''Naranag'' or ''(Nara Nag)'' is a tourist village and

ancient Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient h ...

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

pilgrimage site, near Ganderbal town in the

Ganderbal district The Ganderbal district, is an Indian-administered district in Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the ...

of the

Kashmir Valley The Kashmir Valley, also known as the Vale of Kashmir, is an intermontane valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir, a region in Indian-administered Kashmir.(a) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcont ...

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019 * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019 * Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...

. Well known for its ancient temple ruins complex, it is located around 16km from Kangan, 10km upstream from 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 long. Geography The Sind River forms the Sind Valley. The ...

. Noted for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains, it is a base camp for trekking to the Mount Haramukh and

Gangabal Lake Gangabal Lake (), also called Haramukh Ganga, is an alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake situated at the foot of Mount Harmukh in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The lake has a maximum length of and a maximum width of . It ...

. The village lies on the left bank of the Wangath River, which is a tributary of the

.There is a Tourism hut at Naranag where tourism officials are available to provide information and assistance. The hut also offers accommodation.

Tourism

The Naranag valley is noted for its scenic meadows. The village is a base camp for trekkers to the Mount Haramukh, the

and

Satsar The Satsar Lake , Sat Sar or Sath Sar () consists of a group of seven small alpine lakes situated in Ganderbal district of the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Geography The lakes are situated in a narrow alpine valley stretching f ...

(the seven lakes). It is also a base for the trekkers to

Gadsar Lake The Gadsar Lake or Gad Sar (), also called Yem Sar (), is an "alpine high-altitude oligotrophic lake" in the Bandipore district of Kashmir Division, in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It has an elevation of , a maximum length of 0.85km, and a maxi ...

, the

Vishansar Lake The Vishansar Lake also known as Vishan Sar () is an alpine, high-elevation Trophic state index, oligotrophic lake, located near Ganderbal town and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir, Ind ...

and the Krishansar Lake, though it takes 5 to 7 days of trekking. There are also many other peaks and alpine meadows around the Naranag Valley. In the winters, Naranag receives heavy snowfall, during which

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

is practiced.

Naranag Temple

The Naranag temple is the main attraction for tourists. It is one of the important archaeological sites of the country. The site consists of a cluster of temples facing each other at a distance of about 200 meters. Historians say that the temple is dedicated to

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

and was built by

Lalitaditya Muktapida Lalitaditya alias Muktapida (IAST: Lalitāditya Muktāpīḍa; r. c. 724 CE–760 CE) was a Karkota monarch of the Kashmir region in the Indian subcontinent. The 12th-century Kashmiri chronicler Kalhana characterizes Lalitaditya as a " world c ...

, of the Kayastha Naga Karkota Dynasty in the 8th century AD. It is believed that the king Awantivarman paid a visit and donated a pedestal for bathing at Bhuteshwar ("Bhutsher"). Naranag Temple

It is also believed to be dedicated to the ancient Nagas. Hence, the name "Naranag". It was built by the Naga Karkotas, who are said to be Hindu Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins of the Naga sect, known for their reverence for serpents. They used to stay here and do their sadhanas. According to local belief, these structures are built by some supernatural powers called (daya) in the local language. Such beliefs remain popular among residents. The government has built perimeter walls around the temple ruins to protect it from encroachment. Every year on the eve of pilgrimage to

by Kashmiri Pandits, prayers are offered at the temple complex to kick start the pilgrimage.

Issues

The residents of the village, as well as tourists, face hardships due to the unavailability of mobile connectivity in the village. Naranag does not have mobile connectivity even after its launch across Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.

References

{{Reflist Villages in Ganderbal district

Tourism

Naranag Temple

Issues

See also

References