WARWAN VALLEY

The towering lush green buttes are astounding. The breathtaking waterfalls, clear sky and cool breeze are stunning. But what may be the greatest wonder of a visit to Warwan Valley is its clam, making this place a complete beauty, hidden from the world.

The Valley of Warwan, falling in Kishtwar district, is situated in the upper reaches of Himalayas at an altitude of around 7000 feet above sea level. It is bound by Kashmir Valley on one side and Ladakh on the other and remains completely cut off from the rest of the world for around 7 months in a year.

Just three hours drive from the renowned tourist place of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) district takes one to a place where hope is the only key for survival. A 50 kilometer bumpy drive is adventurous for a tourist but for the local residents the distance has kept them away from even the basic amenities of life.

A dog guiding a herd of sheep can be seen in the canyon below the Margan Valley, and often nomads on horseback greet visitors. Some of them even pose for photographs that too without any charge.

The hustle bustle ends at Shatroo, a small village of Islamabad (Anantnag) district, from where an uneven road amid eye-catching natural beauty is the only driving force which keeps one moving. Amid the roughed terrain one reaches Margan top – also known as the gateway of Warwan Valley.