Gangabal Lake - Revision history

DarleneSeamon8 at 17:36, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T17:36:24Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 00:50, 1 July 2022
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	{{Infobox body of water		{{Infobox body of water
	\|name = Gangabal Lake		\|name = Gangabal Lake
	\|image = ~~Gangabal2~~.jpg		\|image = Gangabal Lake.jpg
	\|alt = view of Gangabal lake		\|alt = view of Gangabal lake
	\|caption = ~~Gangbal~~ Lake at the foot of [[Harmukh]]		\|caption = Gangabal Lake at the foot of [[Harmukh]]
	\|location = [[Ganderbal]], [[Kashmir Valley]]		\|location = [[Ganderbal]], [[Kashmir Valley]]
	\|coords = {{coord\|34\|25\|50\|N\|74\|55\|30\|E\|region:IN_type:waterbody\|display=inline,title}}		\|coords = {{coord\|34\|25\|50\|N\|74\|55\|30\|E\|region:IN_type:waterbody\|display=inline,title}}
Line 22:		Line 22:
	\|frozen = November to April		\|frozen = November to April
	}}		}}
	The '''~~Gangbal~~ Lake''' also called ~~Gangbal Lake~~, is a [[lake]] situated at the ~~foothills~~ of [[Mount Haramukh]] ~~(the second highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley)~~<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html\|title=Trekking Kashmir\|publisher=gaffarakashmir.in\|access-date=2012-04-19\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313064920/http://gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html\|archive-date=13 March 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Ganderbal]] district, north of [[Srinagar]], in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)\|Jammu and Kashmir]]. It is an alpine high altitude [[oligotrophic lake]],<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Raina\|first=HS\|author2=KK Vass\|title=Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India\|journal=J. Indian Inst. Sci.\|date=May–June 2006\|volume=86\|pages=287–291\|url=http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200603/paper9/287.pdf\|access-date=21 February 2012}}{{dead link\|date=October 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> home to many species of fish,<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2614e/x2614e05.htm\|title=Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar\|publisher=Fao.org\|access-date=2012-04-19}}</ref> including the [[brown trout]].<ref>{{cite book\|last=Petr\|first=~~ed. by~~ T.\|title=Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia\|year=1999\|publisher=FAO\|location=Rome\|isbn=92-5-104309-4\|page=72\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4HESCeJyZcC&q=Vishansar+Lake&pg=PA72}}</ref>		The '''Gangabal Lake''' also called Haramukh ganga, is a [[lake]] situated at the foot of [[Mount Haramukh]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html\|title=Trekking Kashmir\|publisher=gaffarakashmir.in\|access-date=2012-04-19\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313064920/http://gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html\|archive-date=13 March 2013\|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Ganderbal]] district, north of [[Srinagar]], in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)\|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]. It is an alpine high altitude [[oligotrophic lake]],<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Raina\|first=HS\|author2=KK Vass\|title=Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India\|journal=J. Indian Inst. Sci.\|date=May–June 2006\|volume=86\|pages=287–291\|url=http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200603/paper9/287.pdf\|access-date=21 February 2012}}{{dead link\|date=October 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> home to many species of fish,<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2614e/x2614e05.htm\|title=Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar\|publisher=Fao.org\|access-date=2012-04-19}}</ref> including the [[brown trout]].<ref>{{cite book\|editor-last=Petr\|editor-first=T.\|title=Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia\|year=1999\|publisher=FAO\|location=Rome\|isbn=92-5-104309-4\|page=72\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4HESCeJyZcC&q=Vishansar+Lake&pg=PA72}}</ref> This lake is considered sacred in Hinduism, and as one of the home of Lord [[Shiva]]. [[Kashmiri Hindus]] perform annual pilgrimage called ''[[Harmukh]]-Gangabal Yatra''.

	The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometers and maximum width of one kilometre. It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby [[Nundkol Lake]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kashmirfirst.com/articles/history/070509_haramukh_gangabal.htm\|title=Harmukh Gangbal\|publisher=kashmirfirst.com\|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref> and then via Wangath Nallah<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm\|title=Indus projects\|publisher=nih.ernet.net\|access-date=2012-05-22\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710143538/http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm\|archive-date=10 July 2015\|url-status=dead\|df=dmy-all}}</ref> to [[Sind River]].<ref>{{cite web\|last=Raina\|first=Maharaj Krishen\|title=Know Your Motherland – Gangabal Lake\|url=http://ikashmir.net/mkraina/13.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.public.fotki.com/kashmir-ladakh-tourism/kashmir--ladakh/gangbal-lake-1.html\|title=Kashmir tourism\|publisher=public.fotki.com\|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref>		The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometers and maximum width of one kilometre. It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby [[Nundkol Lake]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kashmirfirst.com/articles/history/070509_haramukh_gangabal.htm\|title=Harmukh Gangbal\|publisher=kashmirfirst.com\|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref> and then via Wangath Nallah<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm\|title=Indus projects\|publisher=nih.ernet.net\|access-date=2012-05-22\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710143538/http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm\|archive-date=10 July 2015\|url-status=dead\|df=dmy-all}}</ref> to [[Sind River]].<ref>{{cite web\|last=Raina\|first=Maharaj Krishen\|title=Know Your Motherland – Gangabal Lake\|url=http://ikashmir.net/mkraina/13.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.public.fotki.com/kashmir-ladakh-tourism/kashmir--ladakh/gangbal-lake-1.html\|title=Kashmir tourism\|publisher=public.fotki.com\|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref>

			==History==
			Gangabal has been mentioned in Hindu texts like [[Nilamata Purana]] as well as [[Rajatarangini]]. Authors like [[Walter Roper Lawrence]] and [[Francis Younghusband]] also mentioned Gangabal lake and it's association with Hindu rites. Kashmiri Hindus were massacred in the year 1518 by Islamic invader [[Mir Shams-ud-Din Araqi]] on the day of [[Ashura]]. In 1519 around 10,000 Kashmiri Hindus were killed 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]].<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Bhatt \|first=Saligram \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA116 \|title=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 \|date=2008 \|publisher=APH Publishing \|isbn=978-81-313-0402-0 \|language=en}}</ref>

			After the gap of 200 years, APMCC/HGGT took the initiative and restarted [[Harmukh]]-Gangabal Yatra in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=2020-08-28 \|title=Harmukh Gangabal lake pilgrimage performed in Kashmir due to Covid-19 \|language=en \|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/harmukh-gangabal-lake-pilgrimage-performed-in-kashmir-due-to-covid-19-879203.html \|access-date=2022-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|last=Raina \|first=Irfan \|title=Annual Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra commences \|language=en \|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/kashmir-todays-paper/annual-harmukh-gangabal-yatra-commences \|access-date=2022-01-25}}</ref>

			==Religious significance==
			Gangabal Lake is sacred for Hindus. Each year Kashmiri Hindus take pilgrimage to the lake on the Ganga Ashtami. In the past Kashmiri Hindus used to immense the ashes of their dead ones in this lake.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=2016-09-12 \|title=Braving Unrest, Pandits Perform Gangbal Yatra in Kashmir \|language=en \|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/braving-unrest-pandits-perform-gangbal-yatra-in-kashmir-2-1291746.html \|access-date=2022-01-25}}</ref>

	==Access==		==Access==

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2021-08-28T03:20:27Z

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{{short description|Lake in Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
|name = Gangabal Lake
|image = Gangabal2.jpg
|alt = view of Gangabal lake
|caption = Gangbal Lake at the foot of [[Harmukh]]
|location = [[Ganderbal]], [[Kashmir Valley]]
|coords = {{coord|34|25|50|N|74|55|30|E|region:IN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
|pushpin_map = India Jammu and Kashmir
|pushpin_map_caption = Location Jammu and Kashmir
|pushpin_map_alt = Location of Gangabal lake within Jammu and Kashmir
|basin_countries = [[India]]
|type = [[oligotrophic lake]]
|inflow = Melting glaciers
|outflow = [[Nundkol Lake]] which drains into [[Sind River]]
|area = 
|length = {{convert|2.7|km|mi}}
|width = {{convert|1|km|mi}}
|elevation = {{convert|3575|m|ft}}
|frozen = November to April
}}
The '''Gangbal Lake''' also called Gangbal Lake, is a [[lake]] situated at the foothills of [[Mount Haramukh]] (the second highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html|title=Trekking Kashmir|publisher=gaffarakashmir.in|access-date=2012-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313064920/http://gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html|archive-date=13 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Ganderbal]] district, north of [[Srinagar]], in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. It is an alpine high altitude [[oligotrophic lake]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Raina|first=HS|author2=KK Vass|title=Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India|journal=J. Indian Inst. Sci.|date=May–June 2006|volume=86|pages=287–291|url=http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200603/paper9/287.pdf|access-date=21 February 2012}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> home to many species of fish,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2614e/x2614e05.htm|title=Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar|publisher=Fao.org|access-date=2012-04-19}}</ref> including the [[brown trout]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Petr|first=ed. by T.|title=Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia|year=1999|publisher=FAO|location=Rome|isbn=92-5-104309-4|page=72|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4HESCeJyZcC&q=Vishansar+Lake&pg=PA72}}</ref>

The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometers and maximum width of one kilometre. It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby [[Nundkol Lake]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirfirst.com/articles/history/070509_haramukh_gangabal.htm|title=Harmukh Gangbal|publisher=kashmirfirst.com|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref> and then via Wangath Nallah<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm|title=Indus projects|publisher=nih.ernet.net|access-date=2012-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710143538/http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> to [[Sind River]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Raina|first=Maharaj Krishen|title=Know Your Motherland – Gangabal Lake|url=http://ikashmir.net/mkraina/13.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.public.fotki.com/kashmir-ladakh-tourism/kashmir--ladakh/gangbal-lake-1.html|title=Kashmir tourism|publisher=public.fotki.com|access-date=2012-05-22}}</ref>

==Access==
The 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pttindia.com/gt.html |title=Track to Gangabal |publisher=pttindia.com |access-date=2012-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329232450/http://www.pttindia.com/gt.html |archive-date=2012-03-29 }}</ref> It can also be accessed through a trek from [[Bandipore]] via Arin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirmount.org/track.html |title=Tracks of Kashmir |publisher=kashmirmount.org |access-date=2012-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425074501/http://www.kashmirmount.org/track.html |archive-date=2012-04-25 }}</ref> The trek to the lake Gangabal takes place in an alpine environment, (cut crossing) with meadows, (cut from) and huts of [[Gurjar|Gujjars]] with their herds crossing through two passes over 4,000 m to get to the lake Gangabal.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Trekking near Gangbal Lake.jpg
File:GangbalPanorama1.jpg
File:Gangabal1.jpg
File:Gangabal4.jpg
File:Gangabal3.jpg
File:Mount Harmukh.JPG
File:Horse riding near Gangbal Lake.JPG
File:Fishes of Gangbal Lake.JPG
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{portalbar|Lakes}}
{{Kashmir Valley}}
{{Hydrography of Jammu and Kashmir}}

[[Category:Lakes of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Geography of Ganderbal district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ganderbal district]]