25 May 2021:
Kupwara is the frontier District of Kashmir Valley which was carved out from erstwhile District Baramulla in the year 1979. The District Headquarter “Kupwara” is at a distance of 90 kms from Srinagar and lies at an altitude of 5300 feet. The North
West part of the District is limited by Line of Control (L.O.C) while the district shares boundary with District Baramulla in the South.
Kupwara is blessed with natural scenic beauty and abounds with dense forests, lush green valleys, enchanting meadows, imposing mountains, gushing
streams, shimmering lakes and a rich and varied wild life. The district has tremendous potential to be developed as a popular tourist destination. Few of the interesting places are described in following paragraphs.
Bangus Valley : Bangus Valley is a hidden gem which lies in the northwestern region of Tehsil Handwara in the Kupwara district. 128 kilometers away from Srinagar, this pristine valley is perched at an altitude of 10,000 ft and is known for its Grasslands, dense coniferous forests and meandering streams. Sprawling over an area of more than 300 square kilometers, the valley comprises of the main valley, or “Bodh Bangus”, and the smaller valley or “Lokut Bangus”. Chowkibal mountains from the North and Qazinag and Shamshabari mountains from the West overlook the valley. The surrounding mountains protect and hide the valley, giving a spectacular view at the same time.
Lolab Valley : Lolab Valley is a 25 kilometer stretch of forests and pastures in multiples hues of green and derives its name from Maharaja Lolo. With an average width of about 2 miles, the valley is oval shaped and lies 9 kilometers from the Kupwara town and 114 kilometers from Jammu. Covered in forests of Deodar, the valley is drained by a meandering stream of Lalkul or Lahwal. The people of Lolab
live in about 30 villages in the midst of groves of chinars, walnut, apple, cherry, and peach trees. This valley is also known for the caves of Kalaroos – Sattbarran Kalaroos, which are said to have hidden paths that lead all the way to “Roos” or Russia. On the walls of these ancient caves, one can witness the hand paintings dating back to stone age.
Seemab Valley. Seemab Valley is an enchanting stretch of lush green vegetation drained by “Daal Kul”. The valley is ideal for picnics as well as adventure activities such as trekking and rock climbing.
Chandigam : Chandigam’s dense forests offer an excellent site for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, who can indulge themselves in trekking and mountain biking while enjoying the unbelievably beautiful sights of nature. Five kilometers from Chandigam is the region of Dooruswani, another lovely tourist spot, the path to which is lined with small thatched huts, giving a peek into the culture of
the natives of the place.
In addition of the locations listed above, the district is blessed with multiple other tourist gems. The district also has three mysterious relatively unexplored valleys of unparalleled beauty, namely – Machhal, Keran and Karnah, which are cut off from rest of the valley for upto six months a year and still retain the rustic old world charm.
Kupwara is a paradise within the paradise and is a travellers delight. What makes it special is the fact that it has not yet been commercialized like other popular tourist places. It is an ideal destination for any visitor to soak in untouched beauty of Kashmir, its culture and its people.
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