Sheshnag Lake Trek is one of the famous alpine lake treks in Jammu and Kashmir. This trek is also one of the most exotic summer treks. The water of the lake is clean and clear due to its low algae production. The lake is a pathway to the famous pilgrimage place Amarnath Yatra. During the yatra, Hindu devotees go to this Lake before visiting the Amarnath Yatra. The Amarnath cave is around 25 kilometers from this Lake. The lake is spread over an area of 1.1 kilometers in length and 0.1 kilometers in width. This exotic lake is surrounded by mountains from all sides. You can explore the entire valleys and lakes of Pahalgam through Pahalgam sightseeing.
The trek trail will take you to beautiful meadows, steep ascents, stairs, and well-marked trails. Sheshnag Lake is also termed as the ‘’ King of Snakes’’. The trek is short and beautiful, one can complete the trek within one or two days. The lake is itself the prime attraction of this exotic trek. You can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the White Mountains during this trek. Sheshnag Lake is also home to several fishes, one can also enjoy trout fishing here in this Lake. The trek is an easy-moderate trek, even a beginner can do this trek.
The ideal time to do this trek is in the summer season. June to October is considered the best time to do this trek. During summer months the lake is in full bloom and the looks magnificently beautiful. In winter season the lake freezes and at that time it is difficult to access due to heavy snowfall. The views from the Pissu top are something interesting to watch out for. From this top, you will get to see the picturesque views of the Lidder Valley. The trek trail from this top contains many waterfalls.
Key Points
- Level: Easy to moderate
- Trek duration: 8 hours
- Highest point: 3590 meters
- Starting point: Chandanwari base camp Anantnag
- Weather: Pleasant during days and cold at nights
- Best time: is June to October
Sheshnag Lake Trek Itinerary
This beautiful lake trek can be divided into three parts. The first is from the Chandanwari base camp to Pissu top the second part is from Pissu top to Jojibal and the final part is from Jojibal to Sheshnag lake.
Day 1: Chandanwari base camp to Pissu top
- Altitude gain: 9300 to 9780 ft.
- Trek duration: 1.30 hours
Chandanwari base camp is the starting point of this trek. The famous Amarnath also starts from here. You can start your trek from the glacier point along with the Amarnath cave trail. The trek trail from Chandanwari to the Pissu top is easy and follows through the Lidder River to the Pissu top. The trail is beautiful and a straight walk from the Chandanwari base camp. Magnificent mountains and gushing Lidder River stream make it a beautiful trail.
You have to continue walking around 1.3 kilometers on the same trail. After you reach the Pissu top, take the left and the trail will take you to the mountainsides. Take. From here, it will be sharp ascent, this part of the trek is moderate. The views from the Pissu top are stunning and you will see the entire Lidder valley from here. Spend some time here to enjoy the magnificent views.
Day 2: Pissu top to Jojibal
- Altitude gain: 9780 to 11,270 ft.
- Trek duration: 2 hours
From the Pissu top, start walking to the Jojibal. The trek trail is beautifully covered with mountains from all sides. This part of the trek is stunning with the picturesque views of the Lidder Valley. After walking for around 30 minutes, you will spot a small waterfall which is called the waterfall point. From this waterfall, continue trekking around 2 kilometers on the same trail towards Jojibal. During this part, you will witness the lush green grasslands that welcome you to the Lidder Valley. Jojibal is also the second base camp for Amarnath Yatra.
Day 3: Jojibal to Sheshnag Lake to Chandanwari
- Altitude gain: 11,270 to 11,885 ft.
- Trek duration: 8 hour
The trek trail from Jojibal to Sheshnag is small. On this small trail, you will spot many beautiful waterfalls. The water is clean you can fill your water bottles here. From the Jojibal trek of around 2 kilometers, you will get a brief look at Sheshnag Lake. From here you have to walk again 100 metres to reach this beautiful Sheshnag Lake. The views you get from here are totally breathtaking and you will forget all your hardships. You will also witness the blooming flowers on the banks of the Lake. The stunning views of this blue alpine lake along with the blooming flowers are spectacular.
Descend from the same trail. It will take you around 3 hours to reach back to Chandanwari base camp.
Short Itinerary
Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Pissu top
The trail starts from the Chandanwari base camp and ascends to the Pissu top. This is a little sharp ascent that will take you to a height of 11,000 ft.
Pissu top-Zojibal-Sheshnag Lake
This is the final section of the trek that will take you through the beautiful water streams and the mesmerizing Lidder River. This is one of the most beautiful sites for tourists.
How difficult is the Sheshnag Lake Trek
The Sheshnag Lake trek is an easy to moderate trek. The difficult part of the trek is ascent to the Pissu top which is in a zigzag steep, as the rest of the trek is easy, even a beginner can do this trek. This is a day trek and can be completed within a day. The trek will take you through the beautiful meadows and the Stunning Lidder River. The Lake sits at an altitude of 3590 meters above sea level. This is one of the easiest treks in Kashmir. You can book Tarsar Marsar Trek which is an easy to moderate weeklong trek.
Best Time to do the Sheshnag Lake Trek
June to October is considered the best time to do this trek. During the summertime, the banks of the Lake are full of blooming wildflowers and at that time, it looks magnificent. Therefore, summertime would be the best time to do this trek. In the winter season, the lake remains inaccessible and frozen during wintertime, and it is covered with heavy snowfall. Hence, winter is not the right time to do this trek.
Hindu Mythology
The Sheshnag Lake is also translated to ‘’King of Snakes’’. According to Hindu legends, it is the abode of Sheshnag where he dug this lake. Trek to Sheshnag Lake is completely scenic and is surrounded by mountains and grasslands. The trek trail is usually crowded with Hindu devotees an en route to Amarnath yatra. The Amarnath cave is only open for a short period during the summer months from July to August for the Hindu devotees to visit this place. Sheshnag Lake has great significance for Hindus due to mythological beliefs.
Weather and temperature on the Sheshnag Lake trek
There will be different weather conditions day and night. The temperature during the day are above 15 degree Celsius and the night temperature sometimes goes below the freezing point. Therefore, it is highly advisable to trek with proper trekking gear. Due to its high altitude, the weather conditions are unpredictable. From July to October the day temperature ranges from 15 to 26 degree Celsius and the night are still cold with the temperature -0 degree to – 9 degree Celsius.
How to Reach Sheshnag Lake
To reach Sheshnag you have multiple options which include roads, trains, flights, etc.
By Air: The nearest airport is the Srinagar International Airport which is well connected to major cities of India. From the Srinagar airport book a cab direct to Pahalgam. The distance from Srinagar airport to Pahalgam is 102 kilometers. Once you reach the Pahalgam take another can direct to Chandanwari base camp and it will take you around 30 minutes to reach Chandanwari base camp from Pahalgam.
By Train: The nearest railway station is the Jammu Tawi Railway Station. From the Jammu railway head book a cab or shared cab direct to Pahalgam. The drive will take you around 6-7 hours to reach Pahalgam. From the Pahalgam book, another can direct to Chandanwari base camp which is 16 kilometres from the Pahalgam.
By Road: Several UT buses ply from Jammu to Srinagar, you can take the bus to reach Srinagar. From Srinagar book another cab direct to Pahalgam. Book another cab from Pahalgam to Chandanwari base camp and it will take you around 30-40 minutes to reach your final destination.
Distance from Chandanwari
The distance from Chandanwari to Sheshnag Lake is 14 kilometers. Chandanwari base camp is the starting point of the trek where you can your Sheshnag Lake trek and the famous pathway of the Amarnath Yatra.
Sheshnag Lake Trek Time
If you are planning for a day trek to this gorgeous alpine lake, then start your journey in the early morning from Chandanwari base camp. If you are coming from Srinagar, then start early as soon as possible to complete the entire trek the ideal time to start the trek is 4:00 am and if you start from the Pahalgam then 6:00 am is the best time to start your trek. It takes 5-6 hours to complete this day trek.
Permission
If you are planning for a Sheshnag Lake trek then you must get permission from the Pahalgam development authority and you need to register yourself in the Police station Pahalgam before you go to the trek. Pahalgam Authority Development will charge you 100 rupees for the trek and 500 for the security deposit. Remember that during the Amarnath Yatra, only a few people were allowed per day. So its recommend to get permission in advance.
Location of the Lake
The lake is located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. It stands at an elevation of 3590 meters above sea level on the trails of the Amarnath cave. It is about 120 kilometers from Srinagar and 23 kilometers from Pahalgam. To reach this gorgeous alpine lake you have to first reach the Chandanwari base camp which is 16 kilometers from the Pahalgam. The lake is one of the gorgeous blue water lakes in Pahalgam. In the vicinity of this trek lies fascinating Tulian Lake Trek. However, that starts from Chandanwari.
FAQs
How far is Sheshnag Lake from Chandanwari?
The lake is located at a distance of 14 kilometers from the Chandanwari. It will take you around 5 hours to reach the Sheshnag Lake from Chandanwari base camp. The ideal time to start the trek is early in the morning to complete the entire trek.
What is the easiest lake trek in Kashmir?
The Sheshnag Lake trek is the easiest in Kashmir. It contains a wide variety of trout fishes and the production of algae is very low. Apart from trekking, one can also enjoy trout fishing in this lake and the lake is regarded as the shortest alpine lake in Kashmir.
How far is Sheshnag Lake from Pahalgam?
Sheshnag Lake is located at a distance of 23 kilometers from the Pahalgam and 120 kilometers from Srinagar. You can also hire ponies from Chandanwari base camp to reach Sheshnag Lake. The entire trek trail is beautiful.
What is the main source of the Sheshnag Lake?
The melting of snow and the streams coming down from the mountains are the main sources of this lake. The lake is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kashmir valley. The water comes out of the streams and finally merges with the Lidder River.
What is the significance of the Lake?
The Sheshnag Lake has special significance for Hindu devotees. There are many mythological stories related to this alpine lake and the most significant is that the Sheshnag itself lives here in this Lake. It is said that he dug the lake for himself.
What is the best time to do the Shehnag lake trek?
Summertime is the best time to do this trek. From May to October it is considered the ideal time to do this trek. In the winter season, the lake remains inaccessible and covered with heavy snowfall. Therefore summertime will be the perfect time to enjoy this trek.
What is the weather like in Sheshnag Lake?
In the summer season, the weather remains pleasant on days, the temperature at day time ranges from 15-20 degrees Celsius and the nights are still cold with the temperature -0 to -9 degrees Celsius. In the summer season, the wildflowers are blooming on the banks of the lake which offers scenic views of this alpine lake.
What is Sheshnag famous for?
The lake is famous for its Hindu mythology. Apart from the religious significance the lake is also home to many fish species like brown trout.
Conclusion
This is the detailed blog about the Sheshnag lake trek. Sheshnag Lake Trek is one of the popular tourist spots and the easiest summer trek in Kashmir valley. Sheshnag Lake Trek is a day trek that can be completed within a day. If you are planning to do this trek, visit during the months of summer because at this time the lake is at its full glory. Book your Shehnag lake trek with Real Mountaineers Kashmir for the best experience.