Exploring Chiranbal
In Chiranbal, the combination of twin pastures namely ‘Haer Chiranbal’ and ‘Bon Chiranbal’ are the bowl-like pastures that present a sight of an earthly paradise
Post by on Saturday, June 19, 2021
RAMEEZ AHMAD SHAH
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The best way to spend one's vacation is to go to the hills.
When the plains get too hot to bear, we look to the hills for relief.
Throughout the year, we fantasise about the hills. We need to save money and
prepare for the sojourn. Last week we chose to visit Chiranbal; a hill station in the Kulgam
district with the coordinates of 33°35'47"N
& 74°49'16"E respectively. Chiranbal is 26 Km away from Kulgam and Kulgam being
70 Km away from Srinagar. My fascination
with Chiranbal began as a kid when I heard travel features about this beautiful
place. The stories which I often got from my father, who used to travel a lot,
fuelled my dreams. It is the biggest subalpine meadow in the division located
on the bank of Zajinad, Veshew's most important tributary. One can reach
chiranbal either from Manzgam via hallan or from Aevil village.
The
main journey starts from Manzgam when you start climbing a serpentine road
after crossing the hallan village. The journey from hallan, the base camp, tests
the patience of the traveller.The vehicle needs to be checked in advance before
undertaking the journey for its fitness as the road is narrow and unimaginably
rough which passes through the rugged mountain terrain.
Chiranbal is nature at its best. You will appreciate the total
beauty of the place, despite the fact that you need to become acclimated to the
low-oxygen atmosphere. It has the exquisite excellence, grand appeal, perpetual mountain
ranges, wind-cleared level, thundering downpours, and curious natural beauty –
everything is overwhelming to the admirers of Nature.The meadow of Chiranbal is divided into two sections: Haer
and Bon Chiranbal. Haer Chiranbal isn't as big as Bon Chiranbal's. From
Chiranbal meadow, you can see a wide range of alpine margs such as Kachoi,
Bardalow Rehman Dar, Manzpal, Hapthnard, and others. It leads to alpine meadows
such as Kadalbal, Zajimarg and Hakwas, among others. The location is suitable
for both day and night stays. In Chiranbal,
the combination of twin pastures namely ‘Haer Chiranbal’ and ‘Bon Chiranbal’
are the bowl-like pastures that present a sight of an earthly paradise. It
stands out amongst other tourist destinations for its huge area. The fields and
pastures are boundless. Chiranbal is unique in that it has an unbelievably
large area suitable for trekkers. It is a part of a unique ecosystem with a
distinct biodiversity and ideal setting. It will surely capture the hearts and
the minds of all visitors who are planning to visit this place.
I believe one should not set out for the Chiranbal trip without
proper knowledge of the place. Beginners must consult an experienced
mountaineer for an expert advice. A lot of youngsters get stranded because they
are ill-prepared for the trip; preparation is a must to tackle the mountain
terrain.
Things to
do before you travel:
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<!--[endif]-->Plan the trip well after consulting experienced vistors.
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<!--[endif]-->Get you vehicles inspected by a motor specialist.
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<!--[endif]-->Prefer BS-VI motorbikes with the minimum capacity of 150 cc engine.
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<!--[endif]-->Carry important medicines in case of an emergency.
(Author is a Research scholar at
Aquatic Ecology Laboratory PG Department of Environmental Sciences, University
of Kashmir. He can be reached at shahrameez45@gmail.com)
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