Kashmir’s beauty truly is unparalleled. The Tosa Maidan and Greater Lakes trek is proof of just that. Every trekker who has been on this trail knows why Kashmir is referred to as heaven on earth. Treating your eyes to everything from meadows to glacial lakes, each scenery on the trek has so much character, it almost comes alive. Located around Gulmarg, the Tosa Maidan trail indulges you in all your trekking fantasies with its beauty, colors and the terrain.
Even the greatest of cameras cannot do justice to capturing what the Tosa Maidan and Greater Lakes trek has to offer. However, here is our attempt to show you what we saw and hope we come very close to doing justice. You can tell for yourself when you are out on the trail!
• Base Camp and the Coniferous Forests
This trail really does not wait before it attacks you with the beauty of the interiors of Kashmir. Right from the base camp in Drung all the way to the glacial lakes, each place you pass is rife with macro plants, flowers and an interesting terrain that changes as you move up higher. The coniferous forests that start off in patches and grow into a dense covering over you give you a sense of coziness with a whiff of nature. Although steep, trekking through the forest can be really exciting especially if you are interested in understanding the diversity of flora that it holds.
• The Meadows of Kashmir
Although the name of the trek might be a giveaway, nothing can prepare you for the vastness of the meadows you are about to witness! Coming at you right from the beginning, the meadows are a constant during the trek. Now, you must know that with meadows come herds of sheep, making your stroll so much more fun and lively. Sprawling for kilometers in front of you, the meadows of Kashmir will make you wonder if there really is an end to them.
• The Mountain Sunsets
To be able to watch the sun set over the mountains is a sight in itself. But wait, there is the afterglow! The colors that appear in the sky over towering mountains are bound to soothe you. Depending on the sky, all campsites offer stellar views of sunsets so sit back and enjoy or keep your cameras ready to capture the colors!
• The Flower Beds
As you make your way to Tosa Maidan on Day 3, you are caught by surprise to see a bright pink takeover the green bottom. Not just this, if you observe closely, there is stunning macro flora throughout the meadows. While the trail gets a bit challenging before an easy descent, the flowers and colors keep you going, cheering you on!
• Tosa Maidan
While you encounter meadows on all days of this trek, Tosa Maidan is unlike anything you have seen before. Camping next to a clear stream, you can’t get enough of looking at the meadows that surround you in all directions.
• The Greater Lakes
After trekking far and long through meadows, forests and flower beds, you finally see the glacial lakes that are one of the major highlights of the trek. The trail around the circuit of the lakes is a bit challenging with boulder crossings, which honestly makes it all the more fun! The lakes lie nestled between the high mountains of Kashmir, each of them offering something different. One of them is even shaped like a heart symbol!
As said earlier, even these pretty photographs cannot do justice to what you will actually see on the trek! However, we hope this answers your questions and gives you an idea of what you will be witnessing on the Tosa Maidan and Greater Lakes trek. Sign up for the upcoming batches to see these pictures come to life right before your eyes!
