabal Lake (Urdu:-ﮔﻨﮕﺒﻞ ﺟﮭﻴﻞ) also called Gangbal Lake is a lake situated at the foothills of Mount Haramukh (the highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley)[1] in Ganderbal district, north of Srinagar city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometres and maximum width of one kilometre. It‘s fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby small lake ( Nundakol)[2] and then via Wangath nallah[3] to Nallah Sindh[4] The trout fishes are present in the lake.[5]
Gangabal lake is approached from Srinagar 45 kilometres by road via Ganderbal upto Naranag[6] and then a trek of 15 kilometres upslopes leads to the lake, which can be covered by a horse ride or by foot. The shepherds and gujjars can be seen enroute the trek with their folks of sheep and goats. Another trek ( 25 kilometres long) leads to the lake site from Sonamarg via Vaishnosar lake crossing the Nichnai pass[7] ( 4100 meteres). It can also be accessed through a trek from Bandipore via Arin.[8]
In hindu tradition Gangbal is also called Harmukut Ganga, and it is believed that this place is pious as Haridwar where Hindu pilgrims perform prayers and immerse ashes of the dead. A traditional annual three-day-long yatra has been revived by Kashmiri Pandits to preserve their cultural and religious history.[9]