In the Lap of Heaven: Venkat’s Soul-Stirring Kashmir Great Lakes Trek With Thrillophilia
Log bolte hai na-
Jannat hai to yahi hai.
Sahi bolte hai!
Kashmir, the crown jewel of India, had always called to me. With its mysterious charm, the cultural richness, and the unparalleled beauty of the landscape - it was a destination that I longed to explore ever since I first heard the words, "If there is a heaven on Earth, it's here."
I wanted to see it with my own eyes. And believe me when I say this — when I finally did, no words or pictures could do justice to what I witnessed. Kashmir doesn’t just meet your expectations; it surpasses them in ways you can’t imagine.
There was one evening, specifically, that sealed my bond with this place forever.....
After a long day of trekking, as the sun was setting behind the towering peaks and the wind brushed against the grass by the side of Vishansar Lake, I found myself sitting alone.
It was as though everything around me — the stillness, the serenity, the staggering beauty — overwhelmed me to the point that I started crying. Not because I was sad, but because I felt like I had touched something otherworldly. I wept in awe because no matter how I imagined Kashmir, the reality was far more moving than any picture or story could prepare me for.
Backing Up a Bit...
It all started in May when I finally decided to take the plunge and visit Kashmir. I had no concrete plans at the time; the only thing I was certain about was my destination.
As I scrolled through endless itineraries and tour options, I felt paralysed by so many choices. There was just too much to do, and I couldn’t pick one thing. I almost gave up on deciding, until one day at work, a colleague changed everything.
During a casual conversation, he was browsing pictures of a gorgeous lake surrounded by jagged mountains and vibrant greenery. Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me. "Where’s that?" I asked, already mesmerized by the view. He turned to me and said, "Kashmir." Turns out, he had been planning the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek for months, but his friends had all backed out. And before I knew what I was saying, the words, “Let’s go together!” slipped out of my mouth.
To this day, I’m not sure why I said it. I wasn’t the type to go on trips with people I barely knew, but something about that image had captivated me.
From there, everything fell into place. We booked the trek through Thrillophilia, and the excitement started to build.
By the time the trek came around, I was bursting with anticipation.
I ended up packing and repacking my gear over and over. Every item in my backpack had been carefully selected, from medicines and energy bars to a torch and trekking gear. Around midnight, I even started doing stretches and push-ups in our hotel room.
And So the Dream Began…
Sonmarg, also called the ‘Meadow of Gold,’ was like the ultimate gateway to paradise. Golden meadows stretched as far as the eye could see, while snow-capped mountains stood in the distance. The air was crisp, cool, and filled with the scent of pine trees.
And when we started the trek from Sonmarg, I knew this was no ordinary adventure.
The first stop at Nichnai, with its cascading waterfalls and lush green valleys, was enough to make anyone fall in love with the place.
But it wasn’t until we reached Vishansar Lake that the true magic of Kashmir hit me like a tidal wave. The lake, with its colour-changing waters with the position of the sun— emerald green in the morning, deep blue by afternoon — seemed unreal, almost like something out of a fantasy novel.
We played cricket, and football, and laughed like children. Age didn’t matter; the mountains had a way of bringing out the carefree side in all of us. My colleague, who had initially been disappointed that his friends weren’t coming, was now laughing harder than I’d ever seen him.
I’ll never forget how free I felt, running around in the open meadows, surrounded by lofty mountains and vast lakes. The sheer beauty of it all made us forget how tired our legs were from the day’s trek.
Subodh, our guide, was a master storyteller. He told us tales of the mountains and the mysteries they held. One night, as we huddled around a campfire, he shared a chilling story about an ancient Shiva temple where, according to local legend, both devas and rakshasas (gods and demons) would come to seek blessings. One of his friends, a seasoned trekker, had once stayed too long inside the temple and emerged claiming to have seen otherworldly visions.
I’ll admit, I got goosebumps hearing that story, sitting in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but darkness and mountains.
The next few days took us to even more jaw-dropping locations — Gadsar, Satsar, and finally, Gangbal Twin Lakes. Each of these spots felt like a reward for the hard climbs and the rocky terrain we’d conquered. Gadsar, known as the ‘Mysterious Lake of Demons,’ sent a shiver down my spine with its dark waters and misty atmosphere. But my favourite stop was at the Gangbal Twin Lakes. The sight of these two pristine lakes, nestled between jagged mountain peaks, was almost too perfect to be real.
Although the trek was challenging, the rough terrain, steep ascents, and altitude did take their toll on all of us, but the breathtaking views made every step worth it. Subodh kept reminding us to keep pushing forward, and his persistence worked. Without his motivation, I might have missed out on some of the best moments of my life.
A Promise to Return…
On our last night, as I sat under a sky full of stars that felt close enough to touch, I realized that Kashmir had given me something I’d been searching for — peace, the sense of being one with nature — it’s something that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt the same.
Feeling all of this, my thoughts drifted back to my maa and her excitement when she first heard about our trip.
So, I promised myself that I’d bring my mother to see this place one day. She had always wanted to visit Kashmir, and although she wouldn’t be able to do the trek, I knew she’d fall in love with the place just as I have.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kashmir Trek Reviews