HARMUKH GANGABAL YATRA 2023

HARMUKH GANGBAL YATRA 2023#Gangabal Yatra 2023#Naranag yatra 2023#Kailash of Kashmir yatra 2023




The Gangabal Lake, also called Haramukh Ganga, is an alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake situated at the foot of Mount Haramukh in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.[1][2] The lake has a maximum length of 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) and maximum width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs and is home to many species of fish, including the brown trout.[3][4] Water from the lake outflows into the nearby Nundkol Lake[5] and then into the Sind River via Wangath Nallah.[6][7][8] This lake is considered sacred in Hinduism as one of the abodes of Shiva, and Kashmiri Hindus perform an annual pilgrimage to the lake called Harmukh-Gangabal Yatra


The group of pilgrims left from the Naranag temple for Annual Harmukh Gangbal yatra amid religious fervor and were accompanied by SDRF team, Police and other officials.

After performing Puja at Naranag temple, devotees set on foot to undertake 36-km journey to Gangabal lake, which is located around 14,500 feet above sea level in the Harmukh mountain range.

According to officials, the sacred puja would be performed on the banks of Gangbal lake on Saturday following which the pilgrims will return the next day.

The pilgrimage was organized under the banner of the Harmukh Ganga (Gangabal) Trust (HGGT) and All Parties Migrants’ Coordination Committee.


It is also mentioned in some articles, that ,In earlier times, KP’s used to come here and do the Obligatory “Shraddh”(prayers offered to ancestors) and immerse the ashes of those who had died. Before, immersing the ashes into the lake, they used to stock the water for drinking and cooking, as immediately after immersing the ashes, the colour of the waters would change to Red, (because of some micro-organisms), thus making the waters unfit to drink or cook food in.

It was probably, during the reign of Mir Shamas-ud-din iraqi, when, in 1519 AD,10,000 KP’s were killed during pilgrimage to Harmukh Ganga as they had gone there to immerse the ashes of 800 Kashmiri Pandits, who were massacred during Ashura, a year ago. This yatra as well as all other yatras were banned during the Afgan-rule. And many yatras were rediscovered by the Kashmiri Hindus many decades or centuries later. The Famous Amarnath yatra is one such example.


What is the story of Harmukh mountain?

It is also known as 'Kailash of Kashmir' According to the legend of "Hurmukhuk Gosoni", once a hermit tried to reach the summit of Harmukh to see Shiva face to face. For twelve long years, he tried to scale the summit but failed until one day he saw a Gujar descending the summit