Nilnag Lake

 

A high-altitude lake, Nilnag nestled amidst dense pine forest is one of the top places to visit near Yusmarg. The blue water of this sparkling lake and the picturesque surroundings of towering pine trees and snow-capped mountains makes this place a must-visit.

Nilnag offers a great opportunity of trekking to adventure lovers. The trek goes through a picturesque pine forest through which run many streams of water. It is a beautiful yet steep uphill trek to Nilnag Lake that does make for some incredible memories.

It is an oval sheet of water, about 680 feet long, 270 feet wide, lying deep hollow on the slopes of the hills at Gogji Pather, and has no outlet. The water is derived from springs on western side, and the place is considered very holy by the Kashmiri Pandits.

Nil Nag, a high altitude lake, nestled amidst dense pine forest is one of the beautiful place near Yousmarg. The blue water of this sparkling lake and the picturesque surroundings of towering pine trees and snow capped mountains adds to its beauty.

This beautiful lake is situated 4 km downhill from Yousmarg in Gogji Pather village. Gogji Pather village is located in Chadoora Tehsil of Badgam district and is situated 22 km away from Chadoora and 32 km away from Badgam.

It is not a spring but a lake as mentioned by many historians. It has no outlet. It is said that when earth shook and a thunderbolt fell thus gave birth to the lake.

This lake is to the great history, and it is said that Nilmata Purana has been written on the bank of this lake. Nilnag Lake is known for its reflective waters that mirror the beauty of the surrounding hills. The lake’s serene ambiance creates a tranquil atmosphere, inviting visitors to unwind and embrace the stillness of nature.Nilnag (lit. 'blue-water lake'; Urdu pronunciation: [niːlnɑːɡ] ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [nilɨnaːɡ]) is a freshwater lake 5 km (3.1 mi) away from Yousmarg in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is around 47 km (29 mi) away from Srinagar, the summer capital of the union territory.^] The lake is famous for its turquoise water. The route from Yousmarg is rather difficult and unmotorable and goes through a dense forest. The lake's crystal-clear blue water gave it its name: nag stands for lake (or a spring) and nil for the blue colour.

The location is a great for picnic spot.