Poonch is a fascinating hunting ground for trekkers and
nature lovers. The lush green meadows and corniferous forests display rich wealth of flora
and fauna. From time immemorial hill folks, pilgrims and Europeans trekked over its hills
to Kashmir folks, pilgrims and the Europeans trekked over its hills to Kashmir due to lack
of means of communications. Poonch is separated from Kashmir valley by the gigantic Pir
Panjal range, whose higheset peak TATAKUTI standing at 15560 ft. falls in Poonch and
is visible even from Lahore on a clear day. This is still a virgin peak challenging
adventurers with crystal clear water, the alpine lakes viz. Sukhsar, Neelsar, Bhagsar,
Katorasar, Kaldachnisar and Nandansar and other thirteen lakes |
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surrounded by glaciers and snow capped peaks look
magnificient and enchanting for trekkers in summer. The historical water falls,
Noorichammb and Nandishool |
Tatakuti peaks |
[ Photograph courtesy : Maharajkar Singh Ishar,
Everest Mountaineering Club, Rajouri ] |
bounds the visitors. For the comfort of trekkers, there are rest houses at
Surankote, Bufliaz, Dehragali, Chandimarh, Poshiana, Mandi, Loran, Sawjian and Poonch. The
youth from various clubs of Poonch and outside have conducted innumerable trekking
expeditions in Poonch as a result of which Poonch has now been projected on the tourism
map of India. In local dialect the passes, alpine lakes and meadows are called gallies,
sars and margs or dhoks respectively. Some of the common dhoks of scenic beauty in Poonch
are Girjan, Panjtari, Isanwali, Nainsukh, Dharamarg, Pirmarg and Sarimastan etc. The
renowned writer Late Sh. Krishan Chander was inspired by the scenic |
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| beauty of these spots and wrote a short story entitled "Girjan ki Ek
Sham". |
Nandansar lake |
[ Photograph courtesy : Maharajkar Singh Ishar,
Everest Mountaineering Club, Rajouri ] |
For the lovers of
nature some of the common trekking routes are as under;
Poonch to
Gulmarg (Kashmir) via Jammia gali : Poonch
-- Gaggrian Sawjian -- Barshi Nallah -- Barnara marg -- Jamia marg -- Jamia gali (15000
ft.) -- Gulmarg(Tangmarg).
Poonch
to Nandishool via Loran (Sultan Pathri)
Poonch to
Yusmarg(Kashmir) via Nurpur gali and Khaara gali : Poonch
-- Loran -- Sultan Pathri -- Nurpur gali -- Toshamaidan -- Kundlan -- Dood Ganga Bridge --
Yushmarg.
Poonch to Yusmarg(Kashmir) via Choti gali : Poonch -- Behramgala -- Chandimarh -- Kabar Pathran -- Choti gali(14100 ft.) --
Kundlan -- Yusmarg.
Poonch to Tatakuti
via Hill Kaka and Dhara marg
Poonch to
Shopian(Kashmir) via Peer ki gali :
Poonch -- Behramgala -- Poshiana -- Chita Pani -- Peer gali(11500 ft.) -- Aliabad Sarai
-- Hierpur -- Shupian.
Poonch to
Hierpur (Kashmir) via Nandansar lake : Poonch
-- Behramgala -- Girgen gali -- Girgen marg -- Panjtari marg -- Khuooah -- Gumsar
-- Nandan gali -- Glacier -- Nandansar lake - -six other lakes --
Jaddi marg -- Aliabad -- Hierpur.
Poonch to
Gulmarg via Chor Gali : Poonch -- Sawjian --
Gali Maidan -- Mangiana -- Sari -- Chor Gali -- Gulmarg.
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