VALLEYS

VALLEYS:

 Among various lateral or side valleys adorning the valley of Kashmir, the Lidder, the Sind and  the Lolab valleys are conspicuous.

LIDDER VALLEY:

The first upland  valley to the east of Jehlum is the Lidder Valley extending in the northernly direction, from near Anantnag to Pahalgam. The valley includes the Paraganas of Dachhinpora, known for its fine breed of ponies, and Khaurapora.At Pahalgam , the valley into two defiles : on the north west it leads up via Aru to the Sind valley and on the north-east it continues on via Shesh-nag to the cave of Amarnath.At its lower end the valley is 4.8 kms.wide , but at its upper end, it is only a few hundred metres. It is bound on both sides by mountains which are increasingly lofty.

Pahalgam meaning literally a village of shepherds, has grown into a famous santorium where the people come to escape sultry heat of the plains and enjoy the blissfull breaze of the mountains.Situated at a height of 2400 metres above the sea level, it is at a distance of 96kms from Srinagar, The Lidder river on whose banks Pahlgam stands and its tributaries are trout Fishermen’s paradise.It drains Pahalgam and a torrent from the Kolhoi Glacier enters it just near Marnal.Flowing majestically among  the pines murmuring the sonorous song “Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever”, the stream rushes in a hurry to irrigate the valley and surrounding areas.

SIND VALLEY:

This is the most beautiful literal valley of Kashmir which owes its name to the Sind river.On the left, there is flat marshy tract called Anchar while,on the north of the valley, lies a beautiful, healthy resort of Ganderbal which is connected with Srinagar both by road and river.The roads leads to Drass and Kargil over Zojila. The entire valley extends over an area not exceeding 96 kms and is guarded by the Harmukh. The hills and mountains encircling the valley are lofty enough to enrich it with large forests of pine and walnut trees.

The most famous spot of this valley is Sonamarg, situated at a distance  of 86 kms. from Srinagar , at the end of Pargana “Lar” adjacent to Zojibal in the mountain  pass on the bank of the Sind river, about 9000 feet above the sea level.It is known for different kinds of flowers, moist and cold air.Surrounded by mountains ranging in height from 4600 meters to 5300 metres, Sonamarg is a beautiful spot of tourist attraction.

LOLAB VALLEY:

Situated in the north of Baramulla on farther side of the ridge that skirts the Wullar lake on the north-west,Lolab is a copiously fertile valley , which is about 6.4 kms. long and 4.8 kms. wide; its altitude being about 1828 metres.Studded with villages which look pretty under the shade of walnut and otherfruit bearing trees, the valley possesses extensive pastures, where a large  number of ponies graze

      Further, other famous valleys or Margs of Kashmir Region are as follows:

BANGUS VALLEY:

 Situated in the northern mountain region of Kashmir, at a height  of about 9500 feet above the sea level, this lovely extensive meadow falls at a distance of 35 kms. from Langate and 140 kms. from Srinagar.Besides a few springs seen at different places, the valley is beautified by a stream known as, “Tilwan Kul” which  passes through it.Wild flowers and herbs grow here in abundance.The famous spring Kol Nag, 13000 feet above the sea level, is located  at a distance of 20 kms, from here. The valley is known for game and wild animals

DACHIGAM VALLEY:

The Dachigam valley commonly known as ,’Daich Gam Rakh’ or  ‘Game Reserve’ is one of the most  charming dales of Kashmir. Its rich variety of flora and fauna, the luxuriant mountain slopes and the wild animals especially ‘Hangul’ and ‘Snow Leopard’, make it a beautiful spot in Kashmir. A silvery stream emptying the Mar Sar  drains this  emerald green vale and kisses the foot of Mahadev(13,013 feet).Nagaberan is a meadow situated behind the valley. About 400 yards to the north east of the reservoir under a huge chinar is a small spring called Shardabal dedicated to Goddess Sharda.The water  of  this spring is excellent for digestion.

GULMARG VALLEY:

It is also known as the “Meadow of Flowers”, extending overthree square kilometers, 56 kms, from Srinagar.The Mughal Emperor Jahangir had collected  21 kinds of different flowers here. It  is an excellent winter sport centre at 2653 metres above  the sea level, and a circular road about 11 kms. in length runs round the valley through pleasant dense pine forests.It has the highest green Golf Course of international standards.The Khilanmarg Valley is about 6 kms. from here.It is famous for summer flowers and offers an unrivalled spectacle of the peaks and the wide spreading waters of Wullar and other lakes.

GUREZ VALLEY:

 This large valley lying to the north of Kashmir is shaped somewhat like the letter ”W” the base and the western arm being  traversed by the Kishen Ganga river and the western arm by the Burzil stream. The Valley is surrounded on every side by a lofty  peaks and mountain slope such as Nanga Parbat,Harmukh,Shamsbrari etc. The South-East  end of the valley is occupied by a superb peak of Pir Panjal range rising nearly 3000 feet above it and dividing the Titail Valley from that of Gurez Valley. Towards the end of the southern portion of the valley there is a fort, occuping the crest of a small mound which rises about 80 feet from the level of the plane on the left bank of the Krishen Ganga.This  fort was the residence of the Nawabs, tributary to the Gaoraman Rajas of Gilgit.

YUSMARG VALLEY:

It is at a distance of 40kms. from Srinagar and 10kms from Chari Sharif situated in the Lap of the Pir Panjal range, at an altitude of 2700 metres. It is  famous for colourful spring flowers.Nila Nag lake is at its vicinity.Giant Pine and fir covers the mountain slopes of the meadow of Yusmarg.