This beautiful place-‘Chor Nag’ is situated in district Anantnag of South Kashmir about 50 KMs from Kokernag. This attractive place is located at an elevational range of 1100-1500 meter above sea level. If one starts his/her trip from Anantnag to ‘Chor Nag’, during travelling one can enjoy the places like ‘Achabal’, ‘Kokernag’ gardens and also have a sip of tea at ‘Dhandipora Park’. At ‘Desu Bridge’ one has to take left turn to reach ‘MatiGawran’, from ‘Mati Gawran’ the hilly track starts and the first beautiful place ‘Nawkan’, well comes the tourists with dense pine forests and crystal clear water of ‘Chavenz Nahla’. After travelling about 35 KMs one reaches ‘Margan Top’ through ‘MatiGawran – Marwah’ road commonly known as ‘Begam Akbar Jahan Road’.
The entry point of ‘Margan Top’ is called ‘Jandi’ which welcome the incoming tourists with small springs and red, purple-green flowers of Primroses. On right side of ‘Honarkash Nalla’ a beautiful green sloppy region called ‘Doabpather’ is situated, here one sees huge populations of Rhubarb (Kashmiri= ‘Pambchalan’) and Incense herb (Kashmiri = ‘Dhoopa’) growing all along this area. On the top of ‘Doabpather’ lies a beautiful alpine lake with very clear and pure water, the lake is surrounded from three sides by lofty snow covered mountain peaks. The mountain peaks of ‘Margan Top’ is decorated by lush green Junipers (Kashmiri = Veethur) by nature.
At ‘Margan Top’ one has to follow the foot track on left side and after travelling 8-10 KMs one reaches in a beautiful place of ‘Chor Nag’ valley. On the way to ‘Chor Nag’ one see the underground holes of Mormots and these animals are roaming and making different sounds, various endemic plant species and their beautiful flowers keeps one moving. The valley comprises of attractive meadows and very big and beautiful springs surrounded by rocky- mountains. ‘Chor Nag’ in Kashmiri epithet means four springs, actually these are four beautiful lakes rather than springs, three located side by side just 150 to 200 meters apart and the fourth one located about half a Kilometer distance.
Out of these four lakes two are large with an area of about 1½ sq. km. Adjacent to these lakesthird lake with an area of about ½ sq. km is present, and the 4th lake which is medium size with an area of about 1 sq. km is present away from these three lakes. All the lakes are oligotropic with crystal clear water. The large meadows and the Rocky Mountains are rich in plants with flowers of different colours and aroma that fresh ones brain. The undulated land, the big grasslands and the lakes are so beautiful that human brain is forced to think about nature’s wonderful creations and also attracts the visitor towards its prettiness.The group of four clear water bodies at the alpine region is really mind blowing. The water of bigger lake looks blue black from a distance. The lake seems to lack littoral, sub-littoral zones and instantly begins with profundal zone.
The lake is so big and deep and its waves are so forceful that one is afraid to go nearer to the lake. Out of 10 minutes you stay at the bank of the lake, one can see the lake just for 5 minutes while for the rest of the time lake gets shrouded by fog. Out of four lakes water of two lakes flows towards ‘Mati Gawran’ and form the ‘Chavenz Nahla’. ‘ChavenzNahla’ after some distance meets ‘Nawkan Nahla’ (the source of ‘Nawkan Nalla’ is ‘Shilsar’ one right side of ‘Margan Top’) to form ‘GawranNahla’, which ultimately merges with ‘BrangiNahla’
’BrangiNahla’ is the source of irrigation water for large area of South Kashmir. The 3rd lake which is situated near to two aforementioned lakes also has very clear water, the little water that comes out of the lake and forms a marshy land which harbours different angiospermic taxa. The water of 4th lake is again very clear and tasty as if glucose is added to it. The water of 4th lake and some water from melting glaciers form Honarkash Nahla, which ultimately meets with Chinab River. ‘Honarkash Nalla’ where everyone takes rest for few minutes haslarge number of plant species growing along the banks with colourful flowers.
The beautiful landscape, colourful flowers and water bodies are the primary source of attraction of human beings from times immemorial therefore this place is a full package of natural beauties for tourists. But the authorities have to bring this place under tourists map and also it is very important the natural things should not replace with artificial ones. People whether local or foreigner visit such places to see the Nature’s creation and beauty but not the man-made infrastructure so the area should not be disturbed by artificial means and natural things should be maintained.
Also such places are very important for ecological economy -it is reported that there are about 120 crore people (20% of the global population) spread across 40 countries who do not have access to safe drinking water. Women in Africa and Asia walk an average distance of 6 km a day to collect water. According to UN, by 2025 as many as 500 crore people will be facing water shortage; as many as 270 crore people will face severe water shortage if the world continues consuming water at present rate. Water scarcity is estimated to cause annual global loss of 350 million tons of food production by 2025. It is said that water shortage could well lead to the next world war. The management and exploring of such water bodies are important in the current scenario of global water shortage.
Therefore, the places like Chor Nag will serve as treasure both ecologically as well as economically but only thing should be clear that we have to use these natural resources sustainably.
(Author is Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, North Campus, University of Kashmir)
