Gadsar Lake which is also known as the Yemsar Lake is a picturesque lake with the alpine high altitude.
Category of Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake is the oligotrophic lake in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir valley at an elevation of 3600 metres. Gadsar Lake has a maximum length of 0.85 kilometres and maximum width of 0.76 kilometres.
Meaning of Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake in Kashmiri means the lake of fishes, a natural habitat of trout and other types of fishes among which is the brown trout.
Location of Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake is situated 108 kilometres northeast from Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. From Naranag, Gadsar Lake is about 28 km from alpine track. There is another track of 41 km northwest from Shitkadi Sonamarg via Vishansar Lake and Krishansar Lake that leads to the Gadsar Lake crossing two mountain passes of Nichnai and Gadsar of more than 4100 meters above sea level.
Climate near the Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake freezes in the month of November to April and is mostly covered by snow during these months. The floating ice bergs are seen even in summer.
Geography of Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake is surrounded by alpine meadows full of various kinds of wild alpine flowers, therefore the lake is also called the valley of flowers.
Formation of Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake is mainly fed by melting of glaciers. Gadsar Lake outflows through a stream flow north westwards and joins Neelum River at Tulail, which offers the picturesque views.
Visiting Information
The best time to visit Gadsar Lake is from the month of June to September.
Mythology Regarding Gadsar Lake
Gadsar Lake is also named as Yemsar which means the lake of demon and is referred as the lake of death. A myth still unresolved. The shepherds grazing their folks in the outskirts of Gadsar lake during summers believe that there lives a Lake Monster, a freshwater Octopus which drags the creatures from shores by its tentacles into the water of Gadsar Lake. There is an uncertainty in the minds of visitors, a kind of threat which prevents them from going near the shores. The shepherds also chose otherwise grazing their folks at the shores of the lake. There has never been any attempt made by anyone to find the reality. The fishes are being caught outside the lake in a stream from which it flows out.
Precaution on Gadsar Lake
Indian Army maintains a base near Gadsar Lake during the summer months. Hikers passing near the base are often frisked and asked to return, especially in the summer time.
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