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- TARSAR MARSAR TREK
- Kashmir
- 7 Days
- 13 to 55 Yrs
- Moderate
- Expert Guide
Description
The Tarsar Lake is an almond-shaped, oligotrophic alpine lake situated in the Kashmir Valley, specifically in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. It can be reached from Srinagar via a 102 km motorable road which leads through Anantnag and Pahalgam to the Aru trekking camp. The alpine meadow of Lidderwat lies at the halfway point of the two-day trek to the lake.
The lake is separated by a mountain with a minimum peak elevation of 4,000 metres from another lake of the same nature known as Marsar Lake, which is in the vicinity of Dachigam National Park. Together these two lakes are referred to as the twin sisters. During the winter, the Tarsar Lake freezes and is covered by heavy snow; it has floating ice even in the summer. The 16th-century Kashmiri ruler Yusuf Shah Chak mentioned the twin lakes in his poetry, writing to his beloved: "When I remember the two tresses of the comely beloved, Tears begin to flow from my eyes like streams from Tarsar and Marsar."
Short Itinerary
Day 2 - Trek from Aru to Lidderwat
Day 3 - Trek from Lidderwat to Shekwas
Day 4 - Trek from Shekwas to Tarsar
Day 5 - Trek from Tarsar to Sundersar via Tarsar Pass
Day 6 - Trek from Sundersar to Homwas via Marsar
Day 7 - Trek from Homwas to Aru. Drive to Srinagar
Detailed Itinerary
Drive from Srinagar to Aru
Transport organised from Barbara Shah Chowk, Srinagar at 8 AM. Cost Rs 500 per person. Note: registration and document verification starts at 4 pm in Aru.
Trek from Aru to Lidderwat
Easy-moderate. Initial gradual ascent for about half an hour followed by gentle undulating walk until you reach the Lidderwat campsite.
Trek from Lidderwat to Shekwas
Moderate. Continuously ascending trail for the first couple of hours with a few short level walks and a river crossing before Homwas.
Trek from Shekwas to Tarsar
Moderate. Continuous ascent, mostly on gradual inclines to reach the ridge and then entering into the breathtaking meadows of Tarsar.
Trek from Tarsar to Sundersar via Tarsar Pass
Moderate. Steep ascent in the beginning to the pass, followed by a descent and then a gentle ascent to Sundersar.
Trek from Sundersar to Homwas via Marsar
Moderate. An hour ascent to Marsar. You later have a gradual descent all the way to Homwas.
Trek from Homwas to Aru. Drive to Srinagar
Easy. Gradually descending trail to Aru. Drive back to Srinagar (Rs 3,000 per cab). Distance between camps may vary by 100m/100ft.
Important Points
- Advisory Note: Buffer day is mandatory for Kashmir treks. Book flexible flight tickets. Tents are used for all days.
- Mandatory: Carry photocopy of photo ID, Medical Certificate, and Disclaimer form for permissions.
Note: Twin sharing may be replaced by triple sharing in peak months (May-August) due to global tent supply shortages.