Naranag is a village on the Wangath river in Ganderbal district, the trailhead for Mount Harmukh and the Gangabal and Nundkol lakes. Two things bring people here: the walk that starts at the last houses, and the ruined stone temple complex on the edge of the village, one of the oldest in the valley.
Duke Kashmir Travels, registered with the J&K Department of Tourism as JKTA00003978 since 2011, runs the road transfers to Naranag and the stays either side of a trek. Kashmir packages start near ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- On the left bank of the Wangath, a tributary of the Sindh, in Ganderbal district.
- The standard start for Mount Harmukh, Gangabal and Nundkol.
- The Wangath temple complex stands in the village.
- Also used as the finishing point for walks over from Sonmarg.
- Ponies, guides and porters are hired here.
- About 50 km from Srinagar by road.
What starts at Naranag?
The climb to Gangabal and Nundkol below Harmukh, and the longer crossing towards Sonmarg over the high meadows.
Groups hire ponies and guides in the village and walk out the same day. It is a working trailhead rather than a resort: a handful of shops, tea stalls and rooms, and the mountains beginning at the edge of the fields.
What else is in the village?
The Wangath temple complex, a group of ruined stone temples of the eighth century, a short walk from the road head.
They belong to the same architectural tradition as Martand and are worth thirty minutes even if you are not walking any further. The site is protected and open to visitors.
When should you come?
June to September for the treks. The village is reachable most of the year, but the high routes are shut by snow outside that window.
We drive guests up from Srinagar, roughly two hours, and can hold rooms in Ganderbal or Srinagar either side of the walk. See Kashmir tour ideas for how a trek fits with the rest of a Kashmir trip.
Booking this with us
The agency behind this guide, Duke Kashmir Travels, was registered with the J&K Department of Tourism in March 2011 (JKTA00003978) and joined IATO in 2016. More on the paperwork is on our About Us page.
Tell us when you are travelling and how many of you there are, and a costed itinerary follows. Reach us on +91 9018 44 0000, at info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or through the contact page.
About the founder
The agency was started in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who owns it to this day, helped found the JK Tourism Council, and reads every destination guide before it goes up. His LinkedIn profile is here.