Prime Day & Hours: Weekends and weekends 10 AM - 1 PM
Suggested Duration: 1-2 days
Tickets: Free Entry
Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station, about 285 kilometres away
Nearest Airport: Srinagar International Airport (SXR), approximately 95 kilometres away.
Nearest Bus Stop: Aru Bus Station, approximately 12 kilometers away.
Kolahoi Glacier, also known as the "Goddess of Light" by the locals, is a high-altitude glacier in Kashmir that trekkers must see. Surrounded by peaks, including the majestic Kolahoi Peak (5,425 meters), it is located at the head of the Lidder Valley in the Western Himalayas.
The glacier is a major source of water for the Lidder and Jhelum Rivers. You can hike to it from Aru, which is the starting point for more than 25 mountain lakes and a highlight in many Kashmir tour packages. The path passes by famous places like Lidderwat, Susrin, and Satlunjan as it runs through meadows, pine forests, and Gujjar villages. In addition to camping in the valley, you can walk across wooden bridges and stroll among mountain streams.
The route offers a direct view of the glacier's crevasses and goes to the 10,200-foot Kolahoi Glacier Viewpoint and Chainbal Waterfall. Upon reaching, you can drink from glacier streams, see locals riding horses, and explore coniferous forests.
Why Visit?
- A British medical team made the first known ascent of Kolahoi Peak in 1912, making the glacier historically noteworthy.
- Geological research indicates that Kolahoi Glacier may have once reached Pahalgam, providing proof of previous glacial expansions.
- Kashmir's agriculture depends heavily on the glacier, which provides meltwater for crops, including apples, dry fruits, and saffron.
- The tropical position, steep slopes, and high vertical gradient of Kolahoi Glacier make it extremely vulnerable, much like other glaciers in the Western Himalayas.
- The Jhelum basin's warming and the Upper Lidder Valley's deforestation are contributing to the glacier's retre.
