Wasturwan, a picturesque woodland region in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, is hemmed between Pampore, Tral and Awantipora.
The summit’s top is a vast undulating meadow strewn with a few centimeters high grass, Cynodon Dactylon, presenting the look of a smooth green carpet.
The place is as beautiful as Gulmarg or Sonmarg but falls comparatively at less altitude, said Bilal Ahmad, a local trekker from Pampore.
He said that the place has a beautiful landscape offering a broader view of Kashmir valley.
He says once atop the summit one can have a wider view of Kashmir valley in all four directions.
“ One can take a view of the Pir Panjal, Himadri and larger Himalayan peaks,” he said.
Shabir Ahmad, a forest official, who is well acquainted with the place said that it falls under Pampore range of Awantipora forest division. He narrates that apart from breathtaking landscapes, the region supports varied varieties of plants and animals.
He said that the region is dotted with Kail ( Kairoo), Ash( Hum), Acer( Kanzal), Betula ( Burza), Taxus ( Pustul).
He narrated that the area also provides a natural habitat to different animal species which include Black Bear( Haput), Kashmir Musk Deer( Roos), Common Leopard( Sheh), Porcupine ( Tronz), Kashmiri Stag( Hangul), Kashmiri Gray Langor ( Wandur) and Monkey ( Ponz).
The Wasturwan region has religious and historical significance too.
Temple of a saint, Jewan Sahab, locally known as Swami Jewan Sahab is located in this area. A stone revered by many as Hazrat Sheikul Alam’s stone and shrine of Peer Baba Sarbal also fall in this region.
Shabir narrated that a ridge between Lethpora and Ladhoo area, Known as Mir Hajin View Point, has three naturally rain fed ponds. “These water reservoirs are named as amritsarovar dams,” he said.
Wasturwan summit can be reached through different areas including the Barsoo area of Letpora, Ladhoo and Shaar Shali.
A person coming from Srinagar can launch his or her expedition from Pampore and can take Ladhoo or Shaarshali route.
Though, this region is still unexplored. However, the Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir opened a 4 kilometer trekking route from Gosnnar in March of previous year to promote ecotourism in the area. The route from Pampore to Gosnnar is motorable but from Gosnnar one has to walk on foot through forest area treading rocky paths to reach the summit. It takes around 4 to 5 hours for a trekker to cover this 9 kilometer distance from Gosnnar to Wasturwan Top.
One can also launch his journey from Shaar Shali after visiting the shrine of famous sufi saint, Wahab Khar, at Wahab Sahab village.
It is said that Maharaja Hari Singh used the woodland tract for his hunting adventures.
To ride to Tral’s Shikargah, he would use the Shar-i- Shalli route, the vestiges of which are still visible .
Many people from Gujjar Bakerwal community use Shaar Shali route to tread between Tral and Pampore by foot.
Trekkers can experience traditional great hospitality offered by people from Gujjar and Bakerwal communities who have built mud huts in the area. They stay in the huts during summers to graze their cattle.
As the route is steep and slippery at a few places it is advisable to wear proper trekking shoes. Taking a rain coat in your trekking kit will be an added advantage. It can save you from vagaries of climate which changes quickly in this forest range. A stick is a must for lending support to your body while climbing uphill. Ranger, Pampore forest range, Ashfaq Ahmad said that a trekking route was thrown open from Gosnnar to Wasturwan during the past year.
“ The trek route from Gasnnar to Mir Hajin point is through a thick forest and from Mir Hajin it is a plain medowie on one side and rocky on other side due to southern effect,” he said, adding that for promotion of ecotourism in Wasturwan they have been routinely organising trips of school children to acquaint them with local fauna and flora.
