Let’s say after YOLO, FOMO, and LOL, the millennial short form of wonder is WOW. The Warwan Valley trek is a magical destination that is sure to cast a spell on you with its wonders. Every day in the trek, after witnessing new Himalayan marvels, the only word out of your mouth is likely to be WOW! Warwan Valley trek is one of nature’s mystical treasures with the rarest splendours of the world. It is a stunning cross-over trek from Ladakh to Kashmir, starting from glacial lakes to lush meadows. It’s so remote that even the native Kashmiris think twice when asked to recollect its name. A trek to this secluded place is a journey to the uncharted lands of the Himalayas.
Now, put on your imaginary 3D glasses, read the article ahead and be prepared to go on a stunning journey of Warwan Valley through some fascinating photographs.
1) The River Delta Basin of Denora
2) The Golden Rodents – Marmots
3) The Ice Walk
4) Sukhnai Village
5) Kaintal Glacier
6) The shade of the silver Birch
7) The White Wagtail
8) The Glacial Lake
1) The River Delta Basin of Denora
Pick any Himalayan trek in India; a maximum 2-3 river streams run along the trails of a valley. But, on the 5th day of the trek, the trails from Denora campsite land on a vast expanse and unveil a huge river delta basin, where more than eight streams of river twist, turn, and rush through different directions to form a grand setting. As we walk and cross through the bone-chilling streams, all the river quotes in the world are likely to emerge in your minds to warm you up.
2) The Golden Rodents – Marmots
Say HI to the golden marmots of Kashmir. Sometimes under and at others over the boulders, these shy yet curious creatures sit and observe you from a distance. If you spend some time to get to know them better and gain their trust, they might even pose for you. These rodents signal each other with a peculiar sound. Keep your ears sharp and try to listen to their quirky music and you might be able to learn a thing or two about their behavior.
3) The Ice Walk
It's 100% hard ice. A walk on these ice plains is a walk to remember, relish and revisit. Simple enough that there is no danger of slipping, falling or losing your balance, yet thrilling enough to raise your heartbeat a little. This exciting feature which requires no special gears to cross has a lot to offer in terms of experience as it crackles and crunches under your feet inducing a sense of being Armstrong on ice!
4) Sukhnai Village
Let's rewind and go through the stories of 90's classics like Malgudi days and Champak. The ideal and authentic Indian village setup from these stories comes alive in Sukhnai. Sukhnai is an old Kashmiri village with heritage huts and a rich culture. The river stream next to the village and the old village above it does its share to bring to mind the picturesque imagery from Archie's postcards.
5) Kaintal Glacier
The 6th day of the trek gives you a rare chance to get closer than ever to a massive glacier. The Kaintal Glacier is a colossal splendour with a mix of black, white, and bracken texture on its surface. Streaks of freshwater echo beneath the hard sheet of the off-white ice giving you a glimpse of an actual glacier in the making – real time.
6) The Shade of the Silver Birch
Each day on this trek is composed of long distances under the scorching sun. The silver birch trees, in the given scenario, are a literal blessing with all their beauty and a wide expanse of cool shade to rest under. Do not forget to look up. You will see the sundried yellow-brown leaves welcoming you with a gentle wave and twinkle under sun rays.
7) The White Wagtail
Our oldest belief systems indicate that we always get some signs from nature to move forward. True to this fact, the white wagtail is an elegant bird that stays and lingers next to the trails and water sources. Their chirp and graceful movements are the best signals to follow and admire. Even if you get lost on the trail, you can trust the wagtail to lead you back to the water source and trail route.
8) The Glacial Lake
A serene pastel green glacial lake with small sculpture-like ice structures awaits us after a few kilometers of the trek from Kalapari Campsite on the 6th day. It spans out with a huge diameter and reflects the snowcapped glacier peaks on its surface. We trek around the lake and enter the glacier region to cross the Ghansla Pass. If we were to compare this lake to any other glacial lake of the Himalayas in India, the other lakes are small and tough to reach. What’s special about this one is that it is massive and easily accessible.
Warwan Valley trek is the capital of Himalayan beauty, and the imagery above is just a small portion of its true splendour. It offers much more than we expect. If you are a trekker looking for a complete package and a versatile trek, then the Warwan Valley trek is ideal. We are looking forward to meeting you on the trails of Warwan Valley.
