I have a thing for offbeat places and after lot of research and googling one place that kept popping up was the valley of Gurez. So I had to include it in my itinerary.
Gurez valley is famous for its beauty, its vast forests, pastures, and green meadows with a serene environment. If you have been to Spiti then you will see some resemblance of that in the valley here. One side of its give a feeling of Spiti & the other side green medows which makes it so unique and pleasing. The picturesque valley, hidden among the high mountains, was once the gateway to the famous Silk Road from Europe to Kashgar in China.
Located 123 kilometers from Srinagar and 86 kilometers from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Gurez is situated at an elevation of 8,000 feet. Because of its high altitude, the valley receives heavy snowfall and loses its connectivity to the outside world for almost half of the year. During the visit, I talked to some villagers. They told me that the average snowfall is up to ten feet during winters.
To reach Gurez Valley you will have to cross Razdan Pass.The journey forward from Razdan Pass is downhill, with an entry into Dawar village , which is a flat area surrounded by mountains on the three sides.
Gurez valley is still a less explored place, but the govt. of J&K is vigorously promoting it on many fronts.
There is a campaign called 'Go Gurez' which was been launched to promote the valley which was once closed for tourism. Infact we also got chance to attend a festival organised by Indian army called 'Jashn - e - Gurez' to promote tourism in the valley. It is all about having fun and experiencing the local tradition and hospitality. The event runs for a week in August where you would not only get the best Kashmiri experience, is a heaven for adventure junkies who would love an adrenaline rush.
Trekking, rafting, cycling, photography, camping and local traditional and cultural values must all be experienced during a visit to Gurez Valley.
People of Gurez:
Gurez is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.. Its paradise within paradise. Not just the valley even the people of the valley are so welcoming and humble.
The locals are really friendly, we were invited to their houses for chai & food. We even went to the local Sarpanch ji's house. We met him on the road while he was taking a stroll, he told
us so many amazing stories about the valley. How each house has a hidden bunker, how they maintain their sanity during harsh winters. It was truly an amazing experience.
People from Gurez are bit different as compared to other parts of Kashmir. Infact we heard from locals that the people of Gurez and Tulail are not truly Kashmiri,but from the Dard Shin tribe, and that their mother tongue is Shina.
Here farming remains an activity for the entire family and is still virtually the only source of income. People grow potatoes, kidney beans, apples and corn. Everything is organic.
Local Sight Seeing:
‘Habba Khatoon’ mountain peak, named after a famous Kashmiri poetess, is the main attraction of the valley but dont be dissappointed when you actually see the famous mountain peak which is so fondly spoken about by locals. It is nothing but just any other mountains that you see while crossing the valley. So what makes it so special.. its not the mountain but the history behind it that makes it famous. It’s named after a poetess, Habba Khatoon (1554 – 1609). Born and raised in Pampore, she fell in love with the emperor of Kashmir, Yousuf Shah Chak.
They got married but in 1579, Akbar captured the king and imprisoned him in Bihar. Habba became an ascetic and wandered around the valley for years, penning down many songs of sorrow and separation.
Habba Khatoon stands tall like a shape of a pyramid in the centre while Dawar village falling to its right and Kishenganga river (which i would say is the heart & soul of Gurez) flowing through the valley which finally merges into Jhelum river in Pakistan. The River is called as Neelam River in Pakistan.
Acchora heights, Markut Village, Peer Baba Dargah, Badwel lake, Chaaknaala, Sheikpora Tulail village, Khandiyal Heights are amongst few other places to see.
Best time to visit Gurez:
The valley remains open to tourists from May to October.
PS: You can also visit during winters but only by helicopter. Roads are shut due to heavy snowfall. The flight service is available only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Its a 30 - 40 mins ride.The booking can be done either at the airport, or at the TRC office Srinagar.
Imp note:
1. There are many army checkposts, starting from Razdan Pass so do not forget to carry your Aadhar card.
2. There was no internet till about last year. Now they have Jio network available (postpaid only). Airtel/Vodafone dont work at all... no WIFI too.
Stay Options:
There aren't many hotels in Gurez. We stayed at Kaka Palace in Dawar. There is govt hotel run by JKTDC, The Wood Vibes to name few.
I would definitely recommend Kaka Palace. Its run by two brothers Younis Sahab & Ejaz Sahab. They both are so loving, grounded and helpful.
They will have you plan your itinerary, make valid suggestions, they are fun loving people. Food is really good at the in house restaurant.
Danish who is the manager is amazing person. They organized star gazing trip for us for free. The sky is very very clear and you will spot a few shooting stars easily.
We had bon - fire at the night post dinner where everybody danced their heart out including Ejaz sahaab, Danish and other crew members. You feel at home at Kaka Palace.
I recommend all the nature lovers to visit Gurez at least once in their lives; it will be a life-changing experience for you.
