The Nundkol Lake or Nund Kol also known as Nandi Kund and Kalodaka Lake is an oligotrophic

alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...

lake situated in

Ganderbal district The Ganderbal district, or more formally District Ganderdal, is a district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Ganderbal town is administrative headquarters of district. It was formed in 2007 and has 6 subdistricts (tehsils): ...

of the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India. This lake is considered sacred by Hindus.

Etymology

The lake was originally called ''Nandi Kund'' meaning (Lake of Nandi). The term "Nundkol" also means ''Lake of Nandi''. Nandi is the bull

vahana ''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana is often ...

of the Hindu god

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

Geography

The Nundkol Lake lies at the foot of Mount Haramukh (). The Gangabal Lake which is bigger and at higher elevation lies 1.5 km to the north of the lake. Surrounded by the lush green meadows, the banks of the Nundkol Lake serve as the camping site during the summers.

Naranag Naranag or (Nara Nag) is a tourist village and ancient Hindu pilgrimage site, near Ganderbal town in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Well known for its ancient but pillaged temple ruins complex, it is located around 8 km from ...

is the nearest settlement and serves as the base camp for trekking to the lake. The Nundkol Lake is fed by Gangabal Lake and the melting glaciers of the Mount Haramukh. It gives rise to Wangath Nallah, the major right tributary of the

Sind River The Sind River or the Sindh River is a river in the Ganderbal district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is a major tributary of the Jhelum River and is 108 kilometres long. Geography The Sind River forms the Sind ...

Religious significance

This lake is sacred for Hindus. According to a legend, Nandi was born as son of sage Shilad, who performed a great penance near this lake. Upon penance of Shilad, Lord Shiva took his permanent abode thereby. The inner blue color of lake is believed to mark presence of Shiva while the outer light green portion of lake is supposed to mark the presence of Nandi. Shiva is also worshipped with the name ''Nandisa'' there.

Flora and fauna

During the winter, the Nundkol Lake freezes and is covered by heavy snow. In the summers, the basin of the lake is surrounded by a sheet of alpine flowers. The

geum ''Geum'' , (Latinized Greek for "taste" referencing the roots of the plant) commonly called avens, is a genus of about 50 species of rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants in the rose family and its subfamily Rosoideae, widespread across Euro ...

, blue poppy,

potentilla ''Potentilla'' is a genus containing over 300Guillén, A., et al. (2005)Reproductive biology of the Iberian species of ''Potentilla'' L. (Rosaceae).''Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid'' 1(62) 9–21. species of annual, biennial and perenni ...

and

gentian ''Gentiana'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species it is considered a large genus. They are notable for their mostl ...

are relatively common.

Hedysarum ''Hedysarum'' (sweetvetch) is a genus of the botanical family Fabaceae, consisting of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbs in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Description Species within genus ''Hedysarum'' may be herbace ...

flowers are found in late spring throughout the area around the lake. The Nundkol Lake is stocked with trout among of which is the brown trout. The fishing is permitted to the licensed anglers.

Access

The Nundkol Lake is accessible only during the summer; during the winter, the treks are closed because of the heavy snowfall. It can be reached from Srinagar, via a 65 km motorable road which leads through Ganderbal and Wayil to the Naranag trekking camp. The alpine meadows of Trunakhul and Badpathri lies at the halfway point of this two-day trek to the lake. An alternate trek starts from Chattergul village, 10 km to the west of Naranag which leads through the meadows of Mahlish. The lake can also be accessed through

Bandipora Bandipore () or Bandipora is the headquarters of district of Bandipore in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located on the northern banks of Wullar Lake—the second-largest freshwater lake in Asia. Bandipora has a terra ...

and the five-day trekking starting point is Arin. Tourists prefer Naranag trek and return via

Gadsar Lake The Gadsar Lake, also called ''the valley of flowers'', is a picturesque, alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake is close to Sonamarg & Ganderbal town in Ganderbal district of Kashmir valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India at an elevation of . It ...

Vishansar Lake The Vishansar Lake is an alpine high-elevation oligotrophic lake, situated near Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, at an elevation of . It has a maximum length of 1 km, and maximum width of 0.6 km. Etymolo ...

and

Sonamarg Sonamarg () or Sonmarg (), known as Sonamarag (; ) in Kashmiri, is a hill station located in the Ganderbal District of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located about 62 Kilometers from Ganderbal Town and northeast of the capital city, Srina ...

to cover most alpine lakes of the area.

Gallery

Nundkol Lake.JPG, left, Nundkol Lake,

Harmukh Mt Harmukh (originally "Haramukuta") is a mountain with a peak elevation of , in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Harmukh is part of the Himalaya Range and is located between Sind River in the south and Kishanganga River in ...

at the background NundkolMilkyway.jpg, Photograph of Milkyway at Nundkol Lake located in the vicinity of Mt. Harmukh Harmukh.jpg, Mount Harmukh rising from Gangabal (right) and Nundkol Lakes (left)

References

{{Kashmir Valley Lakes of Jammu and Kashmir Geography of Ganderbal district